Are we using our tier 1 forces properly

United States Naval Special Warfare Development Group and SF Detachment-Delta

If you read about direct actions by United States Naval Special Warfare Development Group and 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta (1st SFOD-D) they have conducted many operations in Iraq and Afghanistan going after High Value Target.  Reading such books like “Cobra II”, “Master of Chaos”, “Lone Survivor” and the recent book on the Bin laden raid has given many of us an insight of their missions.  The thing I have noticed about many of these missions is that do they truly rate the necessity of using these tier 1 units.  In Cobra II a Delta mission was describe of seizing a dam that was believed to in poor shape and needed to be taken.  Delta got the mission, but in reading about the mission makes you question was this a Delta mission and did they take it just to be in the war.

With the recent Helicopter crash of a CH-47 that held 15 Seal members, you have to question why was Seals used as a QRF.  This also goes for the Lone Survivor rescue attempt when a RPG brought down a chopper full of Seal Team members.

My question boils down to this.  Are many of these missions Require these two Tier 1 forces or could regular seal teams and Army Special Forces A-teams be used.  By using them, are we truly using these valuable resources to their maximum potential?