My best buddy from high school retired as an 05 in that group and since we had the same posting albeit different units during my active duty time, they (SOF units) sorta "adopted" me as a young "screwy Looie." That in itself showed they thought me to be a worthwhile individual beyond my status as a "leg" so they called me a "nap" which means "NON AIRBORNE PERSONNEL" rather than the derogatory Lack of ESSENTIAL GUTS (leg).
I rather think it had to do with the annual post wide pistol competition for which I showed up for fun with my bosses blessing and an "arms room .45" and about 800rds of ball ammo. I wound up placing out of all the "new shooters" that year (in 1983 I think there were about 500)...I scored in at #2. Out of all shooters on post...number of competitiors that year there were about 3000; a huge chunk of them from the snake eater units...I came in at #9. That got the attention of the boy's who wear the beanies....and the word circulated that I wasn't the standard useless leg officer, and was in fact the buddy of the "old man," from high school....
Bright eyed and bushy tailed 2LT with great reflexes and very sharp vision. TODAY I have trouble seeing my front sight without using bifocal lenses!