How can one find his/her self worth in today’s world when it seems that if you weren’t SOF, you are just average?

1A) what separates RGMT, SF and A few other ARSOF outfits? The answer is that they perform basic skills to perfection, of “no mind” per say. T1 assets, assualters, operators or whatever term the cool kids throw at them this month are no different physically than most 11B’s. What separates them is what is between their ears.
2) Don’t judge what you contribute to the community on movies, SOF, or anything else. Is your outfit better for having you in it? Are young gunfighters under your command training and becoming better everyday? If not, start there.

Worry about your sphere of influence and the rest will fall in to place.

SGT This job will end, we all must move on from this life at some point, basing one's worth from all the danglies and dodads you get while in is not what makes one's life worth on the outside. All those companies mentioned got out at a good time, have a product or service they built, and while being a vet owned business and a cool guy rep didn't hurt, its the business and timing. There are many pro vet groups or certifications you can get if your looking to boost a business. First start with something you enjoy and are good at, then look for any pro vet groups or classifications you can apply for, but you should have a good product first. There is the worth, producing a good item, not just another item. In my own life I'm going into farming, there is the Farm Vet Co-op, with several certifications that can be applied for IF my products are good enough and meet their rules. But I will find my worth in producing a quality meet and eggs that re good for me and healthy animals. That is all I can suggest. Its your worth that you have to look in the mirror for, for every person that supports and follows Art-15 and BRC, there are those that don't.

Speak for yourself. If you are trying to compare your worth to that of others, and you are falling short, you are failing yourself. Be the best you that you can be, and if you want to get the credit of SOF, go SOF...

I had the honor to serve with two ODA Detachments as Force Protection and also went on missions that were essential to our strategic initiatives in Iraq. ODA Detachments have a unique training that they use. As an Infantryman for 16 years I have seen many things in the warrior community and I can tell u one thing the reason why they are called Special Forces is because thats what they are a special group of men and women who bring special skills to the table that some average joes can’t bring to the table. But it does not mean that those that are average are not valuable to the overall mission. They are needed to make sure that the overall mission is achieved. Everyone has there own piece of the pie in the mission. One team one fought.

If you have a such a low opinion of yourself then you need to think again. Consider about .5% of the American population has served in the Armed Force of the U.S. No where in the word TEAM (which the Armed Forces is) do I see any of the letters "SOF". I am guessing if you eliminated all the "want-a-be" SOF soldiers, the number would be greatly reduced. I am proud of my service and will never back down from what I did. After all in am in the less than .5%, of American population so I am already "elite"

In order to be "Special" there have to be regular. That seems to be lost on the Army.. If we are forced to fight a good old frontal war we may find ourselves lacking

As an infantryman that served two tours (2003, 2007-08) in Iraq, I can tell you that there is no such thing as a "just average" infantryman. Most of your special ops started out as "just average" infantrymen. The only real difference between the two is that one gets more specialize training than the other one does

You've already answered your own question. It's self-worth. You yourself made a decision, for your own reasons, and you served. You didn't do it just so others would look at your a certain way. And BTW, you are in no way average because an average person isn't willing to put themselves in harms way to defend this great country and other people who aspire to be like us. Soldier on Sgt with your head held high.

While I've held my front line brothers be they tankers or infantry in a bit of awe I'm proud of being a part of their support team.
My little quip about quarter masters is Nobody goes anywhere without bullets, boots or biscuits.

Yeah, all that SOF is pretty sexy looking but not everyone has the physical ability to do it. Doesn't mean they are better or smarter. Hell, I have a Masters Degree and studied PsyOps in my own time. I could predict behavior, plan unusual things, and be creative in a war theatre. I was only an Army Reservist with one mobilization but I taught around 7,000 BCT soldiers in AIT. Hopefully something I taught them was useful. I felt I missed out on the glory war stories but accepted my role. Everyone who enlists in my book is a hero. I do admire their physical stamina and mental toughness though. Hopefully it motivates others to go the extra mile and pull their weight. We all had a role to play. Ours wasn't SOF.