Do you think the Rangers will get back their black berets with the new changes in our new government?

SMSgt Thor Merich - I don't think it has ruined it so much as the tan beret and its symbolism is more reflective of the latest evolution of the 75th Ranger Regiment. Most of the Rangers who have served in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have only worn the tan beret, and have no association with the black beret.

I was in SSG Pikes era and only elite units wore berets. I was there to suffer the indignity of having my maroon beret taken away for a few years. It was a kick in the nuts for us as far as unit moral went. The crappy ball caps that were issued at the time were just plain awful. The guys in SF were great advocates in restoring the maroon berets for us. I respect the tan ranger beret to be sure, but the black beret for them in my opinion should never have been taken away.

SSG Will Phillips - I agree, only elite units should wear the berets, they worked hard for their status and having that distinction is something that never should have been passed around to everyone.

I was in the 509th when we got our Berets. Prior to that we wore C Caps in Greens or Khakis with a Silver Dollar backed glider patch. In Fatigues, we wore ball caps. After this assignment I wore the Black Beret while serving as an RI at Camp Darby.

TRUMP said best last night the focus is going to be in our country and our military isn't going anywhere so where do you think our troops are going to be used? There's a lot crap going on in the United states that Law enforcement can't control so why not. I think the people who are being paid to riot and protest against our new Pres. Elect Mr. Trump/ Flag Burning should be dealt with in other ways and that will show the other that we are not messing around and your IED people will stop as well because the military will find them as well.

SFC William Stephens A. Jr., 3 MSM, JSCM - No, yes and yes and no on the points.
You can't crush anyone without ground troops to fix and hold them in place, someone has to verify that the target is a target and not some load of yokels fleeing the scene, dead civilians is a bad graphic and bad business. I think history supports my view.
We lost troops just last week to IEDs in Iraq and a couple the week or so before in Afghanistan, and the things are cheap and easy to make, so I would expect that any enemy we face foreign or domestic would adapt to using them. I personally prefer being shot at, to being thumped. But that is just my opinion. Trucks are cheap, Soldiers are priceless.
While I think the distinctive headgear for Rangers and Airborne Soldiers are important for group identity and historic items, we now have several iterations of Soldiers who have grown up and served combat tours wearing the new Ranger Beret and I would think that is the one they identify with, so us old buzzards reviving an old fight that was lost may be pissing on the young guys legs. Again that's just my opinion, I didn't like the beret or the garrison cap. I would have been happier with a toque than either of those.
In any case I hope they spend the time and money getting the Troops whatever they need to fight, survive and win.

CSM StCry, With respect, I do not think anyone would disagree with your statement about defeating IED's. But IED's have been in existence since gun powder was created. And to me since 9/11 we have seen our Humvee's up-armored and newer IED resistance vehicles come on line. (I went to war in 1983 in a Recon platoon with a 1965 jeep, you go to war with what you have.) This tells me that the pentagon has been trying to minimize the effects on IED's on our troops. I understand your passion about this as you have an engineering background, and by God you had the balls to go to Jump School.
I believe the story is more about tradition and unit morale than anything else.

but look at history of the RANGER, I'm not RANGER but do you know military history and what it stands for just because some 4 star Gen took it way don't mean you have the right or you earned to wear it.

SFC William Stephens A. Jr., 3 MSM, JSCM - I am not a Ranger either, however, I do know the history of the use of the black beret in the US Army. Actually at the time that the 1st Ranger Battalion was being stood up, the black beret was also being used by the Armor community; and just like several other US formations, this tradition goes back to WWII and the British. As far as the statements by GEN Shenseki and SMA Tilley (they quote 1918 and 1924 and French influence) would have you believe, the use of beret type headgear in the armed forces of the various nations that make up the United Kingdom has been around for even longer. As an example the use can be dated back to the 16th century (for those of you that are a bit date challenged, that would be the 1500's).

What verse of "The Airborne Song" is that attitude from?

MSgt George Cater - I have also been told by a WW2 era guy its called a "Piss cover= your head looks like a penis when its on your head" ..........

SSG Wally Lawver - Thanks.
Not that I'm a Corpsman (pecker checker) but I've never seen or heard of one that pointy.

When the Army had those garrison caps as part of their dress green uniform we called it something a little more inappropriate...

I don't understand all the Beret stuff anyway. In the Corps we all wore the same uniforms, headgear, footwear and we knew who was who, Recon from Grunt, Airborn for non-guals.

SFC (Join to see) - You are entitled to your opinion. My comments are about those who refuse to follow orders and regulations. "Theft of property forging of documents, and a whole host of uprofessional acts", as you mentioned, have no place in a disciplined, professional military. While I know some of that goes on, most of the stories about such are embellished. I respect professional soldiers... Those who refuse to follow orders and regulations, break the law, etc. ... not so much.

COL Jean (John) F. B. - Careful, it is easy to fall off your moral high ground if you spend too much time looking down your nose at these guys who did more for their country than officers such as yourself. Those men I respect, guys such as yourself, not so much. So Merry Christmas and have a Happy New Year, I hope your narrow view of ethics, tradition and honor keep you warm on these cold winter nights.

SFC (Join to see) - First, I respect all our service members and realize what they do, and have done, for our country. You have no idea what I have done for our country, nor do I know that about you, so disparaging each other is useless. What I do know is that there is no place in our military for those who refuse to obey orders or follow regulations. There is simply no valid justification for it. Those who flaunt the rules and violate the law bring discredit to the professional military. You call it bravado... I call it unprofessional and indisciplined.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you, as well. And, yes, I sleep very well at night, thank you.

I remember the LT> that dropped out of Ranger School tell the SGT. that some day he will get the beret and the Rangers would have to get an other color , that so calle dGen. did that with George Jr. as pres.

Just color code the Army's branches like 1st Cav did in the 70s.

In the aftermath of Vietnam, the 1st Cavalry Division was converted from the air-mobile light infantry role into a triple capabilities (TRICAP) division. The unit received an infusion of mechanized infantry and artillery, to make it capable of missions needing three types of troops; armored, air-mobility, and air cavalry.

In the post-Vietnam era, morale in the US Army waned. In response, from 1973 through 1979 HQDA permitted local commanders to encourage morale-enhancing uniform distinctions. Consequently, many units embraced various colored berets, for example armor and armored cavalry units often adopted the black beret. Similarly many other units including the First Cavalry Division embraced various colored berets in an attempt to improve dwindling morale. The First Cav decided to assign various colored berets to the three major TRICAP and division support units. In this implementation, armored cavalry, airmobile infantry units, air cavalry units, division artillery units, and division support units all wore different colored berets, including black, light blue, kelly green, and red.