How do you wear your beret?

2017-06-30T23:23:28-04:00

So I posted a picture with my beret and found that there is a few different opinions on how one is to wear your beret. My first duty station was Bragg and wearing a beret was an art form there. I have seen others wear their beret and look like a cast member from Myth busters.

How do you wear yours?

Response by LTC Stephen C. made Jun 30 at 2017 11:30 PM

2017-06-30T23:30:50-04:00

I prefer the old fashioned look, CPT Private RallyPoint Member, as shown in these two photos of Special Forces troopers, both MOH recipients.

Response by Maj John Bell made Jun 30 at 2017 11:42 PM

2017-06-30T23:42:35-04:00

OMG!

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 1 at 2017 3:06 AM

2017-07-01T03:06:43-04:00

Yea sir I've noticed that outside of the Airborne community (Legs) everyone wears their beret like how I guess it supposed to be worn according to AR 670-1. I say no thanks. It's kind of funny too, because even within the Airborne community (SF, 75th, and regular Airborne) we all wear it somewhat differently. low and dangerous all the way is what I always say though sir.

Response by SPC Erich Guenther made Jul 1 at 2017 3:08 AM

2017-07-01T03:08:27-04:00

They should go back to patrol caps for everyone other than Airborne, Rangers and Special Forces, in my opinion. General Shinseki never should have changed this.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 1 at 2017 3:48 AM

2017-07-01T03:48:39-04:00

The beret is worn parallel to marching surface with the flash centered directly over your left eye! Your flash is supposed to be visible and you shouldn't have tilted like youbshowing in the picture! And never to surpassed your ear draped down to your right side!

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 1 at 2017 3:56 AM

2017-07-01T03:56:51-04:00

I wore mine like the reg specifies. All those others are what we called "ate up" and were usually found on pvts coming from jump school or other first timers to an airborne unit. But the NCOs would quickly square them away. If you are an officer or NCO who deliberately wears their beret not by the regs you lose any "lead by example" authority to correct other uniform violations. After all if the LT or SFC doesnt follow the uniform regs why shouls the private. Its odd to me that this is even a question. You wear all parts of the uniform according to the regs. Their is nothing different about the beret that lets troops custom wear it however they want. Both the photos are no go and would(or should) be called out at any inspection.

Response by SSgt Boyd Herrst made Jul 1 at 2017 5:48 AM

2017-07-01T05:48:49-04:00

What does the regulation order? That's
What is called for, so that'd be the way it's worn. Correct?

Response by SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth made Jul 1 at 2017 6:25 AM

2017-07-01T06:25:04-04:00

I wore mine like LTC Stephen Curlee. By the book.

Response by MSgt George Cater made Jul 1 at 2017 7:41 AM

2017-07-01T07:41:31-04:00

See? Perfect example right there. Got the red rag shaped 'just right', but can't wear his tie properly for an official photo. This is like if Recon Marines decided to wear their garrison csps backwards to be different from the rest of the Corps. The private is wearing a fourragere and other unit awards won by his unit's heros In prior wars, but that's not enough distinction for him.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 1 at 2017 7:51 AM

2017-07-01T07:51:53-04:00

When I was a young paratroop in the 82nd, I wore it 3/4 tilt. As time went on, I began to level it out a bit more, while still maintaining a slight tilt, except for photos.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 1 at 2017 8:29 AM

2017-07-01T08:29:26-04:00

Like all these great responses state, wear IAW AR 670-1: flash over your left eye with the headband straight on the head.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 1 at 2017 9:26 AM

2017-07-01T09:26:23-04:00

I really tried not to wear it at all. Even on status. Mine always looked terrible and everyone had a different method for helping it look "just right". It is really hard to mess up a PC, just sayin'

Response by SPC Jan Allbright, M.Sc., R.S. made Jul 1 at 2017 9:28 AM

2017-07-01T09:28:42-04:00

I'm thinking berets have gotten bigger. My P1 Green Beanie ('68) barely lays over the side of my head to my middle ear....

Response by SSG Robert Webster made Jul 1 at 2017 11:06 AM

2017-07-01T11:06:11-04:00

Enough said - A Company, 2nd Battalion (Airborne), 325th Infantry, 2nd Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division - Circa 1978.

And for those of you that say "back in the day," please do not make me hunt down photos of you from 'back in the day' from your cohorts. It would just be embarrassing for some. (Don't believe me, look at my friends list on Facebook, and or LinkedIn, and find someone you very well could know.)

I would suggest that you open the photo and enlarge it if your eyesight is an issue, you will see everything from an appropriate way to wear a beret to stovepipes, chef's hats, pizzas, flash between the eyes, flash over the right eye, and other oddities.

Response by SSG Robert Webster made Jul 1 at 2017 12:28 PM

2017-07-01T12:28:10-04:00

Company A (Airborne), 3rd Battalion, 5th Infantry, 193rd Infantry Brigade - Circa 1981. Shortly after our berets were authorized.
Check out the first row 7th from the left, and also check out LTG Mulholland (then 1LT)(2 left of the guidon).

Response by SSG Robert Webster made Jul 1 at 2017 12:31 PM

2017-07-01T12:31:12-04:00

Camp Blanding, Florida.

Response by SSG Robert Webster made Jul 1 at 2017 12:31 PM

2017-07-01T12:31:37-04:00

Response by SSG Robert Webster made Jul 1 at 2017 12:31 PM

2017-07-01T12:31:56-04:00

Response by SSG Robert Webster made Jul 1 at 2017 12:34 PM

2017-07-01T12:34:47-04:00

Circa 1983, before Grenada.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 1 at 2017 12:51 PM

2017-07-01T12:51:48-04:00

I wear mine IAW AR670-1.

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 1 at 2017 1:44 PM

2017-07-01T13:44:03-04:00

Correctly

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 1 at 2017 4:23 PM

2017-07-01T16:23:44-04:00

Any cover for any uniform must be horizontal to the ground. Meaning not tilted to forward or back on your head.

Response by CW4 Angel C. made Jul 1 at 2017 8:59 PM

2017-07-01T20:59:49-04:00

First off you must cut all excess cords, shave all the fuzz, wet it, wring it, wear it around the house for a while, shave it some more, hang it up somewhere overnight, wear it the next morning, flash always over left eye and folded over right ear. Yep I wore the maroon beret with lots of pride and prefered the PC over the "new" black beret!

Response by SSG Roger Ayscue made Jul 1 at 2017 10:33 PM

2017-07-01T22:33:13-04:00

Like it was an honor to wear one. BACK WHEN you had to DO SOMETHING to EARN a Beret, people wore them with pride (As still today the AIRBORNE, RANGER, and Special Forces Do) But when they put Berets on every LEG in the Army so, that in the words of General Keene "They will feel good about themselves." The Black Beret became something that lost it's value. Thanks a PANTLOAD there Chet! We appreciate you taking the beret and giving it away...Great decision there Peanut.

Response by SPC Robert Delaney made Jul 2 at 2017 9:00 AM

2017-07-02T09:00:53-04:00

I earned my beret,Airborne!

Response by CPT Jim Schwebach made Jul 2 at 2017 10:44 AM

2017-07-02T10:44:05-04:00

Mid-sixties through the mid-seventies the wear of the beret followed a few different traditions. First off, the issue beret was about the size of a dinner plate and when worn provided excellent sun protection for the right side of one's face. The liner was nice thick material that added a lot of bulk. The stiffener was wide and tall. So how did we modify it to fit and wear properly? We purchased Canadian produced berets(don't remember the brand), removed the liners and stiffeners(some were so bold as to replace the liners with a special lady's silken undergarment)and wore them rain and shine till they were salty enough to achieve the proper fade and size. Never saw or read a regulation on wear - that was taken care of by the team sergeants as in, "Fix that chef's hat!" But that was then and this is now...

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 2 at 2017 5:39 PM

2017-07-02T17:39:00-04:00

When I wear my beret, I wear it according to AR/DA PAM 670-1

Response by MAJ Matthew Arnold made Jul 2 at 2017 10:07 PM

2017-07-02T22:07:11-04:00

Here's a picture of me in my beret back in '78. The older guys, Viet Nam vets taught us how to wear them. We rubbed off all the new fuzz, cut out the liner, pushed it down on our heads behind the cardboard, and pulled it out and down over our right ear. (Yeah, it's green, no flash, yeah that's a spot. I was a cadet, assigned to the 19th group. I wanted that flash more than anything, but life handed me flight school instead.)

Except for the green beret (SF), the army should have stayed with the Ridgeway cap.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 3 at 2017 10:40 AM

2017-07-03T10:40:58-04:00

CPT Private RallyPoint Member Rocking it in my profile pic. The only rule I put on my airmen when I was a flight leader at tech school, & we were told to form our berets, was that they not make it look like a turd on their heads. Most of them were successful...lol.

Response by CPT Tom Monahan made Jul 5 at 2017 1:11 PM

2017-07-05T13:11:09-04:00

Soldiers should be uniformed. The Monica Lowinski Beret is stupid looking and has no practical use. Patrol Caps and Overseas hats should be the standard. A garrison cap for Class Bs works.

Response by SSG Ray Murphy made Jul 5 at 2017 1:40 PM

2017-07-05T13:40:46-04:00

With as much attitude as possible.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 5 at 2017 1:43 PM

2017-07-05T13:43:18-04:00

How I wore it as a Joe. Not
Much has changed. I look
more like a pirate now.

Response by MAJ Matthew Arnold made Jul 5 at 2017 2:38 PM

2017-07-05T14:38:50-04:00

Except for Special Forces, the army should have stuck with the Ridgeway cap.

Response by SPC Jonathan Schmidt made Jul 5 at 2017 3:29 PM

2017-07-05T15:29:02-04:00

A lot of it comes down to wearing it in compliance with the regulations or not. Look at most airborne units and see how few of them are in line with the regulation. The other part comes from the fact it took a long time to get the units who had berets before to look presentable. Shaping a beret is a skill that is learned but that needs a teacher.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 5 at 2017 4:36 PM

2017-07-05T16:36:20-04:00

I guess that the Beret is very hot when wearing, as compared to a patrol cap?

Response by SSG Joseph VanDyck made Jul 5 at 2017 4:58 PM

2017-07-05T16:58:21-04:00

After having been out of DIV for 21 years and retired for four. I refused to wear the black leg beret, I stuck with my brown round or my patrol cap, ranger rolled not blocked and squared.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 5 at 2017 5:27 PM

2017-07-05T17:27:43-04:00

If the senior leadership in the army put just a tenth of the effort into mentorship and really learning how to mentor correct correctly as it did with AR 670-1, discipline, retention, and production would cease to be issues.

Response by SGT Steve Hines-Saich B.S. M.S. Cybersecurity made Jul 5 at 2017 6:15 PM

2017-07-05T18:15:28-04:00

I took pride in the beret. I would buy it, Cut the string short and stuff s small amount of the Cord in the leather band, shave it soak it in cold water and then form it to my head. Once I head the correct shape I would let the beret dry completely. It looks great with service uniforms.

Response by SPC Ruben Marin made Jul 5 at 2017 11:58 PM

2017-07-05T23:58:44-04:00

At my first duty station in Italy, with SETAF we wore the maroon beret against regulation. We all wore it flash over the left eyebrow, the beret shaved thin, formed skin tight to our head, and the excess covering most of our right eye. The brim was cocked sideways and we had to keep a skin tight cut or the beret would look weird. At my my second unit, which was a detachment, we wore it by the book. Of course by the time I got there I was accustomed to wearing the way the airborne did, so I continued to wear mine like the airborne did. Yes I got corrected a billion times, but wearing it by regs just wasn't comfortable to me.

Response by MAJ Matthew Arnold made Jul 6 at 2017 12:09 AM

2017-07-06T00:09:31-04:00

How about this beret? (OK, I'll stop now.)

Response by SFC Stephen Carden made Jul 6 at 2017 7:20 AM

2017-07-06T07:20:05-04:00

The Airborne way! AKA the right way. I was the only paratrooper in my unit in Korea when the black berets were issued. It took me a week to work my way through the company, teaching every leg there how to wear the beret so they wouldn't embarrass me in public.

Response by SFC Phillip Allen made Jul 6 at 2017 10:19 AM

2017-07-06T10:19:58-04:00

I absolutely despised the beret. Didn't like it when then GEN Shinseki took the black beret away from Special Forces, and made us all wear it. It was uncomfortable, it took too much time to make it look 'right' each time, especially if you have an odd shaped head, and sizing and shaping was a pain, and clothing sales rarely had the right size for my big noggin. I think it looks absolutely ridiculous when folks cover their eye with the beret flap, what are you? a pirate. PCs were, and continue to be, much more functional and look much more professional. It was a publicity stunt, just like changing the motto, there was absolutely nothing wrong with "Be all you can be" that said it all. Just like the Marines, "The few, the Proud.." it works, leave it alone. And the ACUs were the other big mistake, we had 10 years of absolute garbage in uniforms. If your AB, more power to ya. And if you like the beret, again, glad for ya. I don't.

Response by CPL Paul Balares made Jul 6 at 2017 12:24 PM

2017-07-06T12:24:38-04:00

I hated wearing berets, to me those should be worn with Class A's and Class B's, not in uniform.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 6 at 2017 12:25 PM

2017-07-06T12:25:42-04:00

not like any of the above, lol

Response by SSG Todd Lysfjord made Jul 7 at 2017 11:41 AM

2017-07-07T11:41:32-04:00

Response by SSG Todd Lysfjord made Jul 7 at 2017 11:44 AM

2017-07-07T11:44:02-04:00

Or the black beret like this back when you actually had to earn it...

Response by SFC Jon Vandeyacht made Jul 7 at 2017 9:01 PM

2017-07-07T21:01:40-04:00

I was airborne... I wore mine correctly

Response by SGM William Gabbard made Jul 13 at 2017 1:27 PM

2017-07-13T13:27:56-04:00

I don't. Not a fan. Prefer thr patrol cap or service cap when in Class A or B

Response by SSG Andrew Salgat made Aug 11 at 2017 10:53 PM

2017-08-11T22:53:02-04:00

Pic on right acceptable. Leave it on your dashboard to get it almost orange. Shave it, shave it again, and again... Really dont ever stop shaving it. Drench it in water. Don it. Dont take it off your nappy brain bucket till its dry. Did I mention to shave it?

Response by SSG Andrew Salgat made Aug 11 at 2017 10:53 PM

2017-08-11T22:53:56-04:00

Pic on the left. No, just no ffs

Response by TSgt Ronald Sandberg made Nov 17 at 2017 3:15 PM

2017-11-17T15:15:06-05:00

Get rid of the rediculas beret. Go back to the visored cap!!!!!!

Response by SFC Jim Ruether made Nov 18 at 2017 3:22 PM

2017-11-18T15:22:54-05:00

I personally think that you wear the beret two finger widths above the bridge of your nose and the side of the beret should lay flat alongside of your head. Those fellas that wear it drooping down over their right eye had better hope no one takes a swing at them from that side as they will never see it coming....of course that goes for a bus, light truck other pedestrians and so on. Shaving the felt so it does this is damage to gov't property and makes you look ridiculous. Just my humble opinion mind you but you don't see anyone wearing a drooping beret in WWII. Some goof shaved his beret and started this whole mess decades ago.

Response by CW3 Kevin Storm made Nov 19 at 2017 1:37 PM

2017-11-19T13:37:45-05:00

I try not, I hate the damn thing. I spent the money to wear the bus driver cap. When I was younger I thought the world of having one, then when I had to wear it, my opinion of the Papa Vito's pizza guy issued beret was a joke. Damn thing covered my right ear entirely. IT looked fracking stupid, first chance I got I bought one of the better ones, shaped took a razor to it, and it finally looked good...except for one problem I was in the National Guard in El Paso Texas, who in the frack wears a wool anything in El Paso when it is a hundred and 115 degrees out? Idiotic piece of uselessness, more so when you run the Battalion Maintenance section for a bunch M109A5's. I pray for the day when it goes back to Airborne related units, let the Armor/Cav units go to Stetsons, for that matter let the Iron Brigade wear the Those tall pre-civil war hats. Frack I would wear a tri-corner hat over the Beret. At least it has tradition. But the Beret, no Sir you may have it!

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 1 at 2018 1:35 AM

2018-01-01T01:35:52-05:00

Correctly

Response by SGT Mathew Husen made Feb 23 at 2019 11:13 AM

2019-02-23T11:13:58-05:00

Was the only one in my WLC class that had my beret to standard

Response by SSG James N. made Feb 23 at 2019 12:19 PM

2019-02-23T12:19:12-05:00

Why do they not learn the simple two fingers from bridge of nose, and one finger above left eyebrow? The same standard for barrack's cover also works to make a well setup beret look right!

Response by SGT John Fielden made Feb 23 at 2019 4:14 PM

2019-02-23T16:14:06-05:00

I wore it the way I was "trained" to wear it, with pride.
Buy three of them, razors and start shaving.
Get them thinned and collasping.
Fold and store the others correctly.
Fundemental.

Response by SPC Donn Sinclair made Feb 23 at 2019 10:29 PM

2019-02-23T22:29:23-05:00

I got out in '71, long before the beret days. My son's in now, so I tried one of his on a while back. All I can say is I'm glad I didn't have to wear one. Looks good on some, not me.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 24 at 2019 2:41 AM

2019-02-24T02:41:26-05:00

What's a beret again? I think it's been 3 years since I have had to wear one.

Response by HN Roger Kluthe made Feb 24 at 2019 11:05 PM

2019-02-24T23:05:51-05:00

I never really felt comfortable wearing one when I was in the NG. I always felt like most people who said that only Airborne, Rangers, and SF should be wearing berets. I never really received instructions on proper wear of one. They sort of handed me a beret and said look on YouTube to see how to wear it.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made May 20 at 2019 5:54 AM

2019-05-20T05:54:17-04:00

Proper line in front, high in the back. Drape doesn't interfere with sight or hearing.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 28 at 2019 11:43 PM

2019-06-28T23:43:43-04:00

Right side, all the way.

Response by MCPO Daniel Meffen made Sep 15 at 2019 6:06 PM

2019-09-15T18:06:13-04:00

As a retired Navy Guy, MMCM(E-9) , I would rather see the special units, Green Beret, Rangers wearing those, not everyone!

Response by SSG Mark Matteson made Sep 15 at 2019 6:30 PM

2019-09-15T18:30:07-04:00

Can't see a damn thing out of that right eye

Response by CPL Donald McKenna made Sep 15 at 2019 7:38 PM

2019-09-15T19:38:39-04:00

Same as I wore my patrol cap, two fingers up from the bridge between the eyes and flash centered over the left eye.

Response by SSG John Bacon made Sep 15 at 2019 8:34 PM

2019-09-15T20:34:54-04:00

This is how I wore mine not as much attitude as some but technically correct.

Response by MAJ Haris Balcinovic made Sep 15 at 2019 9:28 PM

2019-09-15T21:28:52-04:00

I don't. Worst headgear ever designed. Anything that takes two hands to put on and requires extensive forming and a mirror is pointless.
On the other hand a patrol cap only requires one hand, needs no shaving and actually matches the uniform.
Save the beret for special ppl (airborne, rangers, SF)

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 15 at 2019 11:06 PM

2019-09-15T23:06:02-04:00

AR 670-1. That is all.

Response by SGT(P) Harry Clyde Jr. made Sep 16 at 2019 7:53 PM

2019-09-16T19:53:31-04:00

I recall when the Black Berets were issued the first time back in 01 I think. I was the supply sergeant for C 1/35 AR (2nd BDE, 1AD). I had to sign for all the Berets and everyone was issued two. It was known that I had my 2 maroon Berets on display in my barracks room(1/319th, 82nd & 10th SFG). Kept getting asked how to wear them, how to prep them etc. End of the day formation the day before I issued them, I went in front of the formation in one of my maroon Berets showing how it should look while worn and a quick block of instruction on how to prep it. Low and behold, a week later, the mess I saw was disastrous with exception to those that I prepped for those who asked.
Those initial Berets never fit right. Too much material. Mine didn't fit right either. Luckily I did not have to wear it for but a few months. The rest of my career it was the maroon.
I also recall in the early 90s, some paratroopers in the 82nd would get the maroon Dutch beret. It looked like a cooks hat when worn. Also known as the pizza hat. They lasted a little longer than the black hiking/tactical boots(I forgot the name) that a lot of us bought because they were comfortable like running shoes. We had to stop wearing them because they were not officially approved or tested.

Response by SGT Brandon Culpepper made Feb 3 at 2020 2:17 AM

2020-02-03T02:17:09-05:00

Airborne All The Way

Response by CW3 Kevin Storm made Jan 6 at 2021 2:32 PM

2021-01-06T14:32:26-05:00

One of things I noticed in the Guard, was the issue Beret and the Clothing Sales Beret, are not one in the same. The Pizza maker Beret is the standard issue thing. It looked like crap. Part of the problem for NG and Reserve Soldiers is not being near a Clothing Sales store. I found when I went in and found the right size, it didn't cover my ears and half my face. That is one part of the problem. The other is, again speaking for NG & AR, is do I have the time to frack with that fool thing? I would read what it took for AD people to make it look right, and to be frank I did not expect that this trend would cross over. Many of the Weekend Warriors I worked with, drove upwards of 12-15 hours to drill, worked and went to school full time. Other priorities in life were going to trump how a cheap piece of felt fit on someone's head. I agree with other posters, it was not meant for the regular soldier to wear. It has no heritage in the regular army. Hell Tri Corner hats have more heritage than berets do. That doesn't mean I want to wear one, now a Stetson, you may talk me into that one.