Posted on Apr 27, 2015
What would you recommend as a change to the Beret? I don't know anyone that likes it, but was it an improvement to the garrison cap?
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Would stick with the beret and just change the color, or would you choose something else?
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Uniforms
Uniforms
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 19
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I'd recommend doing away with the Black beret for general wear. Those of us that earned a beret should definitely be allowed to wear them though. So, basically, the beret should be earned, not just worn as a general headgear.
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SGT Anthony Rossi
There is nothing more frustrating than a decoration that has no value. So I definatly agree with earning the right to wear something.
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SPC (Join to see)
Just an fyi, I realize the berets you are talking about are the Ranger, SF, airborne, etc. but there is actually a ceremony now when troops graduate BCT to have their berets
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SGT Logan Beckwith
Well its a BS ceremony then because all of the different berets were awarded to the army based on where they were and who they were working with. Each beret has a higher meaning, including the black beret, than "congratulations: you graduated our most basic training course." Even the black beret was originally awarded to a specific type of unit (a Tanker unit if I remember right). Just because they changed the rules to allow everyone to wear them in 2001 doesn't mean that all of that history is erased. The rest of us are talking about getting back to the REAL meaning of the berets and, once again, only allowing those who have EARNED them to wear them.
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SGT Logan Beckwith
I remember them just tossing us a beret and saying "Shape it and put it on. You'll be wearing that from now on." lol
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SGT Anthony Rossi, I'm of the opinion that wearing of the beret, other than for special operations forces, is just one of the many horrible decisions made by the Army regarding the wear of the uniform. I would go back to the service cap and the garrison cap immediately. The caps look infinitely better than the beret, and all the other services still use those two covers. The Army should as well.
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SGT Anthony Rossi
I didn't like the garrison cap, but when they went to the beret all of a sudden the garrison cap looked great!!!! Thanks LTC
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SGT Logan Beckwith
Everyone talks about SOF, but then redefines it just the Green Berets, forgetting that AIRBORNE wore it first. 509th to be more specific. So ditch it for all the dirty legs out there and leave the ones who actually earned it alone.
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LTC Stephen C.
@SGT Logan Beckwith, as a matter of fact, I was not redefining SOF to Special Forces. In fact, in this instance I was including all Army SOF, which would include Rangers, but I really wasn't that explicit.
I liked your historical piece about the 509th being awarded the red beret by the British in 1942. I did not know that, so thanks for the history lesson.
I guess my personal bias slips in here, but I still prefer the garrison cap to the maroon beret. It was what I wore after I went to jump school in 1970, and is the look most associated with airborne organizations as they developed in WWII and afterward, until the adoption of the maroon beret.
I liked your historical piece about the 509th being awarded the red beret by the British in 1942. I did not know that, so thanks for the history lesson.
I guess my personal bias slips in here, but I still prefer the garrison cap to the maroon beret. It was what I wore after I went to jump school in 1970, and is the look most associated with airborne organizations as they developed in WWII and afterward, until the adoption of the maroon beret.
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Coming from an ol' Jarhead (who never really understood the Army)... I suppose at one point, the beret was a sign of "different" and "special." Problem with this concept is that every command, unit, and MOS developed their own --to a point that they're not special anymore. On ship, the aerodales wear different colored jerseys to indicate their role in the operations... also makes it easier to manage the flight deck. However, when these men/women return to wearing their "regular" uniforms, everyone looks... well... uniform. To me, the beret always appeared eccentric --and only served to create more confusion for those who didn't wear 'em. Originally berets were earned, right? Now, they're part of simply joining a unit... Where's the sense of accomplishment in that? Someone, who understands berets, please straighten me out here. Otherwise, just put on a garrison cover.
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SGT Jimmy Carpenter
The beret was originally worn by special operations units.
Maroon- Airborne units
Black- Rangers
Green- Special Forces
When I first joined, the PC or patrol cap is what we wore. I remember when the transition to the black beret happened and I hated it. It's wool so it's hot. It's black so it draws heat from the sun making it hotter. There's no brim to keep the sun or rain out of your eyes. It was also a symbol of something special and set those soldiers apart from "regular" soldiers.
Now it's been in place for so long, I don't know that they'd go back to the PC. I think that with all the talk of all branches having the same ACU color pattern, the top Army brass would want to keep the beret to set the Army apart from the other branches.
Maroon- Airborne units
Black- Rangers
Green- Special Forces
When I first joined, the PC or patrol cap is what we wore. I remember when the transition to the black beret happened and I hated it. It's wool so it's hot. It's black so it draws heat from the sun making it hotter. There's no brim to keep the sun or rain out of your eyes. It was also a symbol of something special and set those soldiers apart from "regular" soldiers.
Now it's been in place for so long, I don't know that they'd go back to the PC. I think that with all the talk of all branches having the same ACU color pattern, the top Army brass would want to keep the beret to set the Army apart from the other branches.
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