Why do some soldiers wear a maroon beret (Airborne) with the Special Forces insignia?

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 24 Mar 2018 19:59:54 -0400

So I why don't those soldiers wear a green beret if they are part of the special forces group?

Response by COL Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 24 at 2018 8:02 PM

COL Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 24 Mar 2018 20:02:23 -0400

It used to be that if you were assigned to an SF unit you would wear the Green beret. Now you wear the beret you are qualified to wear. So you will see the SF flash on the support people in an SF unit. Only long tabbers wear green beret.

Response by MSG Dan Castaneda made Mar 24 at 2018 8:16 PM

MSG Dan Castaneda — Sat, 24 Mar 2018 20:16:54 -0400

Not everyone assigned to a Special Forces Group is an operator. We have mechanics, cooks, intel, and every other support MOS you can think of also assigned. They all wear maroon berets. With the SF crest on it and also wear the arrow head unit patch with Airborne tab on their shoulder. Only 18 series wear the green berets and also wear the Special Forces tab over the Airborne tab. Also known as the long tab. I hope that clears it up?

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 25 at 2018 1:11 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 25 Mar 2018 01:11:47 -0400

There was a time in the very late 80s where everyone wore the distinctive headgear with a full flash. This was after officers were allowed to branch SF (FA 18 today) and the long tab was already in use. Prior to that if you were SF Qualified you wore the Beret with a full flash and if you were not, you wore the beret with a "candy stripe" below the DUI or officers rank. Now the Airborne Beret serves the same purpose as the candy stripe, but doesn't carry negativity attached to it.

Response by SGM Bill Frazer made Mar 25 at 2018 11:53 AM

SGM Bill Frazer — Sun, 25 Mar 2018 11:53:26 -0400

If you are not qualified as a Green beanie then YOU DON'T wear the damn beret. If you are Airborne qualified then you wear the Maroon beret.

Response by MSgt George Cater made Mar 25 at 2018 2:28 PM

MSgt George Cater — Sun, 25 Mar 2018 14:28:16 -0400

I think the current policy makes much more sense. Way back in the mid 80’s , while on Recruiting Duty, I dated a female Reservist Intel CWO (school teacher) who was assigned to a SF Group. I didn’t even believe her about her wearing a green beret until I saw it and her in uniform.

Response by Maj John Bell made Mar 25 at 2018 4:56 PM

Maj John Bell — Sun, 25 Mar 2018 16:56:49 -0400

I used to think the Army was more fashion conscious about their head gear than the ladies at the local Baptist church. But I've decided it is really a master plan of "confusion warfare." Outside observers are stunned into immobility and dumbfounded long enough for soldiers to come in from the flank and whack you with an e-tool. tricky tricky tricky bastards. ;)

Response by SSG Edward Tilton made Mar 25 at 2018 5:59 PM

SSG Edward Tilton — Sun, 25 Mar 2018 17:59:03 -0400

They aren't SF qualified

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 25 at 2018 6:30 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 25 Mar 2018 18:30:43 -0400

Only soldiers who have successfully graduated the Special Forces Qualification Course who hold an 18 series MOS and are assigned to a Special Forces billet are authorized to wear a green beret. All other soldiers who are assigned to a Special Forces Group wear a maroon beret because they are assigned to an airborne coded position, but are not Special Forces qualified.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 25 at 2018 6:52 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 25 Mar 2018 18:52:35 -0400

As said
Airborne is the requirement for enablers ie non “SF” infantry. Only graduates of SFAS and Q Course earn the “green beret” special Forces fab and beret

Response by SSgt Jimmie Scott made Mar 25 at 2018 10:50 PM

SSgt Jimmie Scott — Sun, 25 Mar 2018 22:50:03 -0400

Hell short tab, long tab they all got to eat and don't make cooks, lntels, motorpool and others special green tabs can't support yourselves solely. I hope this vlear up some stuff and respect everybody..

Response by MSG John Duchesneau made May 3 at 2020 1:04 AM

MSG John Duchesneau — Sun, 03 May 2020 01:04:29 -0400

Probably because they are not SF Tab qualified yet. I agree with this policy.
BTW - I am neither Airborne nor SF.

Response by SGT Henry Norris made May 3 at 2020 5:25 AM

SGT Henry Norris — Sun, 03 May 2020 05:25:37 -0400

In the 80s when I was assigned to 3/7 SFG(ABN) all non-tabbed personnel assigned to the unit wore the Green Beret too. Right or wrong, it was how things were done back then. The SF support units didn't exist then.

Response by MSG David Gagnon made Jul 8 at 2020 8:59 AM

MSG David Gagnon — Wed, 08 Jul 2020 08:59:42 -0400

I hated wearing it. It’s ok for SF, Rangers, AB, etc...

Response by 1SG Ernest Stull made Feb 23 at 2021 10:51 PM

1SG Ernest Stull — Tue, 23 Feb 2021 22:51:58 -0500

It used to be that if you were in Delta you wore the beret of the unit you came from. Now I believe all of the 1SFOD now wears the tan beret. But that is just an observation. Not a fact.