Posted on Nov 20, 2017
Earning it: A complete history of Army berets and who's allowed to wear them
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Beret
Beret
Posted 7 y ago
Responses: 6
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You used to have to earn a beret. Thanks to Gen. Shinsecki all you have to do is enlist. Bad idea from the start. I retired a month or so before they were issued. I refused mine and just kept the old soft cap. I came into the army when the beret was earned, not ISSUED. What disgusts me is most soldiers that have them can't even wear them right. They look stupid.
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SFC Joseph Lumpkins
I have to laugh at you statement becasue that was me. I retired in Jan 2002, but with all my terminal leave and permissive TDY, I walked out the door in September 2001 and we were scheduled to go through the beret ceremony, which I made sure that I had an appointment becasue I refused to wear that beret because of the same feeling, I did not earn it.
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SSG Javier Antonsanti
The only berry that is earned, is the green beret, all others are organizational headgear. I knew tons of people who served in airborne units, and were legs, same with the black one when it was still the headgear for the Ranger BN’s, lots of people were wearing it and they didn’t have a tab, and I can remember as far as the early 90’s that support personal in the groups were wearing the green one, till the army changed that policy and now they are issued the marrón color beret.
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LT Leonard Fahrni
I was a Carrier sailor, then switched services and played trumpet in the National Guard band. I was embarrassed when, after they gave us all berets, an old vet came up and shook my hand, looked me in the eye, and told me he knew we had to earn those. I was required to wear it, but that was a pretty low moment, trying to explain it to him since I didn't want to take credit for anything. My cousin was a SF officer killed in Vietnam and earned a green beret - paid full price
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PV2 Duane Schlender
Shinescki was my 5 star. He was just as useless in uniform as he was when he was ruining the v.a.
Usually my posts are a bit more intellectual and thought. For once this is just my opinion. The man didnt deserve a uniform nor any leadership in the v.a.
Usually my posts are a bit more intellectual and thought. For once this is just my opinion. The man didnt deserve a uniform nor any leadership in the v.a.
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Its funny. The only branch of service that laughed at the futility of the Beret argument, whether you earn it or just get it, was the Marine Corps. They do not have Berets. Even I see the stupidity in the argument. If it was for specialized units in the Army, then they have the right to distinguish themselves. But, this is just embarrassing.
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PFC Bradley Campbell
dont we have some gays in the pentagon who can sort this mess out? you know--Queer eye for the military guy?
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I feel this articles timing was linked with rolling out the SFAB unit and the hostility created with the COS decision to issue the olive brown beret, yes it was green. There's a place in our Army for this unit but what a failure it was presenting it to the public. The SF community wasn't attacking the soldiers who volunteered for it but went after the concept, heraldry and selection process to establish it. The issuance of the Green beret put the dagger in the back causing current and former SF members to stand their ground. Everyone saw what a horrible decision Eric Shinseki made with the Black beret and how it divided a culture, created dissent and broke apart the Army community. The Army in whole doesn't want or like it and I'm surprised they haven't reversed this decision yet. A better discussion we should present is how to bring back a warrior culture in our Army, something that's getting more lost with each new generation of soldiers. I'm really envious of the USMC and how they stood their ground, kept their traditions and didn't buckle to politicians. You either make their standards or don't. There's no changing of standards to fit the person, you can or can't. Is this new unit the Army is creating deserving of a brown beret? I'm hearing it's a recruiting tool to attract soldiers but why is this needed. I'm sure it'll look great with the unpopular blue ASU anyway.
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SSG Robert Webster
Passing Combat Endurance Test is no longer required for infantry officers
Marine Corps officials say the change is not lowering standards.
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MSG John Joseph
I saw that earlier and thank myself for retiring before having to deal with this drama.
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