Wearing a beret with color guard

[C/2d Lt]

Has anyone herd of wearing the beret for the color guard. Our squadron is thinking of requesting for our squadrons color guard to where the beret instead of the service cap that we currently wear. I think this is a good idea something cool and different. What are your thoughts?

[lordmonar]

Get it approved by the wing commander and make sure it is blue...and you are good to go.

[Extremepredjudice]

Why? It will look stupid.


And WHY are you wearing service caps? They are not authorized for Color Guards. Period. (citation below) Only Honor Guards and c/officers (with wing supplement).

Service caps with short sleeve blues looks stupid, anyway.

From 39-1, fig. 2-26, NOTES line 1

Service Cap: Optional for senior members. May be authorized by wing commander for cadet officers. Normally worn with service dress uniform. Cadet NCOs and airmen will not wear the service cap (Exception see Chapter 3).

[abdsp51]

Do you ever have anything positive to say?  If they want to wear berets and get it approved more power to them.  A beret for ceremonial purposes looks more sharp than the service cap. 

[a2capt]

If you intend to compete, I'd shy away from anything else but the prescribed uniform.

It's amazing how much small changes effect the outcome. Peripheral vision included. It's all about what you see, and don't see.  Make changes and ... the results could be non-intended.

[AngelWings]

Ask. The worst someone could possibly ever say to you is "NO YOU STUPID IDIOT! I HOPE YOU DIE FOR ASKING ME THAT YOU TOOL! RELIEVE YOURSELF FROM MY PRESENCE!"

[C/2d Lt]

Let me correct myself. At this current point we are a color guard however we are currently working on development a colors element sometime in the very neer future (Within months). The service caps are for our honor guard witch currently has all honor guard members in it but we still consider it a color guard. I think it would be cool idea also seaming that we would be able to wear it with our BDU's as well (senior member told us). 

[Luis R. Ramos]

Extreme,

No, service caps with short sleeves does not look stupid. It may be unusual, but it is as stupid as wearing it with the long sleeve.

Flyer

[Eclipse]

Let me correct myself. At this current point we are a color guard however we are currently working on development a colors element sometime in the very neer future (Within months). The service caps are for our honor guard witch currently has all honor guard members in it but we still consider it a color guard. I think it would be cool idea also seaming that we would be able to wear it with our BDU's as well (senior member told us).

Most bad ideas start with "I think it would be cool...".

[abdsp51]

Biggest way to get something shot down "Looks Cool!".  When I was wearing a beret as a cadet in JROTC it was a distinctive item for our drill team(rifle mainly), color guard, and the honor guard.  I headed up the honor guard my senior year and we tried a couple different variations and come back to the beret.  Why it looked more sharp was easier to obtain and it was a distinct piece of headgear for us. 

Now for CAP purposes propose as a distinct headgear for a color guard for distinction and not because it looks cool.  Plus simply because a SM told you is never a good idea to use as a source. 

Do not confuse the above with wearing the beret awarded from NBB. 

[spaatzmom]

Let me correct myself. At this current point we are a color guard however we are currently working on development a colors element sometime in the very neer future (Within months). The service caps are for our honor guard witch currently has all honor guard members in it but we still consider it a color guard. I think it would be cool idea also seaming that we would be able to wear it with our BDU's as well (senior member told us).

After trying to determine what you are trying to say, let me see if I understand.  Currently you have an Honor Guard, which has all Honor Guard members only, which it should.  You are performing colors element functions which are a part of the Honor Guard duties.  Your squadron does not have a separate Color Guard which is not part of the Honor Guard.  You wish to change the very specifically delineated uniform regulation regarding Honor Guards because it would look cool.  Why?  It is not needed and would add to the expense of either the squadron or the members.  If you are really that h*** bent on trying to use a beret that for the most part is hot and sloppy looking, establish a regular squadron Color Guard, write up the proper proposal, with correct spelling, grammar, punctuation, and send it up the food chain.  Do not be surprised if it is rejected without a reason.  In the meantime, remember that Honor Guards do not perform any of the rifle, funeral, or color elements in BDU's.

[Extremepredjudice]

Why do you need distinction? Do your color guard members not remember they are in color guard?

Are people trying to sneak in and pretend they are in color guard?

[lordmonar]

Why do you need distinction? Do your color guard members not remember they are in color guard?

Are people trying to sneak in and pretend they are in color guard?

Why does everyone have to shoot this idea down?

Then question has been answered.  YOUR and MY opinion about what it looks like, how practical it is, if it is cool or nor, or if you need or don't need distinction are not important.

The only opinion that counts is his chain of command.

Ask your commander to ask the wing commander.....that is all.

[abdsp51]

If you are really that h*** bent on trying to use a beret that for the most part is hot and sloppy looking, establish a regular squadron Color Guard, write up the proper proposal, with correct spelling, grammar, punctuation, and send it up the food chain.  Do not be surprised if it is rejected without a reason.  In the meantime, remember that Honor Guards do not perform any of the rifle, funeral, or color elements in BDU's.

Ma'am, while you other points are valid and spot on, I will have to disagree with you on this aspect.  I wore a beret for 12 years of my career and it always looked sharp and I never had an issue with it being too hot.  It all comes down to the person caring about their appearance.  A properly sized and taken care of beret looks exceptionally sharp regardless of the uniform worn. 

To the OP the only beret authorized to be worn currently with BDUs is the one awarded at NBB.  And as a colors element you should always stick to established guidelines established. 

[AngelWings]

Give it a shot. You never know. What looks good to me (I personally do not like berets because they defy something I cannot:  gravity) may not look good to you.

[spaatzmom]

If you are really that h*** bent on trying to use a beret that for the most part is hot and sloppy looking, establish a regular squadron Color Guard, write up the proper proposal, with correct spelling, grammar, punctuation, and send it up the food chain.  Do not be surprised if it is rejected without a reason.  In the meantime, remember that Honor Guards do not perform any of the rifle, funeral, or color elements in BDU's.

Ma'am, while you other points are valid and spot on, I will have to disagree with you on this aspect.  I wore a beret for 12 years of my career and it always looked sharp and I never had an issue with it being too hot.  It all comes down to the person caring about their appearance.  A properly sized and taken care of beret looks exceptionally sharp regardless of the uniform worn. 

To the OP the only beret authorized to be worn currently with BDUs is the one awarded at NBB.  And as a colors element you should always stick to established guidelines established.

Sorry, I was talking in the context of cadets not AD, who take better care of their uniform parts than cadets often do.  Few cadets know how to properly size or care for a beret and in the majority of squadrons, I doubt there are that many actually active SM's who do either considering the general age of SM's in my area are far older than when berets came into effect.

[Sapper168]

....To the OP the only beret authorized to be worn currently with BDUs is the one awarded at NBB.  And as a colors element you should always stick to established guidelines established.

Not exactly.  The Blue beret awarded at NBB is the only one authorized to be worn with the Saint Albans crest and only in BDU's(BBDU's).  The blue Beret may be authorized for wear  for color guard, drill teams, bands and ES partisipants.  Table 1-4 of CAPM 39-1 has all the info of when, where, etc..

[abdsp51]

Ma'am, it all comes down to those willing to put in the time to teach and enforce standards.  I have taught a uniform class to my cadets and most of them will tell you I am stickler for things.  If it was authorized for my cadets I can guarantee that they would be wearing it right and be properly sized.

[AngelWings]

A Color Guard or Honor Guard team should be the STANDARD of the squadron. Their job outside of their events is to present the most professional appearence. They are a representation of CAP in a very public way.

[C/2d Lt]

This was just an idea that was brought to me. I liked the idea because it would be something different that we could wear on occasion.

In addition I do want to say for anyone that doesn't know about the service caps, and actually has one, is that in my experience(with the american flag) they are a pain to march with. They continuously bounce on the brim of your service cap and move it all around your head.

We even had one cadet have it fall right off. We do not win the chin straps because we are just presenting the colors and such of that nature so there is really no need to and if we did it would look silly. Berets would be easer because you would be able to actually see and not worry about it falling off because the flag is nocking into it.