Army Dumps Beret

[ColonelJack]

In what many will see as a victory for comfort (and even common sense), the Army today announced that it is going to phase out the black beret as an everyday wear item, to be replaced -- at the overwhelming request of soldiers -- by a patrol cap.

The beret will remain a part of the dress uniform, according to reports, but will no longer be worn in the field.

Also, Army personnel working at the Pentagon are no longer going to wear their combat uniforms.  Outgoing Chief of Staff Gen. Martin Dempsey says that dress uniforms will again be the norm at the Pentagon.

This, from Yahoo news.

We now return to your regular programming.

Jack

[Eclipse]

Perhaps we can return to some sanity on the pancake as well.

[Flying Pig]

About freakin time.  I wish they would abolish the black beret all together.  Give it back to the Rangers and call it a dark period in Army history.  Shinseki's lame excuse was that wearing a beret would make soldiers feel elite, and that the mindset would somehow translate into everything they did.  Nope.

It came in right as I was getting our so I avoided it all together and never wore one.  My Plt Sgt told me to have one, never got it.  Last day I was the only guy in formation wearing my BDU cover.  Sorry sarge....Im out processing today. See you and your lame hat later.

(For those who are confused because I am a former Marine.......I also did 4 in the Army Reserves.)

[titanII]

While I do find this to be good news...   What is its relevance to CAP?

[Flying Pig]

While I do find this to he good news...   What is it's relevance to CAP?

Relevance???!!!  Its a glorious day for any military or para-military organization!!!  And many of us are vets who may not have known otherwise.  I call it FYI to the general membership, or, in my case, past membership.

[titanII]

While I do find this to he good news...   What is it's relevance to CAP?

Relevance???!!!  Its a glorious day for any military or para-military organization!!!  And many of us are vets who may not have known otherwise.  I call it FYI to the general membership, or, in my case, past membership.

Good enough for me
Long Live the Patrol Cap!

[Thrashed]

Let the French wear the berets.

[PHall]

Let the French wear the berets.

Say that a little louder, I don't believe the Special Forces guys and the Rangers standing next to them heard ya!

[HGjunkie]

Let the French wear the berets.

Say that a little louder, I don't believe the Special Forces guys and the Rangers standing next to them heard ya!

Or the PJ/CCT/Combat weatherman next to them either! 

[The CyBorg is destroyed]

Let the French wear the berets.

Not just the French:


British Special Air Service


German Fallschirmjaeger


British Air Training Corps (British counterpart to CAP)


Canadian SAR specialist, airborne qualified


...and even the Boy Scouts' red beret (I wore one of these 30-odd years ago)

I also think General Shinseki wanted the Army to look more like other NATO countries.

I've seen at least one CAP officer wearing a dark-blue beret with a flight cap badge, which definitely isn't in line with 39-1, but he outranked me, so I didn't say anything.

[Hawk200]

I just hope there's an immediate action message on this. Can't stand that thing. It's not useful with a utility uniform, anyway.

Saw this on army.mil. We've got the option to sew on tapes, rank, and they've approved sewn on badges. Maybe I'll start wearing my wings again.

[Flying Pig]

Whats funny is that AF actually has more berets than the Army

CCT (scarlet) PJs (maroon) SERE (pewter)  Combat Weather (grey) Security Police (blue) TACP (black)

Army (black) Airborne units (maroon) Rangers (tan) SF (green)

By Cyborg
I also think General Shinseki wanted the Army to look more like other NATO countries.

That wasnt his stated reason though.  It was that he wanted the average soldier to "feel" elite. He said it...I was there!  Or at least I heard my CO read his message

[davidsinn]

I've seen at least one CAP officer wearing a dark-blue beret with a flight cap badge, which definitely isn't in line with 39-1, but he outranked me, so I didn't say anything.

That's an Indiana thing. Although we are forbidden from wearing it outside of the wing or at NESA. I'll be sporting mine next weekend.

[PhoenixRisen]

Speaking of beret's...  Maybe someone here familiar with the Navy can help me out with something.

I recently visited my dad at work (Naval Base Point Loma, here in San Diego), and noticed a female sailor wearing the new(ish) black and tan combo, with a funky looking black beret on.  I've heard something about them before, but can't remember the details, nor can I find any info on them.

Anyone familiar with this?

[Flying Pig]

Just female head gear.  Any female can wear it.  Has nothing to do with a unit or specialty.

I didnt know they still wore it.

Wasnt this hat was it?

http://www.acclaimimages.com/_gallery/_image_pages/0471-0705-2915-5914.html

[SarDragon]

It's been around for a long time (according to My Sweetie, late '70s), and most women liked it. It was more comfortable than the 'bucket hat' and easier to take care of.

[PhoenixRisen]

Just female head gear.  Any female can wear it.  Has nothing to do with a unit or specialty.

I didnt know they still wore it.

Wasnt this hat was it?

http://www.acclaimimages.com/_gallery/_image_pages/0471-0705-2915-5914.html

Negative, sir.  It was an actual all-black beret.  I couldn't see what the insignia on it was.

SarDragon -- thanks for the info!

[JC004]

I've seen at least one CAP officer wearing a dark-blue beret with a flight cap badge, which definitely isn't in line with 39-1, but he outranked me, so I didn't say anything.

That's an Indiana thing. Although we are forbidden from wearing it outside of the wing or at NESA. I'll be sporting mine next weekend.

Delaware Wing at least had (not sure about now) this thing going on for, I think ES people. 

Nobody really pays them any mind because they're just sort of stuck there on the river somewhere and to us (PA), they're just kind of still the Lower Counties (of PA) on the Delaware.     But they are a wing!   

[SarDragon]

Just female head gear.  Any female can wear it.  Has nothing to do with a unit or specialty.

I didnt know they still wore it.

Wasnt this hat was it?

http://www.acclaimimages.com/_gallery/_image_pages/0471-0705-2915-5914.html

Negative, sir.  It was an actual all-black beret.  I couldn't see what the insignia on it was.

SarDragon -- thanks for the info!

The one in the pic is the current 'bucket hat'.

[flyboy53]

Whats funny is that AF actually has more berets than the Army

CCT (scarlet) PJs (maroon) SERE (pewter)  Combat Weather (grey) Security Police (blue) TACP (black)

Army (black) Airborne units (maroon) Rangers (tan) SF (green)

By Cyborg
I also think General Shinseki wanted the Army to look more like other NATO countries.

That wasnt his stated reason though.  It was that he wanted the average soldier to "feel" elite. He said it...I was there!  Or at least I heard my CO read his message

True, mine was blue, but I didn't wear it in the field...if I wasn't wearing the old steel pot (showing my age), It was always a fatigue or Navy watch cap.