Wearing Berets as opposed to helmets (1 Viewer)

[Saber]

U S Government, lowest bidder to the min. specs. Mister Dave, That chef Boyardee comment, what a gas, I know just what you're saying. I've seen a few of those pizza delivery looking types LOL.

CC Couldn't agree with you more. As a five jump chump (with a few non-reg/unofficial jumps) I never understood why the Army went the Beret route for all? It seems to me that each unit/branch of service has to develop it's own espirit de corps based on its history and uniqueness. I never wanted to wear a beret "just because it looks cool". The SF & Paras who wore them were understandably proud to do so and I think it was a real slap in the face to pass them out to everyone, IMHO. After all, I certainly would not want to have seen some leg infantry type wearing a CAV STETSON.

 

[Mister Dave]

Yes, well it's really awkward when that Chef Boyardee is invariably the full bird OIC of the unit.

MD

 

[DMNamiot]

Hi Guys,

Wow this is a good one and I missed it! Take it from a tanker I dont know too many folks who will say the beret is a nice piece of head gear for the average joes. If you take a look around any Post you will see a lot more folks wearing the patrol cap which is the same style as the old BDU cap. I will say I dont mind the idea of the berets with the Dress Uniforms like the Class A's but for the most part its not a very practical piece of equipment. Its wool so in the summer its hot it has no visor so the sun and rain or snow gets in your eyes etc etc. As for the color well I have heard a lot of tales about why the Rangers went that way so I cant speak for what right looks like there. I guess the big issue is Army Esprite de Corps and trying to get folks to come together as a larger group then just the Rangers or the Airborne Infantry. they get plenty of badges and tabs and other bits and bobs to wear on their uniform to set them apart that they can stop whinning about the color of the berets and just let it go.

All the best

Dave

 

[Saber]

Yes, well it's really awkward when that Chef Boyardee is invariably the full bird OIC of the unit.

MD

LOL. Seen plenty of those too.

 

[Wraith]

Good lord where do you guys get your berets from? In 20 years of seeing my dad wear his beret every day. I don't ever recall seeing him having to do all that nonsense.

Once it has been properly shaped, it should retain that shape unless you do something daft with it. It's just getting it looking right in the first place can take a little time.

 

[Currahee Chris]

.......... as a larger group then just the Rangers or the Airborne Infantry. they get plenty of badges and tabs and other bits and bobs to wear on their uniform to set them apart that they can stop whinning about the color of the berets and just let it go.

WOW WOW WOW Sir!!!

I am actually kind of happy that there are more than a few gridsquares and timezones separating us at the moment cause I can hear some 155 rounds getting ready to come raining into that little town in Washington!!

Scott- MD is correct- some of these chuckleheads running around in the berets looked just plain silly- kind of like Mario from the old donkey king video games- just ate up worse than a soup sandwich!! And yeah, there is a lot of truth to that point about the lowest responsive bidder. It took my unit, granted it was a NG unit, nearly 2 years to get the battalion into the berets. Someone grossly undercalculated the need- not sure how that happened- and guys were being given just really sub par berets to run around in- they didn't shape well- nor were the soldiers being trained on how to properly wear them. Lots of issues on this one.........

 

[fmethorst]

This has often struck me as one of the worst examples of headgear ever. Fortunately it didn't last.

Frank

 

[nasirkasmani]

This has often struck me as one of the worst examples of headgear ever. Fortunately it didn't last.

Frank

Thats true Frank.

Even the French peasants in that era had better headgear than that.

 

[redhugh]

Thats true Frank.

Even the French peasants in that era had better headgear than that.

Obviously not Hugo Boss

 

[nasirkasmani]

Obviously not Hugo Boss

Maybe it was inspired by der Fuhrer, after all, he always wanted to be an artist.

 

[jazzeum]

Doesn't that look like what people are wearing today, originally from Nike I believe.

 

[nasirkasmani]

Doesn't that look like what people are wearing today, originally from Nike I believe.

Imagine the uproar if General Shinseki insists the Rangers wear this.

 

[pwalms]

History and progression Brit, french and US styles- all different.
French had em first in ww1 - famed chassuer alpins - all the brits had were the scottish tams and Irish versions (cobbeans?)(I guess our celtic friends don't consider these berets?)
WW2 Brits red -paras, black tanks, and green commandoes (later Royal marines)Also reconnaissance troops had a light khaki beret.
Regular troops had khaki things that weren't quite berets (unpopular service caps)
1960's on - US 82nd AB actually got theirs after jump training in UK, in WW2, but didn't wear these for years - after formation of the "green berets" for Army SF in the 1960s. Rangers went to sand (the Brit SAS color!) after the Army were forced to wear black. Most Army just do not spend the time to get the look right, which is hard. US berets seem larger then Brit berets.

Of course the USMC laugh at the army berets and would never wear such things! (got the superb 8 pointer!). However some marine recon did wear cammie berets in 'Nam...so there is a precendent.... watch out Marines!