Berets
Currently in the CSG berets are only worn with the ASU, unless you are in a unit that authorizes wear of the beret with the ACU (i.e. color guard for special occasions). To the left is the CSG beret flash to be worn on the black beret.
Berets Debut in U.S. Military
The first use of the modern beret in the U.S. military was in 1943 when an Army battalion of the 509th Parachute Infantry was given maroon berets by their British counterparts for their service in the war. Though it never stuck, the use of the beret started out as a headgear that designated a special service of the military member and it still continues to have that same designation -- somewhat.
The first widespread use of the headgear by U.S. forces came a few decades later, when a new Army Special Forces unit was developed. They became the special organization that was trained for insurgency and counter-guerrilla warfare and began (unofficially) wearing a green variety in 1953. It took another eight years for the Army’s Special Forces — the “Green Berets” — to win presidential approval from John F. Kennedy to make their headgear official, and in 1961 the green beret of the US Army Special Forces was formally adopted.
In the 1970s, Army policy allowed local commanders to encourage morale-enhancing uniform distinctions, and the use of berets boomed. Armor personnel at Fort Knox, Ky., wore the traditional British black beret, while U.S. armored cavalry regiments in Germany wore the black beret with a red and white oval.
Troops of the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, N.C., started wearing the maroon beret in 1973, while at Fort Campbell, KY, the trend exploded -- with post personnel wearing red, military police donning light green, and the 101st Airborne Division taking light blue as their color. At Ft. Richardson, AK, the 172nd Infantry Brigade began using an olive green beret.
In 1975, the Airborne Rangers got approval from the Army Chief of Staff to use the black beret as their official headgear.
Over the next few years, the whole thing got out of hand, so in 1979 senior Army officials "put on the brakes." Army leadership allowed the Rangers to keep their black berets. In 1980, airborne troops were allowed to continue wearing the maroon version. But all other beret varieties were declared off-limits.
Air Force Berets
The use of berets in the Air Force began in the 1970s. In 1979, enlisted personnel in the Tactical Air Control Party (TACP) AFSC (job) were authorized to wear the black beret. In 1984, two airmen from Pope Air Force Base, North Carolina submitted a design for the flash and crest design, which was approved for all TACP airman in 1985. Air Liaison Officers (ALOs) were also authorized to wear the black beret after they graduated from the Joint Firepower Control Course, conducted at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada. Instead of the crest, they wear their rank insignia on the beret. Air Mobility Liaison Officers (AMLOs) were authorized to wear the black beret in the Air Force, as well. Now, every Air Force Battlefield Airmen (AF Special Ops) were a beret to signify their job.
Present-Day Beret
These days, the United States is on the low end of the spectrum among NATO allies in terms of the variety of berets worn by their military forces.
While most countries have four or five colors authorized for various military segments, Turkey, Greece, and Luxembourg have authorized only three colors for various segments of their forces. Belgium has seven and the United Kingdom has the most variation with nine.
On Oct. 17, 2001, Army Chief of Staff Gen. Eric Shinseki announced that the black beret would become standard Army headgear in the following year. The rationale was to use the sense of pride that the beret had long represented to the Rangers to foster an attitude of excellence among the entire Army as it moved forward with its sweeping transformation effort to a lighter, more deployable, more agile force. This decision, however, set off a firestorm in both the active-duty and veteran Ranger community as well as in the Army’s other two special operations camps, the Special Forces and the airborne.
In 2002, the Army made the tan-color beret the official beret of the U.S. Army Rangers, and all Army soldiers began wearing the black beret.
In June 2011, Army Secretary John McHugh announced that the traditional patrol cap was to be worn with the utility uniform. However, the black beret may be authorized with utility uniforms at a commander's discretion for special ceremonies, and the beret remains part of the Army's dress uniform for all units.
Current Air Force Berets
Black - Tactical Air Control Party (TACP), Air Liaison Officers (ALO), and Air Mobility Liaison Officers (AMLO)
Maroon - Combat Rescue Officers and Pararescuemen (PJs)
Red (scarlet) - Combat Controllers & Special Tactics Officers
Royal Blue - Security Forces and United States Air Force Academy First-Class Cadets & Basic Cadet Training cadre
Grey - Special Operations Weather Technician
Green - Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape (SERE) Specialists
By Rod Powers Updated June 27, 2019
The Beret in U.S. Military Uniform History
I removed the paragraph about "Current Army Berets" from the original article because it's covered in greater depth in the excerpts from DA PAM 670-1 below.
How To Shave And Shape A Military Beret
There's a technique that gives it the perfect look
The U.S. Army Special Forces wear their trademark green berets. Airborne soldiers wear a maroon beret, and other soldiers in the Army wear black berets. Army Rangers wear a tan beret, and the Air Force special operations teams also wear berets.
What Is A Military Beret?
A beret is a hat that is generally flat on the top and usually made of felt. They are sometimes worn as part of military and law enforcement uniforms, though they are folded, shaped and worn in a different style from those commonly worn by civilians.
Military berets are not designed to be worn off the rack. They must first be shaved and shaped to present the sharpest form and fit befitting the military image. There are several methods for achieving the proper beret shape. If you are new to shaping your beret, seek out advice from experienced soldiers to avoid damaging it.
Properly Shaving and Shaping a Beret
The method detailed below is common and not difficult. The entire process can take one to two days to complete, allowing time for the beret to dry after shaping. Make sure your beret is the right size before getting it wet, as the material stretches when it is damp.
Note: If your beret comes with a liner (not all berets will have a liner), remove the liner by cutting it out.
You'll need a razor (a disposable one is best) and some warm water.
Shaving Your Beret
Using a disposable razor, shave your beret, beginning at the center and shaving toward the outer edge in circular motions, until you have a very smooth surface. (Some people use a cigarette lighter to burn off the fuzzy material). Be careful not to shave the same spot multiple times as this will wear the material thin and may create a hole."
- By Rod Powers Updated December 08, 2018
How To Shave And Shape A Military Beret
This article pretty well summed up the process. One thing not touched on is the backer that's inside the beret and behind where the flash goes. I image that a lot of soldiers leave that in and don't even think to touch it, however I can assure you that those who wear the "other than black" berets most certainly do -- from out right removal, to modification, to substitution.
Myself personally, I choose to modify.
I first of all, trimmed the black liner that held the backer and then removed the backer from it.
Next I trimmed the right edge of the backer so that when I drape the beret towards my right eye it falls smartly over the top right corner of the beret flash.
And finally, because the backer in my beret is so thick (making it nearly impossible to attach my DUI to the flash and still be able to secure the butterfly clutches) I have cut a window of sorts into the backer giving plenty of room.
DA PAM 670-1
18–3.Beret
a. Beret, black. The black beret is a clothing bag issue items.
b. Beret, tan, green, maroon. The tan, green, and maroon beret are organizational issue items. Soldiers are authorized wear of organizational beret as indicated below:
(1) Ranger tan beret. Soldiers currently assigned to the following units are authorized to wear the Ranger tan beret. Personnel will wear the approved flash of the unit to which they are assigned
(a) 75th Ranger Regiment.
(b) Ranger Training Brigade.
(c) Ranger-qualified Soldiers in the following units or positions, if they previously served in the 75th Ranger Regiment: U.S. Special Operations Command; U.S. Army Special Operations Command; U.S. Special Operations Command Joint Task Force; and Theater Special Operations Command. The 75th Ranger Regiment is the sole authority for validation of service in the Ranger Regiment.
(2) Green beret. All Special Forces-qualified personnel carrying career management field (CMF) 18 military occupa-tional specialties (MOSs), to include 18A or 180A and command sergeants major (CSMs) reclassified from 18Z to OOZ are authorized to wear the green beret. This includes Senior and Junior ROTC instructors and those attending training in a student status (for example, Command and General Staff College, Defense Language Institute, or the U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy). Special Forces personnel who reclassify to another CMF continue to wear the green beret until a new MOS or branch is awarded. Those in CMF 18 who are filling a drill sergeant position will wear the drill sergeant hat while assigned to a valid drill sergeant position and actively training Soldiers. Soldiers awarded the Special Forces tab, but not branched Special Forces, will only wear the green beret while assigned to a Special Forces unit or position. Special Forces personnel will wear the approved flash of the unit to which they are assigned. Special Forces personnel who are assigned to an organization without an approved flash will wear the generic Special Forces flash (the flash approved for personnel assigned to Special Forces positions but not assigned to Special Forces units).
(3) Maroon beret. All personnel assigned to Airborne units whose primary missions are Airborne operations wear the maroon beret. The Airborne designation for a unit is found in the unit modification table of organization and equipment. Other Soldiers authorized to wear the maroon beret are indicated below. (Personnel will wear the approved flash of the unit to which they are assigned.)
1. Active Army advisors to reserve Airborne units on jump status.
2. All personnel assigned to the Airborne departments of the U.S. Army Infantry School and the U.S. Army Quartermaster School.
3. All personnel assigned to long-range surveillance detachments designated as Airborne.
4. All personnel assigned to the Airborne/Airlift action office.
5. Recruiters of the Special Operations Recruiting Company, U.S. Army Recruiting Command. Personnel will wear the U.S. Army Special Operations Command flash.
6. All personnel assigned to the Airborne procurement team.
7. All personnel assigned to 55th Signal Company Airborne Combat Camera Documentation Team.
8. All personnel assigned to 982d Combat Signal Company Airborne platoons.
9. All personnel assigned to rigger detachments.
10. All personnel assigned to Army element of U.S. Special Operations Command.
c. Description. The beret is wool knitted outer shell lined with silesia interlining and with a sweatband. A rayon adjusting ribbon is threaded through the binding. The beret is equipped with a stiffener on the left front and has two eyelets with an eyelet protector on the right side. Except for color, all classes of berets are the same.
d. How worn. The beret is worn so that the headband (edge binding) is straight across the forehead, 1 inch above the eyebrows. The flash is positioned over the left eye, and the excess materials is draped over to the right ear, extending to at least the top of the ear, and no lower than the middle of the ear. Personnel will cut off the ends of the adjusting ribbon and secure the ribbon knot inside the edge binding at the back of the beret. When worn properly, the beret is formed to the shape of the head; therefore, Soldiers may not wear hairstyles that cause distortion of the intended shape of the beret. Paragraph 19–3c addresses wearing headgear insignia. Figure 18–2 shows wear of the beret. The beret is equipped with a stiffener on the left front for attaching organizational flashes and insignia.
c. Beret (black, tan, green, and maroon). See paragraph 18–3 for additional beret wear guidance . Personnel will wear the following insignia on berets:
(1) Soldiers assigned to units authorized an organizational beret (maroon, tan, green) and all Special Forces Soldiers wear their unit’s distinctive flash on the beret. All other Soldiers wear the Army flash on the black beret, unless authorization for another flash was granted before implementing the black beret as a standard Army headgear. The flash is sewn centered on the stiffener of the beret, with noncontrasting thread (see fig 19–6).
(2) Officers wear nonsubdued grade insignia centered on the flash; chaplains wear their branch insignia (see fig 19–7). See paragraph 19–5b(1)(c) for wear guidance of general officer grade insignia on the beret.
(3) Enlisted personnel wear their DUI centered on the flash. Soldiers assigned to units without a DUI wear the RDI on the flash (see fig 19–8).