Giving the Rangers Black Beret to everyone in the Army?

[steve1 5]

30 years ago, in the Army, the only people that I can recall who wore a beret were Special Forces(Green berets)and Rangers (black beret, now tan). Both are elite units that take great determination and hard work to earn the right to wear their beret. Now everywhere you look everyone in the army is wearing the ranger's black beret, even new recruits. Am I the only one that has an issue with this? To me it's like seeing a 300 way patch on a 20 jump wonder....Steve1

[tcnelson 1]

no, you're not the only one. i think it was probably part of a "make people feel better recruitment campaign" but, oh well. this is the second time this has happened to the rangers i think.

"Don't talk to me like that assface...I don't work for you yet." - Fletch
NBFT, Deseoso Rodriguez RB#1329

[sneaky 0]

The 'Tanned' Beret is worn by the SAS in the UK, and a similar darker Tan by some of the Elite Infantry Regts. This is reconized as the symbol of hard work, determination and pure professionalism. If anything for some the new beret of the rangers symbolizes exactly that.

[lawrocket 3]

This bullshit happened right before I got out. It cemented my decision to leave a "feel good" Army being forced to wear a black beret I had no business wearing...

My wife is hotter than your wife.

[jdhill 0]

Where have you been? This happened like 4 or 5 years ago...

And yes, it is ridiculous... You would think that someone would step up and at least show them how to wear it "properly"... most of them look like they still have the lining in them... I'm glad I was out when it happend.

J

All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing. - Edmund Burke

[mnealtx 0]

Wait until you see the new deal about the combat badges....

Mike
I love you, Shannon and Jim.
POPS 9708 , SCR 14706

[Alias 0]

or wait until you hear about Ranger School being open to any MOS - cooks, truck drivers etc

Carpe Diem

[dorbie 0]

As long as they don't MAKE you use a black beret the Rangers can always go for another color
That would be the best way to respond to the silliness. Improvise, adapt, overcome, or is that exclusively the purview of the Marines?

[BillyVance 35]

I know... the Pentagon's gone up-shit-creek these days. The military's not supposed to make their soldiers feel good... They're supposed to make their soldiers ready to kick ass anywhere in the world, period.

The soldiers sent to battle already get combat pay and if I'm not mistaken, a theater of operations ribbon or whatever it's called, that goes on the left breast of the dress uniform. Medals are a waste of money unless heroic deeds and wounds occurred...

Just my humble opinion.

"Mediocre people don't like high achievers, and high achievers don't like mediocre people." - SIX TIME National Champion coach Nick Saban

[lawrocket 3]

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or wait until you hear about Ranger School being open to any MOS - cooks, truck drivers etc

This is one I don't mind. Frankly, as a transporter, some of these 88M's get stuck in places where some Ranger training and knowledge would come in handy. Everybody's secondary MOS is 11B. And if I were to see a truck driver with a Ranger Tab, I'd want that guy on my convoy.

My wife is hotter than your wife.

[kallend 2,150]

"The first use of the modern beret in the U.S. military was in 1943, when a battalion of the 509th Parachute Infantry was given maroon berets by their British counterparts for their service in the war.

"In 1951, the Marine Corps experimented with green and blue berets, but dismissed them because they looked too “foreign” and “feminine.”

"The first widespread use of the headgear by U.S. forces came shortly after, when a new Army organization that was specially trained for insurgency and counterguerrilla warfare began 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.

"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. In Alaska, 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, and in 1979 senior Army officials put on the brakes, Bradford said. The leadership allowed the Rangers to keep their black berets and in 1980, agreed to allow airborne troops to continue wearing the maroon version. But all others varieties were declared off-limits."


Current Army Berets

Black - All soldiers
Maroon - Airborne units (Paratroopers)
Tan - Ranger Battalions
Green - Special Forces units

...

The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one.

[Alias 0]

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or wait until you hear about Ranger School being open to any MOS - cooks, truck drivers etc

This is one I don't mind. Frankly, as a transporter, some of these 88M's get stuck in places where some Ranger training and knowledge would come in handy. Everybody's secondary MOS is 11B. And if I were to see a truck driver with a Ranger Tab, I'd want that guy on my convoy.

Agreed. But by previously limiting it to combat arms soldiers and those who were assigned to the 75th Ranger Regiment or Ranger Training Brigade, the instructors are working hard to train "fighters"

Seems like a huge stress will be put on the training resources. Some think it will lesson the effectivness of the school overall. And is oart of the "feel good" BS

Carpe Diem

[Jimbo 0]

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Where have you been? This happened like 4 or 5 years ago...

Not only did it happen 4 or 5 years ago, but I'm pretty sure that it was discussed here at least once. Might be neat to dig that one out of the archives.

I found it, it must have been Pre-SC because it's currently in the Bonfire: http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?do=post_view_flat;post=883278;page=1;sb=post_latest_reply;so=ASC;mh=50;

-
Jim

"Like" - The modern day comma
Good bye, my friends. You are missed.

[quade 4]

I understand about Esprit de Corps and all that jazz, but the very coolest people in the word don't wear hats and badges to announce it to the world.

They simply do their job and blend into the background as much as possible.

quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver

[JohnRich 4]

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Wait until you see the new deal about the combat badges....

Wait don't tell me. They're going to give everybody one, because the lack of one creates low self-esteem for those who don't have combat experience?

Heck, they might as well just give everyone an expert marksmanship badge too, whether they earned it or not.

Come to think of it, everyone should be promoted to General!

[ltdiver 3]

"The Ballad of the Green Beret"

ltdiver

Don't tell me the sky's the limit when there are footprints on the moon

[jimbarry 0]

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Wait don't tell me. They're going to give everybody one, because the lack of one creates low self-esteem for those who don't have combat experience?

For someone who is normally pretty informed before busting in with an opinion, you've gone out a stretch there. It's called the Combat Action Badge and nothing about self-esteem is in its description. And furthermore, it takes nothing away from the CIB, which doesn't change.

Many different types of units are being detailed lately with infantry-type duties. Artillerymen and tankers on dismounted patrols in urban areas, handling similar missions to inf units. Let's just hope they keep the bar high and not let this award slip into the hands of someone who happened to hear a round fall out in the distance somewhere.

As a former soldier in units with and without berets, I found the beret to be a pain in the arse for a few reasons. For one, the bdu patrol cap is much more practical for keeping the sun off the eyes.

[JohnRich 4]

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For someone who is normally pretty informed before busting in with an opinion, you've gone out a stretch there. It's called the Combat Action Badge and nothing about self-esteem is in its description.

Thank you for the introductory compliment.
My message was tongue-in-cheek, and I had thought that was self-evident. I'm sorry I didn't make it more clear.

I really don't think anyone should have a mark of distinction of any kind, unless they've darned well earned it.

[Ron 10]

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They simply do their job and blend into the background as much as possible.

No one likes a peacock.

However when I got my Beret, it was a proud moment. It looks good in the dress uniform, and if you have earned it...Good for you.

Gen "Shitalkis" desire to give a Beret to everyone was a shame. Just like many things in todays society instead of making those that want something work hard for it, they just give it away.

Taking the Black Beret away from the Rangers to give it to some Clerk who whinned about not getting enough pussy without one and in a lame attempt to boost the POG's self esteme to prevent the Doc from giving him prozac was a shame...Rangers EARNED the Beret.

"No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

[Guest]

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They simply do their job and blend into the background as much as possible.

No one likes a peacock.

However when I got my Beret, it was a proud moment. It looks good in the dress uniform, and if you have earned it...Good for you.

Gen "Shitalkis" desire to give a Beret to everyone was a shame. Just like many things in todays society instead of making those that want something work hard for it, they just give it away.

Taking the Black Beret away from the Rangers to give it to some Clerk who whinned about not getting enough pussy without one and in a lame attempt to boost the POG's self esteme to prevent the Doc from giving him prozac was a shame...Rangers EARNED the Beret.

Hearty agreement.

mh

.

"The mouse does not know life until it is in the mouth of the cat."

[steve1 5]

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I understand about Esprit de Corps and all that jazz, but the very coolest people in the word don't wear hats and badges to announce it to the world.

They simply do their job and blend into the background as much as possible.

I think you may be missing the point on this, so I thought I'd add a few lines. I guess my point is that I respect people who have accomplished things in life. There's people who have worked their rear off to earn something, and it just bothers me when the standards are lowered to where everyone gets one. In the military it might be a patch or medal or even a beret. I'm not saying that the only way that some people can feel good is to show off what they have earned.

This example might fit. Suppose a person spends years and years of dedication and discipline and finally earns a degree to practice medicine. I'm sure that person would look at their diploma or license hanging on the wall as a source of pride. Or even feel good when someone called them Doctor. But say for whatever reason, the standards were suddenly changed and everyone who now buys a box of Cracker Jacks can have that same diploma or license. All you have to do is spend 50 cents and open the box and now everyone will call you Doctor. This is kind of how it feels to me.

Life isn't fair, but this still smells like bullshit to me....Steve1

[SpeedRacer 1]

Hey, don't the French wear black berets?

Speed Racer
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[kallend 2,150]

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They simply do their job and blend into the background as much as possible.

No one likes a peacock.

However when I got my Beret, it was a proud moment. It looks good in the dress uniform, and if you have earned it...Good for you.

Gen "Shitalkis" desire to give a Beret to everyone was a shame. Just like many things in todays society instead of making those that want something work hard for it, they just give it away.

Taking the Black Beret away from the Rangers to give it to some Clerk who whinned about not getting enough pussy without one and in a lame attempt to boost the POG's self esteme to prevent the Doc from giving him prozac was a shame...Rangers EARNED the Beret.

Tankers were wearing black berets before the Rangers. Paratroops were wearing berets before anyone else in the army.

...

The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one.

[lawrocket 3]

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Tankers were wearing black berets before the Rangers. Paratroops were wearing berets before anyone else in the army.

Barbers were performing surgeries before physicians were. Does this mean that doctors should be considered no better than barbers today?

My wife is hotter than your wife.

[Ron 10]

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Tankers were wearing black berets before the Rangers. Paratroops were wearing berets before anyone else in the army.

So?

Does that make it OK to take the Rangers Beret away and give it to a POG just to make them feel special?

How about this...Wanna Feel special?...BE special.

"No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334