Why did the army switch from garrison caps to berets?

I believe it was the biggest mistake Gen Shensheki made in his career. The soldiers didn't want the black berets for the specific reason they belonged to the Rangers.

For a man who wore a Ranger patch on his uniform, he didn't seem to have much respect for them.

I think every soldier looked at the men who earned the right to wear the Black Beret with envy. Millions have tried but only thousands earned it. The same goes for the Green Beret.

No, it didn't lessen the distinction of the Rangers. It wasn't the Beret that made a Ranger. The distinction of a Ranger is that they are the best of the best ot the best this country has to offer. The color of the Beret only makes it easier for me to recognize a Ranger and start having the appropriate weak kneed admiration and awe. This is a man that does everyday what I only fantasize doing maybe, once a day.`

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RE:

Why did the army switch from garrison caps to berets?

The US army for the longest time wore the garrison cap. The rangers being elite were given the distinction of wearing a black beret. Then in 2001 it was decided that all of the army should wear the black beret(some say because all the soldiers should feel special not just the rangers). This caused...

I agree with the individual that says that a beret is a useless item of clothing, for it doesn't protect your eyes/face from the sun. The purpose of a hat is to protect the head and face from the sun, and while I was in the military we wore garrison caps only while traveling as they were easer to secure than a shaped or 'frame,' style of cap when required by courtesy or regulation to remove your hat. Now the style of the men's garrison cap that the Army chose was a poor one, as the Marines and Navy men's caps had/have a better pattern and don't consistently look 'scrunched' when worn. The women's caps, as they are made differently don't/didn't have the 'scrunching' problem as they folded flat, and were made to fit the head.

General Shinseki headed up the change to the black beret for all soldiers, I believe he did it for the simple reason that the garrison cap looked like crap. The rangers were not the first to wear the black beret either.....Combat Armor Crewmen (Tankers) first wore the black beret because it was brimless so a gunner could put his head on the sights without constraint and it was black to help hide grease stains. I think that the entire Army wearing a black beret is ridiculous.....many female soldiers have a hard time wearing it properly.....not to mention the wicked tan line you get during the summer (try picking up chicks like that).

I don't know why, but I prefer the Beret, and not because I want to feel special. The USAF also has certain groups who wear the Beret (Combat Weather, Combat Controller, Search and Rescue, Military Police) It may have been a way to make the headgear more uniform, with just colors denoting different specialties.

I think it did lessen the the distinction of the rangers. I think they switched because it helped recruiting to say that the new recruits would get to wear a beret.

With fatigues, now known as BDU's , we wore regular green baseball caps except in combat where we wore the helmet liner with steel pot. In class A's and khaki stateside we wore the flat garrison cap , overseas we wore the bus driver hat. We had other names for them, but I can't mention them here.

The beret dis functional as head dress for any purpose. hell why don't they just wear blue bonnets, at least they won't get a sun burn.

Army Garrison Hat

I think we should strive to make the military less French.