Who do you feel should wear the maroon beret?

SGT Henry Norris I ain’t the one denegrating anyone’s service. That’s you: legs, paratrooper lifestyle, no courage to jump, etc. It never ends. You have Rangers in Bn vs Ranger School, those in Airborne unite vs. “5 jumps chump”, 11B vs pog, etc. Some people got Airborne in their contract, some did not. Some requested it later and got it, others got rejected multiple times and gave up. Some people went to combat and some did, mostly dictated by your time frame served and the unit you were in.

SSG William Bowen So what you're saying is, it really boils down to professional jealousy. The fact remains, if you graduated from the Basic Airborne Course, you are qualified. If you served in Airborne units, you are a Paratrooper. Whether your are a 5 jump chump or a cherry making your first jump with your unit, you're qualified. Otherwise, you are not. Date, luck of the draw or what have you it doesn't matter. What matters is being qualified. Back to the question of wearing the maroon beret, if you are Airborne and serve in an Airborne unit the Beret sets you apart because you earned your wings and are on jump status. The Maroon Beret isn't a participation award. It's not like when the Army stole the Black Beret from the Rangers and gave it to Legs so they wouldn't feel left out. Someone here made a comment about how "the Beret is a worthless piece of equipment" only a leg would make such a statement. Since when in the military did pride for your unit and yourself go out the door? Wearing the Beret gives a sense of pride that only those who earn the privilege can understand. Those who are Airborne understand it, legs just don't get it. Since they don't understand that, they bash it and want to take it away. Like I said, it all boils down to professional jealousy. And that is just the way it is.

I had the privilege of wearing a Green Beret while I was in 3/7 SFG. I didn't earn it but I did wear it with pride. It's the same thing, pride through professionalism. When I left 3/7 I put a Maroon Beret on and maintained the same pride. I never wore a leg hat in the Army with the exception of AIT. I didn't go through Army Basic training but that is a whole other story. So that maybe you can understand, a Paratrooper who spends his entire length of service in the Airborne will always have that special attachment to their beret regardless of its color. It's an Airborne thing...

Anyone dumb enough to jump out of a perfectly flyable airplane.
"C-1-30 rolling down the strip,
Stayed at home My tank wouldn't fit,"
;)

SGT Henry Norris - I agree but as a DISM staffer at USASOC (leg) I had to wear one. I always got funny looks with a SOCOM patch and a fatigue hat LOL
Hated it.

All you Airborne guys should try to convince Airborne units that legs should wear fatigue caps. Uniformity is usually an excuse, but we had green beanies and they still wore their green ones at SOCOM. Uniformity would mean that USASFC should put their non flash qualified folks back in green beanies with a candy stripe.

Totally agree, SFC Robert Giffin! As far as uniforms go, the Army has been at Backward, MARCH, since the end of WWII!
CPT Michael Barden

SFC Robert Giffin, again, I agree. I have my father's Navy service dress blues from WWII. But for age, wear and materials, it's virtually indistinguishable from the Navy service dress blues worn today.

Thank you LTC!!! I've been saying that very thing to people for as long as I can remember!!

I like that idea...I never thought any beret made sense except for Green.

Those assigned to an Airborne Infantry units and are qualified parachutist. Not necessarily only those on jump status earning jump pay.