What would you recommend as a change to the Beret? I don't know anyone that likes it, but was it an improvement to the garrison cap?

SGT Anthony Rossi — Mon, 27 Apr 2015 12:53:14 -0400

Would stick with the beret and just change the color, or would you choose something else?

Response by Capt Richard I P. made Apr 27 at 2015 1:09 PM

Capt Richard I P. — Mon, 27 Apr 2015 13:09:59 -0400

Just go back to the garrison cap.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 27 at 2015 1:14 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 27 Apr 2015 13:14:52 -0400

I would like them not to squeeze a permanent line across my forehead. A bit of stretchiness to the band, perhaps?

I like them for dress as they stand out more than the flight cap does. However, when I was in, we had to wear them at all times (unless wearing helmet). I would've loved to have been able to wear my patrol cap while in the field.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 27 at 2015 1:33 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 27 Apr 2015 13:33:14 -0400

an improvement? A beret is harder to maintain, harder to get the same look across the force, harder to store/carry(when not on your head). I am not saying go back to garrison caps but military formal wear has kinda stagnated since the 1940s, all we do is change the colors and tailor it deifferently. So I guess we are kinda stuck with it.

Response by SGT Anthony Rossi made Apr 27 at 2015 1:44 PM

SGT Anthony Rossi — Mon, 27 Apr 2015 13:44:27 -0400

What do you all think about having a cap that is Military Occupation Specific. For example: a cover that has a colored strip indicating your MOS

Blue -infantry
Yellow - tanker
Orange -signal
Red- artillery
Purple/yellow -chemical
And so on?

Response by LTC Stephen C. made Apr 27 at 2015 2:12 PM

LTC Stephen C. — Mon, 27 Apr 2015 14:12:09 -0400

SGT Anthony Rossi, I'm of the opinion that wearing of the beret, other than for special operations forces, is just one of the many horrible decisions made by the Army regarding the wear of the uniform. I would go back to the service cap and the garrison cap immediately. The caps look infinitely better than the beret, and all the other services still use those two covers. The Army should as well.

Response by SGT John Wesley made Apr 27 at 2015 3:20 PM

SGT John Wesley — Mon, 27 Apr 2015 15:20:08 -0400

Just a thought... Btw, I hated the Garrison Cap...

Response by SGT Logan Beckwith made Apr 27 at 2015 3:21 PM

SGT Logan Beckwith — Mon, 27 Apr 2015 15:21:55 -0400

I'd recommend doing away with the Black beret for general wear. Those of us that earned a beret should definitely be allowed to wear them though. So, basically, the beret should be earned, not just worn as a general headgear.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 27 at 2015 6:59 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 27 Apr 2015 18:59:28 -0400

I like the Beret. If it is worn right it looks very sharp.

Response by Capt Mark Strobl made Apr 27 at 2015 7:10 PM

Capt Mark Strobl — Mon, 27 Apr 2015 19:10:30 -0400

Coming from an ol' Jarhead (who never really understood the Army)... I suppose at one point, the beret was a sign of "different" and "special." Problem with this concept is that every command, unit, and MOS developed their own --to a point that they're not special anymore. On ship, the aerodales wear different colored jerseys to indicate their role in the operations... also makes it easier to manage the flight deck. However, when these men/women return to wearing their "regular" uniforms, everyone looks... well... uniform. To me, the beret always appeared eccentric --and only served to create more confusion for those who didn't wear 'em. Originally berets were earned, right? Now, they're part of simply joining a unit... Where's the sense of accomplishment in that? Someone, who understands berets, please straighten me out here. Otherwise, just put on a garrison cover.

Response by SGT Toby Woodrich made Apr 27 at 2015 7:14 PM

SGT Toby Woodrich — Mon, 27 Apr 2015 19:14:27 -0400

Would rather my PC or bonny cap, you know the one that looks like a safari hat. Hated berets they are to much trouble for everyday wear. Maybe keep em for ceremony's and such. That is one thing I can say I liked about being deployed most of my time, I didn't have to deal with the beret much or a lot of garrison BS for that matter plus I was stationed in Germany so was a lot more laid back on a whole from what I hear as for as having to stop to talk on a cell phone or smoke and such.

Response by Lt Col Jim Coe made Apr 27 at 2015 9:38 PM

Lt Col Jim Coe — Mon, 27 Apr 2015 21:38:30 -0400

Dump the berets for all but SOF.

Response by Maj Chris Nelson made Apr 27 at 2015 9:39 PM

Maj Chris Nelson — Mon, 27 Apr 2015 21:39:07 -0400

From a medical standpoint, the beret is worthless. Also worthless would be a Garrison cap (use for dress uniform only...but still worthless). A bit LESS then worthless, but still not worth much is the old BDU cap. I would like to see the Boonie Hat become the standard ABU/ACU/BDU/whatever it is being called today uniform hat. It provides more coverage and protection from the sun, decreasing some exposure that could, long term, cause skin cancer in areas that are already higher risk.... ears, nose, cheeks.

Response by SGM Mikel Dawson made Apr 27 at 2015 9:52 PM

SGM Mikel Dawson — Mon, 27 Apr 2015 21:52:45 -0400

Garrison cap - shaded the eyes from the sun, rain, if you wore glasses them as well, easy to take care of, easy to wear, very practical

Beret - needed shaved and shaped, sorry-just can't think of anything good!

Response by CW3 Kevin Storm made May 20 at 2015 4:53 PM

CW3 Kevin Storm — Wed, 20 May 2015 16:53:59 -0400

Get rid of it once and fore all. I would prefer we go back to the WWII style Garrison Cap that was king of "rounded" instead of the Green Garrison cap which looked like a mailing envelope.

Response by CSM Charles Hayden made May 20 at 2015 5:06 PM

CSM Charles Hayden — Wed, 20 May 2015 17:06:56 -0400

SGT Anthony Rossi, I always enjoyed my patrol cap w/ ear flaps for cold weather.

Response by CW3 Kevin Storm made May 28 at 2015 4:45 PM

CW3 Kevin Storm — Thu, 28 May 2015 16:45:38 -0400

If elected POTUS, the first meeting I would have with Army COS and CSM would be to take their beret's and toss them in the trash can wear they belong. Sign the orders making it effective immediately that those things go. That is how much I dislike them. As for the what to replace them with, back to the WWII styled garrison cap, use the epaulets for what it was meant for garrison cap storage. I always liked how the 101st had their patch on the garrison cap. Looked really sharp. Ditch the unit crest.

Give the Beret's back to Airborne units, Stetsons to Cav units, hell I would rather wear a modern version of a civil war kepi, than a beret. It is uniquely American not some European/NATO thing. But I would rather see one universal boot. None on the tanker boot, airborne boot, neither boot has really shown to be more effective for the environments we are in.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made May 29 at 2015 5:03 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 29 May 2015 17:03:28 -0400

How about only wearing our dress after Retreat, then the issue of headgear becomes moot :)

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 29 at 2015 5:09 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 29 May 2015 17:09:25 -0400

The beret is awful. Service cap for daily wear... and Cav Stetson & shiny black leather combat boots for dress occasions. Only the "traditional" beret-wearing forces (Airborne, Spec Ops, Rangers) should keep the beret.

That said, I'd rather have the beret than go back to the silly-looking "garrison" cap. Hell, I'd rather wear a Russian "ushanka" than the garrison cap again.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made May 29 at 2015 6:07 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 29 May 2015 18:07:05 -0400

I say it was a visual improvement over the garrison cap, other than that....
In case this turns into a survey, or someone with some pull reads it, find something that actually works as a head covering device or just abolish it for dress uniforms. The rest of civilization has given up on hats since about the late fifties, maybe we should too.