Beret: Difference between revisions

A '''beret''' ([[IPA chart for English|pronounced]] {{IPA|/ˈbɛɹeɪ/}} in English, except in [[American English]] in which it is pronounced {{IPA|/bəˈɹeɪ/}}) is a soft round [[cap]], usually of wool felt, with a flat crown, which is worn by both men and women.  

Berets are worn by many military and police units, and in some countries are particularly associated with elite units, who often wear berets in more unusual colours (such as the [[maroon beret|maroon]] of Commonwealth [[airborne|parachute]] troops, the [[green beret|green]] of the [[Royal Marines]], [[Naval commandos (France)|French Commandos]] ("''Bérets verts''"), and American Special Forces, the scarlet of the elite Soviet Internal Troops ([[Spetsnaz]]) and Police Tactical Unit of Singapore,  the [[Tan beret|beige or tan]] of Commonwealth special forces units ([[Special Air Service|SAS]], [[CSOR]]) and [[U.S. Army Rangers]], or the wide black of French [[Chasseur Alpin|Chasseurs alpins]], the first military unit to have worn berets).

== Wearing the beret ==

The beret when properly worn fits snugly around the head, and the soft crown can be shaped in a variety of ways – it is commonly pushed to one side.  Berets were originally worn by [[Iparralde|Northern Basque]] [[peasant]]s (from the border area of Southern France, and Northern Spain) and were knitted from wool.  Today berets are normally made from wool felt.   

== Berets in the military ==

The beret was found particularly useful as a uniform for armoured vehicle crewmen, and the [[Royal Tank Regiment|British Tank Corps]] (later Royal Tank Corps) adopted the headdress as early as 1918. German AFV crews in the late 1930s also adopted a beret with the addition of a padded crash helmet inside. The colour black became popular as a tank crew headdress since it did not show oil stains picked up inside the interior of a vehicle. Black berets continue to be worn by armoured regiments throughout the Commonwealth.

* Olive-green — Jagdkommando, the Austrian special forces

Berets have been worn by Belgian [[Military of Belgium|military]] personnel since World War II. Berets vary in colour according to the regiment, and carry a crest pin (sometimes on a coloured background patch) which is of gold colour for officers, silver for noncommissioned officers and bronze for troops.

Berets were first worn in the [[Canadian Army]] in 1937 when tank regiments (at that time part of the infantry) adopted the black beret of the [[Royal Armoured Corps]]. The black beret, which is now the headdress of the [[Royal Canadian Armoured Corps]] (RCAC), was first worn by the Essex Regiment (Tank), now renamed The Windsor Regiment (RCAC). This was because the other new tank units were ordered to wear the headdress that they had while serving as infantry. The Essex Regiment (Tank) was a new unit, formed as a tank regiment, with no connection to the Infantry. As such, it picked the headdress that was worn by the Royal Tank Corps of the British Army.<ref> ''Dressed to Kill'' ([[Service Publications]], Ottawa, ON, 2001) ISBN 1-894581-07-5</ref>

When the Canadian Forces unified in the late 1960s, the rifle green beret was adopted as the CF standard.  The [[Royal Canadian Armoured Corps|RCAC]] successfully fought to retain its distinctive black beret, and the [[Canadian Airborne Regiment]] wore the [[maroon beret]] until the unit was disbanded.  Scottish and Irish infantry regiments wear [[tam o'shanter]]s, glengarries, [[balmoral]]s or [[caubeen]]s instead of berets. The berets listed below are the current standard:

* [[Maroon beret|Maroon]] — jump-qualified personnel in parachute units<ref>Bercuson, David J. ''Eye on Defence'', article in ''Legion Magazine'' Mar/Apr 2006: "As time passed, and the very name "Airborne" lost its ability to put government ministers into shock, Canada's paratroopers were even allowed to don the [[maroon beret]], the international symbol for parachute soldiers."</ref>. These are currently Charlie Company, 3rd Battalion Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry; Mike Company, 3rd Battalion [[Royal Canadian Regiment]]; Alpha Company, 3rd Battalion Royal 22e Régiment; Para Company, [[The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada]]

* CF green (also known as "rifle green") — other army units

=== China, People's Republic of ===

Since [[May 5]],[[2000]], the People's Liberation Army has adopted woolen berets for all its personnel<ref>[http://english.pladaily.com.cn/special/uniforms/content/9.htm PLA Caps and decorations]</ref>, along with the traditional [[peaked cap]]s.

=== Czech Republic ===

=== Denmark ===

* Burgundy — ''[[Jægerkorpset]]'' (special forces)

=== Finland ===

The Finnish Defence Force uses berets with cap badges for the [[Finnish Army|Army]], [[Finnish Navy|Navy]] and the [[Finnish Air Force|Air Force]]. The berets are worn in "clean" garrison duties such as roll calls and with the walking-out uniform, but not with the battle dress. Until the mid-1990s, the beret was reserved for troops with special status, such as the coastal [[Finnish Jäger troops|jägers]] and the parachute jägers, but is nowadays used by all units. In the winter, berets are replaced by winter headgear.

* Blue (Badge: silver griffin) — Army aviation

=== France ===

The military beret originated in the French Army, in the form of the wide and floppy headdress worn by the [[Chasseur Alpin|Chasseurs alpins]] (mountain light infantry) from their foundation in the early 1880s. A tight-fitting version was subsequently adopted by French armoured troops towards the end of World War I. Between the wars special fortress units raised to garrison the Maginot Line wore khaki berets. The beret in red, blue or green was a distinction of the Metropolitan, Colonial and [[French Foreign Legion|Foreign Legion]] paratroop regiments during the [[First Indochina War|Indochina]] and [[Algerian War of Independence|Algerian]] wars. After 1962 the beret in either khaki or the colours specified above became the standard French Army headdress for ordinary use.

* Dark blue — Air Commandos; ''[[Troupes de Marine]]''

=== Germany ===

The German [[German Army|Heer]] uses berets with cap badges for every branch of service. The Luftwaffe and the Navy issue navy blue berets only to their ground or land combat units (called ''Luftwaffen-'' and ''Marine-Sicherungsstaffeln''). Berets are usually worn at special ceremonies and roll calls, although units with a special ''esprit de corps'', especially armoured and mechanized infantry (''Panzergrenadiere'') battalions, wear their berets all the time.  

*Navy blue — ''Luftwaffe'' (air force) and ''Deutsche Marine'' (navy) infantry and ceremonial guards; multinational units (e.g. [[Eurocorps]])

=== Greece ===

=== Iceland ===

=== India ===

*Dark (rifle) green — Light infantry and rifle regiments

*Maroon — [[Parachute Regiment (India)|The Parachute Regiment]] and Special Forces

=== Republic of Ireland ===

All personnel wear a common capbadge, a sunburst insignia with the letters "FF" inscribed above the left eye of the beret; this is the ancient symbol of the Fianna, the elite forces of Irish warriors.

=== Israel ===

*Olive green — general corps, recruits, general logistic corps

*Maroon — Paratroopers Brigade, general staff units ([[Sayeret Matkal]] and others)

*Deep blue — navy

=== Italy ===

[[Italian Army]] personnel used to wear a garrison cap alongside the combination cap, until the early 1970s when the garrison cap was replaced by the beret. Until the early 1980s the general Army colour for the beret was khaki, the black being reserved to armoured units. The colours presently used are:

=== Mexico ===

When the Royal Netherlands Armed Forces acquired new modernised uniforms (designed by the Dutch couturier [[Frans Molenaar]]) in 2001, the berets changed as well. Since 2004, soldiers of the [[Royal Netherlands Army]] have worn a petrol (blue-green) beret, whereas previously they wore brown.

=== Poland ===

Black berets were introduced before World War II for tank and armoured car crews. During World War II, berets were widely adopted in the [[Polish Army]] on the [[Western Front (World War II)|Western Front]]. After the war in the communist era, berets were worn only by armoured units (black), paratroopers (red) and marines (light blue). After 1990, the beret became the standard headgear in the Armed Forces of Republic of Poland. The following colours are in use:

The black beret is also the distinctive headgear of World War II veterans, particularly Armia Krajowa veterans.

Russian military structures (both Armed Forces and Internal Troops) use the following types of berets:

*Maroon — Parachute Regiment and Special Forces

The berets are all adorned with the unit's insignia. Some of the traditional units wear other headgear - for example, the [[Cape Town Highlanders Regiment]] and the South African Military Health Service.

Other than these units, several secret commando units (mostly disbanded in the mid-1990s) formed to infiltrate North Korea during the Cold War days wore black berets and adorned them with the badges of individual units. Korean liaison soldiers serving in the [[U.S. Eighth Army]] ([[KATUSA]]) have also been wearing black berets along with American uniforms since that beret became a standard headgear of the U.S. Army in 2001.

=== South Vietnam (defunct) ===

=== Sweden ===

The beret is used in the various [[Swedish Armed Forces|armed forces]] of Sweden. The colours used are:

=== Switzerland ===

The beret is worn by all Swiss armed services, as well as various cantonal police forces and customs.

* Deep blue — Air Force (including paratroopers)

=== Thailand ===

The beret is used in the various armed forces of Thailand. The colours used are:  

* Black — all other [[Royal Thai Army|Army]] units, Air Force, [[Thahan Phran]], Paratroop Police, Border Patrol Police

=== Turkey ===

=== United Kingdom ===

The British Army beret dates back to 1918 when the French 70th [[Chasseurs alpins]] were training with the British [[Royal Tank Regiment|Tank Corps]]. The Chasseurs alpins wore a distinctive large beret (see above) and Major-General Sir [[Hugh Elles]], the TC's Colonel, realised this style of headdress would be a practical option for his [[tank]] crews, forced to work in a reduced space. He thought, however, that the Chasseur beret was "too sloppy" and the Basque-style beret of the French tank crews was "too skimpy", so a compromise based on the Scottish [[tam o'shanter (hat)|tam o'shanter]] was designed and submitted for the approval of George V in November 1923. It was adopted in March 1924.

Today, every British military unit wears a beret, with the exception of the [[Royal Regiment of Scotland]] and [[Royal Irish Regiment]], who wear the [[Tam o'shanter (hat)|tam o'shanter]] and the [[caubeen]] respectively (the [[Scots Guards]] and Irish Guards, however, wear berets, as frequently do the Royal Irish Regiment on operations). Many of these berets are in distinctive colours and all are worn with the [[cap badge]] of the service, [[regiment]] or [[corps]]. The cap badge for all services in the UK is usually worn directly over the left eye, with some regiments allowing a little variation dependent on size, shape, and the cockading or flourishing of the badge.

*Light grey — Royal Scots Dragoon Guards, [[Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps]]

*Navy blue — all other Army units (except Scottish and Irish line infantry regiments), Royal Navy, [[Royal Marines]] who are not commando-qualified

*[[green beret|Commando green]] — commando-qualified [[Royal Marines]] (including [[Special Boat Service]]), other commando-qualified troops serving in commando units

*RAF blue — Royal Air Force (including [[RAF Regiment]]) <ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A867008 BBC website on British headdress]</ref>

Members of the Royal Tank Regiment, Army Air Corps, Parachute Regiment and SAS never wear any other form of uniform headgear except the beret (i.e. they do not wear [[Combination Cap|peaked caps]]). Troops from other services, regiments or corps on attachment to units with distinctive coloured berets often wear those berets (with their own cap badge). Colonels, brigadiers and generals usually continue to wear the beret of the regiment or corps to which they used to belong with the cap badge distinctive to their rank. The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, the only remaining independent fusilier regiment, wears a feather [[hackle]] on the beret. Other ranks of the [[Royal Welsh]] also wear hackles.

*Khaki — [[Green Howards]], [[King's Own Royal Border Regiment]], [[Prince of Wales's Own Regiment of Yorkshire]], Duke of Wellington's Regiment, [[Reconnaissance Corps]], infantry motor battalions in World War II

*Dark (Rifle) green — Light Infantry, [[Royal Green Jackets]], [[Devonshire and Dorset Light Infantry]], [[Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire Light Infantry]], [[Rifle Brigade]], [[King's Royal Rifle Corps]], [[2nd King Edward VII's Own Gurkha Rifles (The Sirmoor Rifles)]], [[6th Queen Elizabeth's Own Gurkha Rifles]], [[7th Duke of Edinburgh's Own Gurkha Rifles]], [[10th Princess Mary's Own Gurkha Rifles]]

*Black — all [[Royal Armoured Corps]] regiments in World War II, Westminster Dragoons, [[Berkshire and Westminster Dragoons]]

*Maroon — Glider Pilot Regiment and glider-borne units

=== United States ===

The United States Army Special Forces are generally known as "green berets" for the color of their headgear.  Other United States Army units can also be distinguished by the color of their headgear, as follows:

*Jungle green — Special Forces

*[[Maroon beret|Maroon]] — [[paratrooper]]s (82nd Airborne Division and [[173rd Airborne Brigade]])

Berets were originally worn only by elite units of the U.S. Army.  Hence, there was controversy when in [[2001]] the United States Army adopted the black beret, previously reserved for the Rangers, as standard headgear for all army units. <ref>[http://www.army.mil/features/beret/beret.htm The Army Black Beret]</ref> The Rangers are now distinguished by [[tan beret]]s.

The wearing of berets in the United States Air Force is somewhat less common, but several career fields are authorized to wear berets of differing colors, as specified in the following list:  

== Berets in other paramilitary organizations ==

=== Iceland ===

=== Italy ===

Dark blue berets are worn by the Polizia di Stato and blue berets by the [[Polizia Penitenziaria]].

=== Portugal ===

=== Singapore ===

=== South Korea ===

=== Spain and the Basque Country ===

=== United Kingdom ===

[[SO19]], the armed response unit of the London Metropolitan Police, used to wear dark blue berets, and were nicknamed the 'Blue Berets'. Today, they generally wear baseball caps.

=== Hong Kong ===

== Berets in civilian organizations ==

*Berets are worn by some [[Scouting|scout]] groups, notably in Hong Kong and Britain, where green berets are worn. The Hong Kong Air Scouts wear blue berets.{{Fact|date=February 2007}} Canadian Scouts eliminated their navy blue beret in the late 1990s, but it is slowly making a comeback among the older members in various forms, such as red for [[Rover Scouts]] in British Columbia.

*In Britain, berets are worn by the Sea Cadet Corps (SCC), [[Army Cadet Force]] (ACF), [[Air Training Corps]] (ATC) and [[Combined Cadet Force]] (CCF). These are in the appropriate service colour, with ACF and CCF Army Section units wearing the beret of the regiment or corps to which they are affiliated.

*The Guardian Angels have adopted a red beret as a recognizable item of clothing <ref>[http://www.guardianangels.org/ Guardian Angels website]</ref>

*[[Sousaphone]] players in [[marching band]]s typically wear berets because the regular [[combination cap]] would get in the way of the bell. All members of the Ohio State University Marching Band wear scarlet berets with a "Diamond Ohio" flash when not wearing their uniform hat (essentially, whenever they are outdoors and not performing).

*Most active members and supporters of the Black Panther Party wear a beret, generally either black or red.

*Members of the Civil Air Patrol who attend National Blue Beret (NBB) in Oshkosh, Wisconsin during the EAA AirVenture airshow can earn blue berets along with the Saint Alban's Cross, and the title of Blue Beret. Members of the Indiana Wing who achieve the classification of Ground Team Member level 2 (GTM2) are also awarded blue berets. CAP members who attend Hawk Mountain Ranger School and achieve the Advanced Ranger level are awarded black berets.

== Other associations ==

The beret was once considered the national hat of France and is part of the stereotypical image of the [[Onion Johnny]]. It has diminished in popularity, just as hats for men all over the world have waned in popularity. Still considered a matter of French pride, it is worn by both women and men. Black is the traditional colour. There are only two manufacturers left in France that make berets.

Some British comedians have been identified with the beret; Chris Langham is recorded as having announced to actor [[Ken Campbell (actor)|Ken Campbell]] that he has named the tassle or stalk which is present in some berets the ''langham'', after himself. [[Michael Crawford]] also wore a beret as [[Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em|Frank Spencer]]. Other entertainment figures identified with the beret include [[Jamie Hyneman]] of ''[[MythBusters]]'', and [[Fred Berry]] who played Rerun in ''[[What's Happening!!]]'' and ''[[What's Happening Now!!]]'' (as well as in real life).

 

== Notes ==

== External link ==