The adoption of the beret by the whole Army was an insult to SF.
Weird thing is, I don’t think even 10% of SF really LIKE the beret....
It was actually an insult to the Rangers, who exclusively wore the black beret until then. Now they have to wear a tan-colored beret to distinguish themselves.
The beret is a lousy piece of field headgear.
It’s hot and doesn’t shade your face.
Looks great in Garrison if prepped and worn correctly, otherwise you look like a dork.
Shinseki ruined the prestige of the black beret worn Army Rangers by making it standard Army issue when he was CSA. Rangers went to the tan variety as a result.
The Army giving the black beret to the entire army didn't really piss of those of us in Special Forces too much, as we kept our Green Berets. But the army in its infinite wisdom, or lack thereof, stole the Rangers Black Beret, and gave it to the entire army. The Rangers now wear a Tan Beret.
That sh!t bird Shenseiki was behind it, and rumor had it that he hated Rangers and slapped the Rangers in the face by stealing our Black Berets and giving them to mother army.
That being said, berets are hot, fail to keep the sun out of your eyes, or the rain off your face, but was proud to wear both the black, when I was in 2nd Ranger Bn, and the green when I moved on to SF.