[Joe 6-pack]

The first beret authorized for wear by the U.S. military was for Army Special Forces and was green (and still is.) during Viet Nam a lot of non-standard berets began to be worn by various units and, IIRC, in the 1970s it was regulated so that units of the 75th Ranger Regiment were awarded black berets, and members of airborne units were issued maroon berets.

These became the entrenched standards for several decades until the end of the cinton administration when the Chief of Staff of the Army and Secretary of the Army decided we could be more like europe if all our soldiers could wear berets (manufactured under contract in China, to be sure). They decided that all soldiers would be issued black berets, and this sent many in the Ranger community into (IMHO) a wholly justified rage. It was decided that the Rangers would get the sand/tan color beret.

You are correct, this retard is wearing his beret sloped to the wrong side. The flash (the yellow patch) should be worn over the left eye. Enlisted soldiers wear their regimental unit crest on the flash and officers wear their rank. This dud has neither.

[DieHard the Hunter]

> when the Chief of Staff of the Army and Secretary of the Army decided we could be more like europe if all our soldiers could wear berets (manufactured under contract in China, to be sure)...

Crikey! That explains it!

We used to get excellent red berets from a US manufacturer called “Bancroft”. We also used to get excellent red berets from a New Zealand manufacturer called “Hills”.

Between them, I understand that both companies supplied the vast majority of berets to the US Armed Forces.

Now, buggered if I can now find a source for either...!

Makes perfect sense: this business went to China. Is it possible that both these companies have, as a result, gone bung???