[SkyPilot]

"As I stood looking at those [soldiers], I was reminded of the special significance that the beret has come to symbolise for the United States army," the general announced. "It is time for the entire army to accept the challenge of excellence that has so long been a hallmark of our special operations and airborne units. "When we wear the black beret it will say that we, the soldiers of the world's best army, are committed to making ourselves even better," he added, describing it as a "symbol of unity"

General Eric Shineski

I am sorry, but that is BS. It was a crummy decision on his part. I am no "sore head" as you put it. I believe elite units should not have their identity dumbed down and normalized so that everyone feels they are elite.

Your use of language such as sniveling to describe people who don't share your view is your prerogative - but it isn't accurate or objective.

What Eric Shineski did was was implement a cheap tactic. That wasn't, and isn't, leadership.

[Slump Tester]

If I remember right, most of those berets ended up (or almost ended up) being made in RED CHINA!

[Carley]

And to make matters worse, all the new berets were made in China.

The man is an idiot.

[SLB]

From the May 7, 2001 edition of "Hong Kong Trade Development Council Journal."

DOD Says No to Berets "Made in China"

Deputy Defence Secretary Paul Wolfowitz announced on 1 May that a decision had been made by the US Army "that US troops shall not wear berets made in China or berets made with Chinese content". Wolfowitz's statement added, "Therefore, I direct the Army and the Defence Logistics Agency to take appropriate action to recall previously distributed berets and dispose of the stock." Following a waiver of the Berry Amendment, which requires the Pentagon to award clothing contacts for the Armed Services to domestic suppliers, a contract had been awarded to a firm in the United Kingdom with a production plant in Mainland China. Most such waivers have been issued for domestically unavailable component parts used in the manufacture other items, not for finished goods such as berets.

[centurion316]

I think the beret is fine enough as an item of uniform, but that’s all it is. We have plenty of badges, bobs, and dangles to take care of the needs and desires of the badge collectors. Marine supply clerks wear exactly the same uniform as Marine Force Recon - they don’t seem to have a problem with it.

[Parmy]

Your use of language such as sniveling to describe people who don’t share your view is your prerogative - but it isn’t accurate or objective.

Don’t believe I used the sniveling adjective to describe what I thought about the beret or people who do not share my views.