One has to wonder if the U.S. Army has enough to keep it busy when it becomes so entangled in something as seemingly superficial as berets and who gets to wear what color of them.
For some time, only three Army units were approved for berets. Airborne units wore maroon headgear, Special Forces had green berets, and Rangers wore black hats.
For some foolish reason, the Army recently decreed that black berets should be standard attire for all soldiers, regardless of their status or training. The Rangers were quick to complain because one of their major traditions was being sullied.
Referring to the Rangers, the Herald of Rock Hill, S.C., commented: "Their (the Rangers') history as an elite fighting unit is drenched in glory. And until now, the black beret had been a symbol of membership in that vaunted corps. After present and former Rangers complained, the Army relented a little. Rangers now will be permitted to wear tan berets. Still, there goes 50 years of tradition, the link between present-day Rangers and their brave forebears, down the tubes."
All well and good. We may assume there is some element of mollification here, although why the "regular guys" get the black hats and the storied Rangers are stuck with tan does not make sense.
But despite the symbolism, not many men (or women, for that matter, except perhaps the late Greta Garbo) really look too great in berets. It might have been better if the Army had decided to let the usual people keep their floppy hats and turned to other headgear for the rest.
There are various flips and molds for a beret and many of them leave the wearer looking a bit silly and uncomfortable. That, of course, is bound to strike a dissonant chord for people like the Rangers for whom the black beret has stood for so much for so long.
The Army would be well-advised to reconsider its approach to berets and have as few members wearing them as possible. They might be ideal for special occasions, but all the time?
Berets might be ideal for some World War II-type Jean Pierre Aumont movie where he battles for the French underground. But that's costuming and casting, not big-time armed forces business.
It's easy to see why some armed forces people are covetous of their berets. But truth be known, the average individual required to wear them is likely to tell you that "if it wasn't for the honor involved, you'd never see me in one of those silly things."
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