Posted on 04/21/2009 10:30:47 AM PDT by llevrok
April 20, 2009: U.S. Army troops are becoming more energetic and vocal in efforts to get rid of the black beret they have been forced to wear for the past eight years. Back in 2000, the U.S. Army commander (Chief Of Staff) general Eric Shinseki ordered that the black beret replace the traditional billed cap (which had been used for nearly a century). Shinseki believed the black beret would be a symbol of excellence, reflecting the overall professionalism of the entire Army. He believed the black beret would repair the (largely nonexistent) divisions created by the use of different color berets in some units (red for airborne, green for special forces, black for rangers). Shinseki also believed that, because black berets are (everywhere but in the United States ) worn by armor troops, and in the U.S. by Rangers, the new headgear would reflect a merger of both light and heavy forces. This was a non-issue to most troops. Shinseki also insisted that selecting the color black was not intended as an insult to the Rangers (who were, and still believe that this was exactly what was intended) but was simply the best color to match the battle dress uniform (BDU). This, despite the fact that there is no longer any black in the BDU. Shinseki also wanted to create a "world class uniform" that would be respected by foreigners who came into contact with US troops. But American troops associate the beret with armies that tend to lose (especially the French) and consider it no great honor. Then there are practical issues. The beret is made of wool, and requires more care to keep it presentable. Even at that, no one can agree on exactly how one should wear it. The damn thing is made of wool, and is uncomfortable in warm weather. Since it has no bill, it provides no shade for the eyes when troops have to stand in formation. It also costs twice as much as the patrol cap (the baseball cap live headgear, that is the same pattern as the BDU and is soft and light). But for many formations and occasions, the troops must wear the beret, instead of the patrol cap. Most troops would prefer to use the patrol cap, in camo or monotone versions, instead of the beret.
From the beginning, the black beret was very unpopular. Surveys quickly revealed that the majority of the troops were hostile to the head gear change. But Shinsheki went forward anyway. Current and former rangers, and many members of Congress, appealed to president Bush to reverse the policy back then. But September 11, 2001 came along before Bush could do anything, and the beret issue has been pushed into the background ever since.
But now the troops feel they have won one war, and are on their way to winning another, and would like to get some relief from those damn, stupid berets.
I am willing to give the Army their due — since the Marine Corps has ALWAYS been short on interior decorating, costume design and such skills.....
Hell, we’re doing good if we don’t mess up the Real Estate the Government sends us to “occupy” with the former “occupant’s” blood.
Whoever came up with our uniform design sure did a nice job — we look so pretty in ours!
Or - perhaps it’s the man in the uniform and not so much the uniform - but we really are pretty!
This is a good place to repeat this old joke....
____________________________________________________
If you tell an Air Force officer to “secure the building,” he looks it up on Google Maps, gets his contracting agent, and heads down to the local real estate agent where he takes out a 20 year lease with an option to buy.
If you tell a Navy officer to “secure the building,” he shuts down the computers, spins the dial on the lock of the file cabinet, turns off the lights and locks the front door.
If you tell an Army officer to “secure the building,” he will lead his men to the building, they will enter it and start knocking out the windows. Filling each opening with sandbags, they will surround the structure with barbed wire and claymores (these are directional command detonated mines). He will personally emplace his machineguns in the best locations to cover the “likely avenues of enemy approach,” and after 24 hours the structure will be fit to hold off an attack from a force three times the size of the Army unit inside. He will then report that the building has been secured.
If you tell a Marine officer to “secure the building,” but give him no more instruction, he will plan an assault. His troops will come in from two perpendicular directions, preceded by mortar and artillery fire, with F-18s flying close air support overhead. They will rain destruction on the structure, and then under the concealment of smoke, move into the building with two platoons, clearing each room of the building with grenades and bursts of small arms fire. When every room has been cleared, and there is no living opposition within a radius of 5km, they will go to the roof and raise a flag. Then the Marine officer will return and declare that the building has been secured.
Pres. Bush had more important things to worry about than military wardrobe. The guy in charge of the Army made his decision. Maybe the new one can reverse it but there’s no reason for a president to meddle in such mundane military affairs.
The patrol caps are nice.
When I wear a black wool hat, its a Stetson.
Thank God the USMC followed The Army’s lead on almost every combat vehicle and rotary-wing aircraft.
So That's why the Marine Corps is using Bradleys, Apaches, and Blackhawks instead of Amtracks, Cobras and Hueys.....{/sarcoff}
I never knew, So when does the Marine Corps start wearing Green beanies?
The USMC did diverge, but your UH-1xxxx and your AH-1xxxx all derive from work pioneered by The Army.
And the new USMC EFV(if it’s ever fielded) wasn’t inspired by your POS AAVs, either.
The USMC has long wanted it’s own Bradley, especially after relying on US Army Bradley support in Fallujah, among other places. Too bad it’s a frickin huge RPG magnet.
You’re welcome.
(To be fair, The Army pulled the Stryker from USMC LAV successes - quite a trade).
You’ll need A LOT more training and testing to qualify for Special Forces, but you can dream.
And we’d never have the MV-22 if it wasn’t for the army’s development of it.....
How bizarre is it to claim that without the Army the United States Marine Corps wouldn’t have uniforms or equipment.
I mean that’s like saying the Army is soo tough we put clothes on the Marines, and seats beneath their seats.
What next The army trains Marine Drill Instructors? or that you gave us the DI’s Hats?
It was the staccato of Marine Bashing that drew me to this thread, how An Army that couldn’t even protect the uniform traditions of it’s finest soldiers, some how is responsible for the uniforms of the one service that knows how to protect it’s uniform traditions....
There is no “Marine bashing” in this thread.
Get over it.
In fact, Marines weren’t even mentioned until YOU showed up.
Typical.
MV-22 is a USMC/USAF venture.
Nobody ever claimed that The Army had a part in it, except for the usual suspects that try to blame The Army for the program’s delays and shortcomings.
Facts is facts.
When Jarheads show up and spout NONSENSE, I’m just here to set the record straight.
There is no “Marine bashing” in this thread. Get over it.In fact, Marines weren’t even mentioned until YOU showed up. Typical.
The Marines were mentioned in posts 11,22, and 30, and you started the Marine Bashing with your post 35.....
Your facts seem to be in error.
That was not my opinion that was what you stated as fact.
Now you want to twist it into you were responding to Marines posting on army threads by stating that you felt the need to remind everyone that The Army designs the Marine Corps uniforms, when in fact The United States Marine Corps decides what a Marines uniform will be and always has.
Surely you have a case of Wooly Pullie envy.
Riiiight.
As usual, Jarheads shitting in Army threads.
Didn’t see any of that when your own “beloved” Corps was railroading its very own Marines towards the brig.
Nope.
Lots of inter-service support for those guys.
Funny how that works.
Again, the facts are out there, including a letter from one of the two scout/snipers who started the whole MARPAT thing off.
If it was envy, it would be me shitting in a Jarhead thread, instead of the other way around.
Ha....see my 72, posted before I read yours.
You’re one of those that has to have the last word aren’t you?
And now you are telling that two Marine Scout Snipers created Marpat contradicting your own “facts” on it’s creation (the army errr the canadians errr a couple of scout snipers errr anyone except the Marine Corps designed it)
I don’t suppose you want to discuss the Army’s use of follards, do you?
Hell there were armor units at Ft Hood wearing Stetsons in the early 70s. That’s also when they came out with “Volar Suits”; silly imitations of track warmups.
Keep the beret to replace the garrison cap. ACUs go back to patrol caps or boonie caps.
Problem solved.
Reading comprehension isn’t your strong suit, obviously.
I laid it out quite clearly.
The scout/snipers wanted to replace the BDUs and they saw digital camo was out there, so THEY CAME TO THE ARMY TO DO THE JOB, since The Army had already done the job for the Canadians and had OVER TWO DECADES of experimentation and development in the area of digital camouflage patterns.
You think those two individuals had the equipment to print, scan, image and test all of the various colors and patterns, and then tailor up set after set of test uniforms?
Really?
Go ahead, stick with that story.
It’s working so well, so far.
And WTF is a “follard”?
Cav units still wear the Stetsons on certain occasions.
Only Cav, and only those who’ve qualified.
Not everyday armor units.
It’s not that I don’t read so well, it is that your writing skills are so sadly lacking or are purposely vague for the sake of misleading people so that you can “gotcha” them later.
It’s bad enough that you claim that there was no mention of the Marines on this thread by you then went back and claimed that the only reason you started mentioning Marines and their uniforms was to counted what had been said before you responded in those post you claimed were not even there before mine.
A Foulard is that silk thingee the Army likes their Color guards and MP’s to wear while wearing chrome helmets usually the color of the branch of service (yellow for Cavalry, light blue for infantry)
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.