a. Beret.
(1) General. The beret is the basic headgear for utility uniforms in garrison environments. The beret is not worn in the field, in training environments, or in environments where the wear of the beret is impractical, as determined by the commander. Additionally, the beret is not worn on deployments unless authorized by the commander. Personnel being transferred from one organization to another may continue to wear the beret and flash of the former unit until they report for duty at the new organization.
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(2) Wear. The beret is worn so that the headband (edge binding) is straight across the forehead, 1 inch above the eyebrows. The flash is positioned over the left eye, and the excess material is draped over to the right ear, extending to at least the top of the ear, and no lower than the middle of the ear. Personnel will cut off the ends of the adjusting ribbon and secure the ribbon knot inside the edge binding at the back of the beret. When worn properly, the beret is formed to the shape of the head; therefore, soldiers may not wear hairstyles that cause distortion of the beret. Paragraph 3â5c, below, addresses wear of headgear insignia. Figures 3â1 and 3â4 show wear of the beret. Soldiers wear berets as indicated below:
(3) Black beret.
(a) Soldiers who are not assigned to units or positions authorized wear of the tan, green, or maroon berets will wear the black beret. This includes senior and junior ROTC instructors, unless otherwise indicated below.
(b) Soldiers are issued the black beret upon assignment to their first permanent duty assignment after the completion of initial entry training or officer/warrant officer basic courses. Cadets and officer/warrant officer candidates will not wear the black beret. Split-option soldiers or soldiers in the simultaneous membership program will wear the black beret only when performing duties with their units, and they will wear the patrol cap with the BDU, as described in paragraph 3â5b below, when in a cadet or trainee status. Soldiers who have not been issued or who do not wear the black beret will wear the patrol cap with the BDU, as indicated in paragraph 3â5b below. In those cases where beret sustainment levels are not sufficient for turn-in and reissue of unserviceable berets, the commander can authorize the temporary wear of the patrol cap until the beret can be replaced.
(c) The Army flash is the only flash authorized for wear on the black beret, unless authorization for another flash was granted before the implementation of the black beret as the standard Army headgear (for example, Opposing Forces (OPFOR) elements).
(4) Ranger tan beret. Soldiers currently assigned to the following units are authorized wear of the Ranger tan beret. Personnel will wear the approved flash of the unit to which they are assigned.
(a) 75th Ranger Regiment.
(b) Ranger Training Brigade.
(c) Ranger-qualified soldiers in the following units or positions, if they previously served in the 75th Ranger
Regiment: U.S. Special Operations Command; U.S. Army Special Operations Command; U.S. Special Operations Command Joint Task Force; and Theater Special Operations Command. The 75th Ranger Regiment is the sole authority for validation of service in the Ranger Regiment.
(5) Green beret.
(a) If approved by local commanders, all Special Forces-qualified personnel (those carrying the Special Forces MOSs of 18A or 180A, CMF 18, and CSMs reclassified from 18Z to OOZ) are authorized to wear the green beret. This includes senior and junior ROTC instructors and those attending training at an Army service school in a student status (for example, CGSC, DLI, or USASMA).
(b) Special Forces personnel will wear the approved flash of the unit to which they are assigned. Special Forces personnel who are assigned to an organization without an approved flash will wear the generic SF flash (the flash approved for personnel assigned to SF positions, but not assigned to SF units).
(6) Maroon beret. All personnel assigned to airborne units whose primary missions are airborne operations wear the maroon beret. The airborne designation for a unit is found in the unit modification table of organization and equipment (MTOE). Other soldiers authorized to wear the maroon beret are indicated below. Personnel will wear the approved flash of the unit to which they are assigned.
(a) Active Army advisors to reserve airborne units on jump status.
(b) All personnel assigned to the airborne departments of the U.S. Army Infantry School and the U.S. Army Quartermaster School.
(c) All personnel assigned to long-range surveillance detachments designated as airborne.
(d) All personnel assigned to the airborne/airlift action office.
(e) Recruiters of the Special Operations Recruiting Company (SORC), U.S. Army Recruiting Command. Personnel
will wear the USASOC flash.
(f) All personnel assigned to the airborne procurement team.
(g) All personnel assigned to 55th Signal Company Airborne Combat Camera Documentation Team.
(h) All personnel assigned to 982d Combat Signal Company airborne platoons.
(i) All personnel assigned to rigger detachments.
b. Patrol cap.
(1) The patrol cap (formerly called the BDU cap) is worn with the BDU in field environments when the Kevlar
helmet is not worn; on work details; or in other environments where the wear of the beret is impractical, as determined by the commander. Additionally, personnel in initial training categories who do not wear the black beret (see para 3â5a(3)(b), above) wear the patrol cap with the BDU. The patrol cap is available in the hot-weather and temperate fabrics.
(2) Personnel wear the patrol cap straight on the head so that the cap band creates a straight line around the head, parallel to the ground. The patrol cap will fit snugly and comfortably around the largest part of the head without distortion or excessive gaps. The cap is worn so that no hair is visible on the forehead beneath the cap. At their discretion, individuals may wear the earflaps down during cold weather, except in formation when the commander may prescribe wear policy (see fig 3â2).
c. Headgear insignia. (See para 28â3 for placement of headgear insignia and beret flashes.)
(1) Beret. Officers and warrant officers wear non-subdued grade insignia centered on the beret flash, and chaplains wear their branch insignia. Enlisted personnel wear their distinctive unit insignia (DUI) centered on the beret flash. Enlisted personnel assigned to units not authorized the DUI wear their regimental distinctive insignia (RDI). General officers may wear full-, medium-, or miniature-sized stars on the beret. Stars are centered horizontally on the flash point-to-point, and they may be mounted on a bar as an option. Overlap of the stars beyond the flash is authorized.
(2) Patrol cap. Commissioned and warrant officers wear non-subdued grade insignia on the patrol cap in garrison environments; chaplains wear non-subdued branch insignia. In field environments, commissioned and warrant officers wear subdued grade insignia; chaplains wear subdued branch insignia. Enlisted personnel wear subdued grade insignia on the patrol cap in garrison and field environments.