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The Black Beret - A brief history:
The beret is European in origin and was readily adopted by American colonists for military usage. For example, during the French and Indian Wars (1756-63), some Rangers, under the leadership of Robert Rogers, wore dark colored berets while conducting raiding and reconnaissance patrols.

During WWII, the First Ranger Battalion, commonly known as Darby's Rangers, formed in Northern Ireland in 1942. Completion of training at the Commando Depot afforded those Rangers the right to wear the British Commando green beret and the tartan of the Clan Cameron of Lochiel. The U.S. Army disallowed this and Rangers never donned their berets, but permitted each Ranger to wear the Ranger Scroll on his left shoulder, identifying him as belonging to: "1st RANGER Bn." Subsequently, newly formed Ranger Battalions 2 through 6, in WWII, had their members identified by Ranger Scrolls or patches. These battalions were deactivated at the end of the war.

In 1951, 13 Airborne-Ranger Companies were founded during the Korean War. Then Captain Charles Pete Spragins of the 10th Airborne Ranger Company and Captain Rudy Jones of the 11th Airborne Ranger Company put their men in Black Berets, others followed. The black stemmed from the intensive night training the men underwent. This is the first use of the color black other then individual usage of the beret. The Ranger Training Center (eventually the modern Ranger Training Brigade) liked the idea and ran test cases. Troops loved it, the brass did not. They were told to take them off. Airborne-Ranger companies were deactivated during the war.

During the Vietnam War, the U.S. Army transferred existing LRRP/LRP units to 13 Ranger companies. They donned their Black Berets in 1969. The majority of these companies were deactivated at the conclusion of hostilities.

In 1974, the Black Beret was authorized as headgear to the newly formed 1st and 2nd Battalions (Ranger), 75th Infantry and first appeared in Army Regulations in 1975. It has been a standard issue for Rangers since.

In 1986, the addition of a headquarters company and the 3rd Ranger Battalion led to the creation of the 75th Ranger Regiment. The Regiment adopted the original WW2 Ranger Scroll and continues to be the only authorized combat unit to wear the highly coveted Black Beret.

The modern recruit, in order to wear the Black Beret and Ranger Scroll, must volunteer for the Army, Airborne School, and the challenging Ranger Indoctrination Program (RIP). Upon successful completion of RIP, the graduates don their Black Berets and join their brothers at one of the three Ranger Battalions in the United States. Continuous training, at their units, exacts a heavy toll on the modern U.S. Army Ranger and it is this sacrifice that makes the modern Ranger the best airborne infantry soldier in the world. His highly coveted Black Beret is a symbol to his dedication and courage and is steeped in traditions and honors dating back to early colonial times.

In the U.S. Army, the beret symbolizes a special status. Army airborne units wear the moroon beret, Special Forces the "Green Beret." The Black Beret has been the trademark of the finest infantry soldiers of the world ­ the United States Army Rangers.

Continued..
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RANGER TAN BERET STATEMENT by

P.K. KEEN

COL, INFANTRY

11TH COLONEL OF THE REGIMENT

Fellow Rangers,

The purpose in writing this note is to inform you that the 75th Ranger Regiment will exchange our traditional Black Beret for a Tan Beret. The Army's donning of the Black Beret, as its standard headgear is a symbol of the "Army's on-going Transformation" and a "symbol of excellence." The 75th Ranger Regiment fully supports our Army's initiative to don the Black Beret.

The Tan color of the new Ranger Beret reinvigorates the historical and spiritual linkage throughout the history of the American Ranger. It is the color of the buckskin uniforms and animal skin hats of Rogers' Rangers, the first significant Ranger unit to fight on the American continent, and the genesis of the American Ranger lineage. Tan is the one universal and unifying color that transcends all Ranger Operations. It reflects the Butternut uniforms of Mosby's Rangers during the American Civil War. It is reminiscent of the numerous beach assaults in the European Theater and the jungle fighting in the Pacific Theaters of World War II, where Rangers and Marauders spearheaded victory. It represents the khaki uniform worn by our Korean and Vietnam War era Rangers and the color of the sand of Grenada, Panama, Iraq, and Mogadishu, where modern day Rangers lead the way as they fought and, at times, valiantly died accomplishing the Ranger mission. Tan rekindles the legacy of Rangers from all eras and exemplifies the unique skills and special capabilities required of past, present, and future Rangers.

The Ranger Tan Beret will distinguish Rangers in the 21st Century as the Black Beret recognized them as a cut above in the past. With the donning of this new Beret, rest assured that the 75th Ranger Regiment will continue to Lead the Way with its high standards.

I made this decision because I feel it is best for the Ranger Regiment and our Army, today and in the future.

Following the announcement that on 14 June 2001 the Army would adopt the Black Beret as its standard headgear I asked the Regimental Command Sergeant Major to put together a uniform committee to examine some possible uniform options for the Regiment. These options included maintaining the current Black Beret, adding distinctive insignia to the Black Beret, and adopting a different color beret (ultimately six different colors were examined). The committee I established met three times over two months to consider input from Rangers of all ranks in the Regiment. The members of this group included the Honorary Colonel of the Regiment, DCO, RSM, CSMs of each Battalion, and 1SGs of RHHC and RTD.

From the initial options, the committee narrowed consideration to maintaining the current Black Beret, augmenting the Black Beret with a WWII Ranger 'diamond' patch attached next to the flash, and an option of replacing the Black Beret with a Tan colored beret. The committee explored each option historically giving equal consideration to its appearance when donned with each of our uniforms. After receiving input from the units, the Tan Beret was selected.

Shortly after 1st Ranger Battalion was reactivated in 1974, the Army formally authorized the Black Beret for Rangers. By so doing, I do not believe it was saying the Rangers were different from the rest of the Army, but that they were distinctive within the Army, that more was expected of them, and that they would set the standards for the rest of the Army. They would be asked to "Lead the Way" as Rangers had done since WWII.

As today's Rangers follow in the footsteps of those who preceded them, they continue to uphold the high standards of the Regiment as they prepare for tomorrow's battles. Changing from the Black Beret to the Tan Beret is not about being different from the rest of the Army, but about a critical aspect that unifies our Army and makes it the best Army in the world --- High Standards.

One of the Rangers most visible distinctive "physical features" is the beret. In the past, the beret distinguished the Rangers and acknowledged that they are expected to maintain higher standards, move further, faster, and fight harder than any other soldiers. I believe Rangers today and in the years to come deserve that same distinction.

Rangers have never been measured by what they have worn in peace or combat, but by commitment, dedication, physical and mental toughness, and willingness to Lead the Way --- Anywhere, Anytime. The Beret has become one of our most visible symbols, it will remain so.

Unity within our Army is absolutely critical to combat readiness and Rangers have always prided themselves in being part of that unity. Unity among Rangers, past and present, is essential to moving forward and ensuring we honor those who have put the combat streamers on our colors and acknowledge the sacrifices and dedication of the Rangers and their families who serve our nation today.

I hope that when our Army dons the Black Beret and our Rangers put on the Tan Beret we will move forward and focus on what is ultimately the most important task in front of us --- ensuring the continued high state of Readiness of the Ranger Regiment. We can do that by training hard and taking care of our Rangers and their families. The continued support of all Rangers to our Army is important to sustaining that Readiness.

Thanks to our Army, The 75th Ranger Regiment today is fully resourced and combat ready. Our focus in the future is maintaining that high state of readiness.

Again, thanks to each of you for everything you have done for our nation and our Rangers.

RANGERS LEAD THE WAY!

Coat-of-Arms

75th Infantry Ranger Regiment
Motto: Sua Sponte ("Of their own accord")
Distinctive Insignia: The shield of the coat of arms.

Symbolism of the coat of arms.

The colors; blue, white, red and green represent four of the original six combat teams of the 5307th Composite Unit (Provisional), which were identified by a color code word. The unit's close cooperation with the Chinese forces in the China-Burma-India Theater is represented by the Sun symbol from the Chinese Nationalist Flag. The white star represents the Star of Burma. The lightning bolt is symbolic of the strike characteristics of the behind-the-line activities.  

Holy Sheeit, what a piece of work. Idiot REMF snapper.
The "Dubya is Dumbya" is interesting, I've never seen a member fo the armed forces make fun of the C-in-C and get away with it before.

Sad.

Tim