Am I the only one who thinks berets look stupid on our military personel?

[Ruffhowse]

Who ever thought those silly looking hats made military folks look better and more polished? Bring back the standard military head gear of times past, please.

[frogfromthenorth2]

1. Why isn't this thread in the Lounge?

[Kurovski]

10. Not sexy enough. n/t

[chicagojoe]

2. Blame it on the French! It's all their fault!

[BlueEyedSon]

3. Uh-oh... French couture on our troops!

Better rename it to a "freedom-beanie".....

[ET Awful]

4. Aren't berets French?

That must really screw with Freeper heads. :)

[Gruenemann]

8. We followed the French into Indochine and

now we're following their Algerian example in Iraq--why shouldn't we dress like them? I can't wait to see * in a uniform like DeGaulle's!

[LynnTheDem]

5. Yep it's just you coz I think hubby looks fab in his.

MUCH better than those silly-ass caps. :)

[Name removed]

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[AllegroRondo]

7. I was in the Army when we switched to berets

I hated them, so did a lot of people.

The black beret was originally for Rangers only. I always thought it looked good, but I had never earned it and had no right to wear it. After the switch, we often joked that the Army had given us all cool new hats to wear because they couldnt afford a pay raise. Now everyone could feel 'special' in their nice new hats.

And they are darn HOT in the summer. Black felt against your bare head -yuck!

[Justin54B20L]

11. I agree, I was in at the same time

though I was fortunate enough to skip out on the beret switching ceremony. I know that a good 75% of our company felt that it was stupid to switch agreeing that is was a slap in the face to the Rangers who worked hard and earned it.

By golly do they get hot in the summer, that felt and leather strap that hugs your forehead just turns it into a big sweat factory. It gets even worse in the winter and when its raining. At least with the caps, they would block some rain, which for a person who wears glasses, it kept them from getting fogged up and soaking wet.

[underpants]

17. No flaps for cold weather either

I thought it was stupid looking as well as a slap to everyone who used to be distinguished by the beret (airborne Scouts wore a maroon one).

I wasn't it (got out in '93) when it was switched.

[Phentex]

14. My nephew said this too.

And he said they are useless!

[Kurovski]

9. Why did they do that?

Are they cheaper?

And if they save money on headgear, why doesn't the military invest it in some armor for the troops in Iraq?

Actually, why does the administration have so little respect for the military that they won't spend whatever it takes to get the armor?

It's worth going into debt for, don't you think?

Maybe the Administration is waiting for a company to donate a big enough pot of cash to George to make a contract for armor worth their while.

Yes, the old headgear made even the homeliest recruit look sharp as a tack. Bring it back.

[AllegroRondo]

12. There was a big scandal when they switched over

the original manufacturer of the new berets was a Chinese company. There was a minor scandal over it and we had to wait several months until a US manufacturer could be found.
I believe we actually destroyed several thousand cases of Chinese berets because we couldnt send them back.

[lumpy]

13. Pancakes look better

on a dinner plate.

[LostinVA]

15. I love them!

I lived in Fayetteville, NC, for a few years (Ft. Bragg & Pope AFB), and thought the 82nd Airborne and Special Forces soldiers looked really sharp in them... although I'll bet they are uncomfortable. My BIL was in the 82nd, and was royally pissed when the berets-for-all went into effect.

[Jack_DeLeon]

16. Dumbest thing ever...

was issuing berets to everyone.

[noamnety]

18. I had to wear a black beret

Back when the women had the big blob shaped ones for the Class A's.

When it was windy and we had to stand in formation, the soldiers on one side always had to stand with their hands up, instead of at their sides, to catch all the berets as they blew off our heads.

The women then had the crappiest uniforms, hats that blew off, pockets barely large enough to put chapstick in - so you had to carry the stupid Ruth Buzzi purse everywhere unless you used your socks as a wallet - and shirts you couldn't tuck in properly. I was the only woman on a trip where we were climbing into a T-72, (in class Bs, so like the photo above but without the jacket) and the minute I raised my arms to lower myself down the hatch, the bottom hem of the damned shirt was up around my armpits. I felt like a belligerant spit-shined Brittany Spears.

[MissMarple]

19. This guy would make any head wear look bad.

Orders from superiors not withstanding.

[Gay Ranger]

20. I Wore a Black Beret...

Back when you had to EARN one in the Army, now they are issued.

[MissMarple]

22. Gay Ranger, welcome to DU!

:hi:

[Kurovski]

26. Welcome, Gay Ranger

The more the merrier! Best wishes on your transition.

[Redleg]

31. The new sand colored ones are all right though.

At least Rangers have distinctive berets again. The same color as the British SAS so that ain't too bad.

[Skittles]

21. it's not the beret making that guy look like a dork

nt

[Kurovski]

27. It's the glasses & the camera angle.

The lighting?

[semillama]

23. could be worse

[MisterP]

24. I'm worried about the Klingon Empire symbol on the shield on it...

[greyfox]

25. God, no!!!!

I am so glad I served before they got those awful looking things!

[GreenPartyVoter]

28. Our higher ups want our guys to blend in with other armies from

around the world. Our old covers made us stand out too much, I guess. (Theory from GPV's dad GreenLantern, ex-Navy & Reserves)

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[Aristus]

29. Yeah, bring back the flat-crowned barrel cap.

I got out in '93, same time as Underpants, and I'm soooooo glad I don't have to wear one of those stupid beanies!

The old utility cap was great; comfortable, fold-able, washable, looked good when blocked............. *sigh*

[Redleg]

30. Berets are stupid headgear.

No protection from the sun, a lot of troops don't wear their berets correctly, etc. Plus I'm pissed that I was entitled to wear a beret years ago and now everyone gets to wear one.

[Name removed]

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