Green Beret Article Index for
Green
Articles about
Green Beret
Website Links For
Green
 

Information About

Green Beret




The green beret is the official Headgear of the Royal Marine Commandos , the United States Army Special Forces , The Finnish Coastal Jaegers (marines) and the Royal Swedish Amphibious Corps. Both Special Forces wear it because of a shared tradition which goes back to the British Commando s of World War II . Although it is unusual for American units to wear distinctive head gear, it is the norm in the British Army , where most Regiment s wear Hat s or Cap Badge s which reflect regimental battle honours and traditions.


UNITED STATES ARMY SPECIAL FORCES, THE GREEN BERETS


In the U.S. Armed Forces , the green beret may only be worn by personnel awarded the Special Forces Tab , signifying that they have been qualified as Special Forces (SF) soldiers.

The U.S. Army Special Forces wear the green beret because of their links to the British Commandos of World War II. The first Ranger unit, commonly known as Darby's Rangers , was formed in Northern Ireland during the summer of 1942 . On completion of training at the Commando Training Depot at Achnacarry Castle in Scotland , those Rangers had the right to wear the British Commando green beret, but the U.S. Army disallowed this, and Rangers never officially wore their berets. So the first time Green Berets were first officially put in action was in the Vietnam War .

When visiting the Special Forces at Fort Bragg on October 12 , 1961 , President Kennedy asked Brigadier General William P. Yarborough to make sure that the men under his command wore green berets for the visit. Later that day, Kennedy sent a memorandum which included the line:
:"''I am sure that the green beret will be a mark of distinction in the trying times ahead''".
On April 11 , 1962 in a White House memorandum to the United States Army, Kennedy reiterated his view
:"'' green beret is a symbol of excellence, a badge of courage, a mark of distinction in the fight for freedom.''"
Both Yarborough and Edson Raff had fought the Pentagon staff for a long time to finally allow wearing of the beret, and the president did not let them down.

It should be noted that Special Forces soldiers qualified to wear the Green Beret do not refer to themselves as 'Green Berets' - they are Special Forces, and a 'Green Beret' is a hat.


THE ROYAL MARINES (BRITISH)


Once a Royal Marine has passed the Commando Course , he is entitled to wear the green beret and the 'Royal Marines Commando' flash on his uniform.


COASTAL JAEGERS (FINNISH)


Finland´s 675 nautical miles of marine border, its shallow and rock-strewn archipelago, long, dark and icy winters and the vital importance of sea transport to Finland´s prosperity make the Navy´s field of operations littoral, unique and challenging. The Finnish Navy, which consists of compulsory military service as the rest of The Finnish Defence Forces, is responsible for maritime surveillance, repelling territorial violations and safeguarding vital sealines of communication. The Navy comprises of its headquarters along with seven units and establishments including naval and coastal elements. The Kotka Coastal Command and Uusimaa Brigade, along with the Naval Commands train coastal troops such as coastal jaegers at the Vasa Coastal Jaeger Battalion. Once a coastal jaeger has passed the required compulsory training and meets the supplementary demands the coastal jaeger is allowed to try to carry out the beret march, which is only arranged twice a year. If the coastal jaeger has passed the beret march, he is entitled to wear the green beret and the attached sea eagle badge.


OTHER USES


''Green Beret'' was another name for '' Rush'n Attack , an Arcade Game .


OTHER RESOURCES


See also