Reply #7: I was in the Army when we switched to berets

[AllegroRondo]

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!