What is a green beret?

Question

I hear that term alot but I don't know what it is.

Answer 1

It is a hat (I could not resist). It is a term for Army Special Forces.

Some of you point out, incorrectly I might add, that only those who graduate from SF School get to wear the green beret. In point of fact, in recent times, it is the tab you get to wear. Upon graduation, one is awarded the SF tab. When I was in the unit, others in the unit were allowed to wear the green beret even if they had not been to the Q Course. We have, after all, cooks for example. Go up to the Hill and see for yourselves at the next formation.

When I was in SF, and I confess I have been out for many years now, there was a further distinction made between those who had completed the training and those who did not. Each SF unit has its own flash displayed on the beret. Those who had finished SF school displayed the full unit flash. Those who did not, only could dislpay a part of the flash and we derogatoriliy called it a candy stripe. I will defer to more recent graduates and service members.
Regards

Answer 2

It is another name for members of the United States Army Special Forces.

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

The U.S. Army Special Forces wear the green beret because of their link 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 it was not part of the regulation uniform at the time and was disallowed by the U.S. Army.

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". By America's entry into the Vietnam War the green beret had become a symbol of excellence throughout the US Army.

On April 11, 1962 in a White House memorandum to the United States Army, President Kennedy reiterated his view: "the green beret is a symbol of excellence, a badge of courage, a mark of distinction in the fight for freedom." Previously, both Yarborough and Edson Raff had petitioned the Pentagon to allow wearing of the green beret to no avail, but the President did not fail them. As a side note, while popularly known as the Green Berets, US Army Special Forces soldiers do not refer to themselves as such - they refer to themselves as Special Forces, the beret is just the head piece, not the title.

Answer 3

It's U.S. Army Special Forces.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_beret
http://www.army.mil/features/beret/beret.htm
http://specialoperations.military.com/specops/index.html?ESRC=ov_rec_spops_specforc.kw

Answer 4

Army Special Forces.

Answer 5

The Green Beret is only worn by soldiers who have passed the Special Forces Qualification Course, currently have a MOS of 18A, 18B, 18C, 18D, 18E, 18F or 180A, and also work in a position designated with a Special Forces unit.

It is rare that a non-18 series MOS may work in a 18 series slot, but it does happen from time to time because of personnel shortages. These individuals are not allowed to wear the Green Beret.

Also, sometimes soldiers who have passed the Special Forces qualification course may have changed their Military Occupational Speciality (MOS), so although they have earned the right to wear the Special Forces tab, they are not allowed to wear the Green Beret.

Up until the mid 1990s all Soldiers, regardless of MOS wore the Green Beret if they were serving in a Special Forces unit. However this does not apply anymore.

The Special Forces primary task is to train indigenous forces in military operations. They can be called upon to training police forces, foreign military units, and even insurgent groups that the US may support. They are often used to led foreign forces in attacks upon the enemy. For example they trained many of the local Afghan army soldiers and anti-Taliban militias during the initial stages of the Afghanistan war and then led them during encounters with the Taliban and
Al Qaida.


Their secondary role is in direct combat where they can be called upon to attack targets, conduct raids, or conduct reconasence, or coordinate indirect fire (artillery or air support).

Many of their other roles are still classified.

They are not a infantry force that is used to overwhelm and hold large pieces of land. They are trainers, force multipliers and conduct precision strikes upon the enemy.

There is still a lot of controversey on what constitutes a "Special Forces" soldier. Many soldiers serving in Special Forces units wear the "Maroon Beret", because they are working in support roles such as communications, logistics, or military intelligence.

However it is not uncommon for these "Red Hatters" (support soldiers) to deploy forward with "Green Beret" qualified soldiers during combat and fight side by side with them. Many of these support soldiers can spend their entire military career within the Special Forces community, while never having attended the Special Forces Qualification Course.

Thus many within the special forces community consider "red hatters" to also be special forces soldiers. While others in the community disagree.

Answer 6

Special Forces of the Army

Answer 7

us army special forces, tehy wear green berets

Answer 8

It is the headgear worn by a member of the US Army Special Forces.

Answer 9

fighting men from the sky fearless men who jump and die men who mean just what they say the brave men of the green beret....

Answer 10

He's someone who's graduated Army Special Forces school.