United_States_military_beret_flash

United States military beret flash

United States military beret flash

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In the United States (US) military, a beret flash is a shield-shaped embroidered cloth that is typically 2.25 in (5.72 cm) tall and 1.875 in (4.76 cm) wide with a semi–circular base that is attached to a stiffener backing of a military beret.[1][2][3] These flashes—a British English word for a colorful cloth patch attached to military headgear—are worn over the left eye with the excess cloth of the beret shaped, folded, and pulled over the right ear giving it a distinctive appearance.[1][2][4]

Wear of the beret flash in the US military
Army NCOs wearing rifle–green berets with organizational beret flashes—from right to left: 1st, 5th, 7th, and 10th Special Forces Groups—bearing the 1st Special Forces Regiment DUI
An Army officer wearing tan beret with 75th Ranger Regiment Beret Flash bearing polished metal lieutenant colonel (O-5) rank insignia
An Army chaplain wearing black beret with Department of the Army Beret Flash and Chaplain (Christianity) Branch Insignia
An Air Force airman wearing gray beret with Combat Weather Team Beret Flash and Crest
An Air Force officer wearing black beret with TACP Beret Flash and Crest bearing miniature polished metal captain (O-3) rank insignia
An Air Force officer and Army NCO wearing maroon berets with Joint Communications Support Element Beret Flash, the officer affixing his polished metal colonel (O-6) rank insignia and the NCO her unit's DUI

Army soldiers and non-commissioned officers (NCOs) affix their distinctive unit insignia (DUI), regimental distinctive insignia (when no DUI is authorized), Sergeant Major of the Army collar insignia (when assigned), or Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff collar insignia (when assigned) to the center of their beret flash.[1][5] Army warrant officers and commissioned officers affix their polished metal rank insignia to the center of their beret flash while general officer's may choose to affix regular or miniature polished metal rank insignia.[1] To better distinguish them from other Army personnel, Army chaplains affix their polished metal branch insignia to the center of their beret flash.[1] Air Force commissioned officers who are in the security forces or are weather parachutists wear their beret flash in the same manner as the Army while tactical air control party (TACP) officers attach a miniature version of their polished metal rank insignia below the TACP Crest on the TACP Beret Flash.[4][6] Other Air Force airmen and NCOs assigned to an Air Force specialty code (AFSC) authorized to wear a military beret with a beret flash will affix either their beret flash or beret flash with crest, depending on the AFSC.[4] Joint beret flashes—such as those worn by the Joint Communications Support Element—are worn by all who are assigned, given their uniform regulations allow, and will wear them in the manner prescribed by the joint unit.[7]

The design of all US Department of Defense (DoD) beret flashes are created and/or approved by The Institute of Heraldry, Department of the Army.[8] When a requesting unit is entitled to have its own organizational beret flash, the institute will conduct research into the requesting unit's heraldry, as well as design suggestions from the requesting unit, in the creation of a unit or specialty beret flash.[9][10] Leveraging geometrical divisions, shapes, and colors a heraldic artist will create a design that will represent the history and mission of the requesting unit.[9][10] Once the unit agrees upon a design, the institute will authorize the creation of the new beret flash and will establish manufacturing instructions for the companies authorized to produce heraldic materials.[9][10][11][12] The institute will also monitor the production of the new beret flash to ensure quality and accuracy of the design is maintained.[9][10][11]

History of the beret flash in the DoD

US Army

"The French Hat"—History of the beret in the US Army, from the perspective of the 82nd Airborne Division—(2017)
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Main article: Side cap § U.S. Army
Main article: Berets of the United States Army

1940s

509th Parachute Infantry Battalion's WWII beret flash

Throughout its history, Army units have adopted different headgear and headgear devices—such as various colored cords, colored stripes, and insignias—to identify specific units, the unique mission of a unit, and/or the unique role of a soldier.[3][13][14][15] According to some historians, the first US use of a military beret device was a beret flash created by the 509th Parachute Infantry Battalion of World War II (WWII).[2][16][17][18] The 509th trained with the British 1st Airborne Division and was made honorary members of the British airborne forces in 1943.[17][18][19] This honor authorized the 509th to wear the British paratrooper's maroon beret.[17][18][19] Some 509th paratroopers had a small hand–embroidered version of their regiment's pocket–patch created for use as their beret flash on their honorary maroon berets.[2][16][17][18][20] The design of the 509th's pocket–patch—and thus the first organizational beret flash of the US Army—depicts a stylized figure of a paratrooper standing at an open aircraft door wearing a reserve parachute with an artistic rendering of the number "509" surrounding the paratrooper's head and the name Geronimo displayed at the base of the door all embroidered in gold on a black shield-shaped cloth with a semi–circular top.[2][16][17][18][20]

1960s

Special forces group recognition bar example
11th Special Forces Group Beret Flash
11th Special Forces Group Recognition Bar—note the similarity in design between the group's beret flash and recognition bar
A medical corps paratrooper with the 11th Special Forces Group wearing rifle-green beret with 1st Special Forces Regiment DUI affixed above the 11th Special Forces Group recognition bar (c. 1967)[21]

The official start of the Army's beret flashes began in 1961 with Department of the Army Message 578636 authorizing the establishment of organizational beret flashes for wear on the special forces' rifle–green beret.[2][22] Championed and heavily influenced by Lieutenant General William P. Yarborough (Ret.)—creator of the US Army parachutist badge, airborne background trimming, and established the term "beret flash" in US military lexicon—the message described the beret flash as shield–shaped with a semi–circular base made of felt 2 in (51 mm) tall and 1.625 in (41 mm) wide using solid colors to represent each of the special forces groups of the era.[2][22][23][24] The message also described who was authorized to wear the organizational beret flash stating that only special forces qualified paratroopers would be permitted to wear their special forces unit's organizational beret flash.[22] These organizational beret flashes were to be worn centered over the left eye with either the 1st Special Forces Regiment DUI, polished metal officer rank insignia, or chaplain branch insignia positioned below their parachutist badge and centered on the beret flash.[3][22] Later, the parachutist badge was removed and non–qualified soldiers assigned to a special forces unit wore a rectangular cloth beret flash, known as a recognition bar, 1.875 in (4.76 cm) long and 0.5 in (1.27 cm) wide color and pattern matched to their group's organizational beret flash.[3][25][26] The recognition bar was worn below their 1st Special Force Regiment DUI, polished metal officer rank insignia, or chaplain branch insignia on the rifle–green beret.[3][25]

1970s

Various beret accoutrements began to appear in the 1960s and 1970s, particularly between 1973 and 1979 when the Department of the Army had its morale–enhancing order in effect and different colored berets began to be worn by numerous units and branches of the Army.[27][28][29][30]

Historical photographs from the 1960s through the 1970s show soldiers assigned to reconnaissance, ranger, and armor units informally wearing black berets with various units affixing a wide variety of custom beret flashes that were worn over the left eye or left temple.[30] In 1975, the Army formally authorized its ranger units to wear the black beret.[31] If earned, some of these ranger units had their rangers affix their Ranger Tab to the top edge of their organizational beret flash along with their regiment or unit DUI, polished metal officer rank insignia, or chaplain branch insignia affixed to its center and worn over the left eye.[30][31][32]

Vietnam Era reconnaissance unit example
2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry, Recon. Platoon Beret Flash.
An infantryman with 1st Cavalry Division, 1st Brigade, 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry, Reconnaissance Platoon wearing black beret with platoon beret flash (1970)[30]
Ranger unit example
Ranger Department Beret Flash
An infantry NCO with the US Army Infantry School wearing black beret with Ranger Department Beret Flash bearing 75th Ranger Regiment DUI below his Ranger Tab (c. 1975)[33]

Wearing of the black beret by armor units expanded in the 1970s with some adopting organizational beret flashes.[28][29][30] For example, many US Army armor units stationed in West Germany, such as the 1st Armored Division, 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment, and 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, began wearing black berets in the 1970s with the armored cavalry regiments affixing maroon and white ovals for use as their beret flash.[28][29][30] The oval beret flash was worn vertically on the black beret behind their DUI to the left of their metal rank insignia or chaplain branch insignia and positioned over the left temple.[28][29][30][34] Another example is the Army's "triple capability" experiment with the 1st Cavalry Division that outfitted the division for armor, airmobile, and air cavalry warfare in 1971.[35][36] The division decided that its soldiers should wear different colored berets to represent the capability they brought to the division: black for armor, light–blue for infantry, red for artillery, and kelly–green for support—later settling for black berets across all formations.[30][35] As they became available, 1st Cavalry soldiers would affix a battalion or squadron specific organizational beret flash of various shapes, colors, and materials to their beret.[2][30] Historical photographs show many 1st Cavalry soldiers wearing their berets in the same manner as US armored cavalry soldiers in West Germany.[30][34] The use of black berets extended to training units as well, such as the US Army Training and Doctrine Command and its armor school.[28][29][30] Historical photographs of the era show plastic triangles being worn on black berets of US Army Armor School cadre and were worn in the same manner as beret flashes are today.[30]

Armored Cavalry Regiment example
Armored Cavalry Oval Beret Flash
An artillery NCO with the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment wearing black beret with subdued sergeant rank insignia next to the Armored Cavalry Oval bearing his regiment's DUI (c. 1973–1975)[29][30][37]
1st Cavalry Division example
1st Battalion, 12th Cavalry Beret Flash
An infantryman with the 1st Cavalry Division wearing black beret with polished brass specialist 4 rank insignia next to the 1st Battalion, 12th Cavalry Beret Flash bearing the 12th Cavalry Regiment DUI (1976)[38]
US Armor School example
US Army Armor School Instructor Flash (made of plastic)
An armor officer with the US Army Training and Doctrine Command, US Army Armor School wearing black beret with Armor School Instructor Flash bearing polished metal captain (O-3) rank insignia (1976)[30]

In 1973, Army leaders authorized the wear of the maroon beret by airborne forces.[27][30] Within a year or so, paratroopers of the 82nd Airborne Division began incorporating organizational beret flashes onto their maroon berets pattered after their unit's airborne background trimming.[1][39][30] These organizational beret flashes, representing various units of the 82nd, were worn in the same manner as they are today.[1][39] Similarly, in 1974 Army leaders authorized the 101st Airborne Division to wear the dark–blue beret when it was reorganized into an air assault division at Fort Campbell.[14][28][30][40][41][42] Army articles and historical photographs of 101st soldiers show them wearing organizational beret flashes patterned after their unit's airborne background trimming and were affixed with either their polished metal rank insignia, DUI, or chaplain branch insignia centered on the beret flash and worn over the left eye.[1][14][30][40][42] Between 1976 and 1977, 101st soldiers would affix their Airmobile Badge—renamed Air Assault Badge in 1978—to their berets positioned over their left temple, next to their beret flash.[14][30][42][43] Other Fort Campbell units of the era also wore the dark–blue beret as well as red for headquarters command and light-green for military police, all with traditional organizational beret flashes that were worn in the same manner as they are today.[28][30]

82nd Airborne Division example
1st Battalion, 508th Infantry Airborne Background Trimming
1st Battalion, 508th Infantry Beret Flash
A paratrooper with the 82nd Airborne Division wearing maroon beret with 1st Battalion, 508th Infantry Beret Flash bearing his regiment's DUI (1975)[39]—note the design similarities between the airborne background trimming and beret flash
101st Airborne Division example
326th Engineer Battalion Airborne Background Trimming
326th Engineer Battalion Beret Flash
An engineer officer with the 101st Airborne Division wearing dark–blue beret with 326th Engineer Battalion Beret Flash bearing polished metal lieutenant colonel (O-5) rank insignia next to his Airmobile Badge (1977)[30]—note the design similarities between the airborne background trimming and beret flash
Arctic–qualified soldier example
1st Battalion, 60th Infantry Beret Flash
An arctic–qualified infantryman with the 172nd Infantry Brigade wearing olive–drab beret with 1st Battalion, 60th Infantry Regiment Beret Flash bearing his regiment's DUI (c. 1970s)[30][44]

Also during the 1970s, arctic–qualified soldiers of the 172nd Infantry Brigade wore locally authorized olive–drab berets with organizational beret flashes that were unique to each battalion, company, troop, or battery of the brigade and were worn in the same manner as they are today.[1][29][30][44]

By 1979, the Army put a stop to the use of berets by conventional forces, leaving only special forces and ranger units the authority to wear berets.[28][29][30]

1980s

In 1980, the Army reversed part of its decision allowing airborne units to wear maroon berets, ranger units black berets and special forces units rifle–green berets.[28][29][45] The Army's 1981 uniform regulation describes the wear of these berets with the only authorized accoutrements being organizational beret flashes or recognition bars with officer rank insignia, chaplain branch insignia, or DUI affixed.[3][46]

The organizational beret flash did not become the norm across the Army until 1984 when the recognition bar was discontinued after the Special Forces Tab became authorized for wear by special forces qualified paratroopers.[25] Today, all paratroopers assigned to a special forces unit wear their unit's organizational beret flash on either a rifle–green beret, for special forces qualified paratroopers, or a maroon beret, for support paratroopers.[1][47]

Example of modern-day wear of the special forces organizational beret flashes
7th Special Forces Group Beret Flash
Two officers, one wearing a maroon beret and the other a rifle-green beret, with 7th Special Forces Group Beret Flash and polished metal major (O-4) rank insignia affixed; the special forces qualified officer is identified by his rifle-green beret and tab (2017)[1][47]

2000–present

In 2000, the Chief of Staff of the Army, General Eric Shinseki, decided to make the black beret the standard headgear of the Army.[29] This was codified in regulations in 2001 and was amended in 2011 making the black beret optional headgear with certain uniforms.[1][45][48] Due to this change, the 75th Ranger Regiment was authorized to switch from black to tan berets in 2001, given the black beret was no longer a distinctive uniform item for the regiment.[29][45] General Shinseki also decided that a new Department of the Army Beret Flash be worn on the black beret.[8][29][49] According to The Institute of Heraldry, the Department of the Army Beret Flash is designed to resemble the flag of the Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army flown at the siege of Yorktown during the American Revolutionary War; a light–blue flag with thirteen white stars representing the Thirteen Colonies.[1][29][50][51][52] According to Department of the Army Pamphlet 670–1, the Department of the Army Beret Flash is to be worn by all units "unless authorization for another flash was granted before implementing the black beret as a standard Army headgear."[1]

Department of the Army Beret Flash
Photograph of General Washington's Sun faded Commander–in–Chief flag (c. 1775-1783)[50]
Department of the Army Beret Flash
A soldier with 1st Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment wearing black beret with Department of the Army Beret Flash and his regiment's DUI affixed during an Army Beret Donning Ceremony at Fort Lewis (c. 2001)[45][53]
Example of the beret flash exception on the Army black beret
55th Signal Company Beret Flash
Signal Corps NCOs wearing maroon and black berets with 55th Signal Company Beret Flash and 114th Signal Battalion DUI—only the 55th's Airborne Combat Camera Documentation Team is authorized to wear the maroon beret but the beret flash was authorized for the company prior to the establishment of the Department of the Army Beret Flash (2012)[1][54]
First organizational beret flash authorized for a non–airborne unit since 1979[1][9][29]
1st SFAB Beret Flash
A soldier with 1st SFAB wearing brown beret with unit beret flash and DUI affixed (2018)[55]

Army units can request an organizational beret flash for their formation from The Institute of Heraldry given it is not for wear on the black beret.[1][9][56] A good example of this is The Institute of Heraldry's 2018 authorization of organizational beret flashes for the Security Force Assistance Command and its brigades (SFABs) for wear on their brown beret.[57][58][59][60][61][62][63]

Example of the Special Forces Beret Flash
Special Forces (generic) Beret Flash
A special forces qualified officer wearing rifle–green beret with a generic (non–unit specific) Special Forces Beret Flash and polished metal general (O-10) rank insignia affixed (2019)[64]

In the 21st century, unlike the Department of the Army Beret Flash, Army organizational beret flashes signify a specific formation of a specialized unit, such as an active airborne, ranger, special forces, or combat advisor unit.[1][15][27][65] However, there is a unique generic Special Forces Beret Flash worn by special forces qualified paratroopers on their rifle–green beret when assigned to a unit not authorized an organizational beret flash; this is due to the rifle–green beret now representing a paratrooper's special forces qualification—in addition to the Special Forces Tab—rather than a special forces unit as it once did in the 60s, 70s, and 80s.[1][25]

US Air Force

Weather Parachutists

Vietnam Era Combat Weather Team Beret Flash

In the mid 1960s, Air Force commando weathermen,[66] formally known as weather parachutists, with Detachment 26 of the 30th Weather Squadron and Detachment 32 of the 5th Weather Squadron informally wore black berets.[67] A black cloth rectangle with a yellow embroidered anemometer surmounted by a fleur–de–lis with the words "Combat Weather" split by the anemometer was used as their beret flash.[67]

5th Weather Squadron insignias
The 5th Weather Squadron Emblem (left) and Beret Flash (right)—note the alchemical symbol for water with representative colors green (Earth), blue (air), and red (fire)[67]

From 1970 through the 1980s, weather parachutists with the 5th Weather Squadron wore maroon berets with an Army style beret flash that incorporated the squadron's design and colors from their emblem's alchemical symbol for water and affixed their Parachutist Badge to the flash.[9][67]

In 1979, weather parachutists were authorized to wear navy–blue berets with an Army style beret flash consisting of a blue and black field surrounded by yellow piping.[9][67] Enlisted and NCOs affixed their Parachutist Badge to the flash while officers affixed their polished metal rank insignia.[67] In 1986, the gray beret was authorized for wear by weather parachutists who continued to wear the aforementioned cloth beret flash until a new large color metallic Special Operations Weather Team Crest was authorized.[67]

In 1992, the Air Force approved the return of the weather parachutist's blue, black, and yellow beret flash from the 1970s and affixed their large color metal Special Operations Weather Team Crest to it.[67]

Special Operations Weather Team example
Special Operations Weather Team Beret Flash
A weather parachutist with AFSOC's 107th Weather Flight wearing gray beret with Special Operations Weather Team Beret Flash and Combat Weather Team Crest (2008)[68]

In 1996, weather parachutists assigned to Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) began wearing a new Army style beret flash, known as the Special Operations Weather Team Beret Flash, while those assigned to Air Combat Command, known as combat weather teams, continued to wear the blue, black and yellow beret flash.[9][67][69] The Special Operations Weather Team Beret Flash consisted of a red border representing the blood shed by their predecessors, a black background representing special operations, and three diagonal lines of various colors representing the services they supported (green=Army, purple=joint forces, and blue=Air Force).[67] Officers affixed their polished metal rank insignia while enlisted and NCOs affixed their Parachutist Badge to the Special Operations Weather Team Beret Flash until 2002 when the Combat Weather Team Crest was created.[67] The Combat Weather Team Crest was affixed to both Special Operations Weather Team and Combat Weather Team Beret Flashes by enlisted and NCOs while officers affix their polished metal rank insignia to the appropriate beret flash.[6][67][68][70]

In 2007/2008, the Special Operations Weather Team Beret Flash stopped being worn by AFSOC weather parachutists while the Combat Weather Team Beret Flash continues to be worn by combat weather teams to this day.[4][6][71]

Security Forces

1041st Security Police Squadron example
1041st Security Police Squadron Beret Flash
A security policeman with the 1041st Security Police Squadron wearing dark–blue beret and unit beret flash (c. 1967)[72]

In 1966/67, the newly formed 1041st Security Police Squadron was authorized to wear a dark–blue beret with a unique organizational beret flash.[72][73][74] The 1041st's beret flash has a depiction of a white falcon carrying a pair of lightning bolts on a somewhat pointed oval-shaped light–blue cloth shield that was worn over the left temple.[72][73][74]

Security Forces example
Security Forces Beret Flash
A security forces airman with the 55th Security Forces Squadron wearing navy–blue beret with Security Forces Beret Flash (1998)[75]

In 1997, the Air Force stood up the security forces AFSC, combining Air Force police and security forces into one carrier field, and honored the heraldry of the 1041st Security Police Squadron by creating a new organizational beret flash for all security forces airman and NCOs for wear on their dark-blue beret.[4][73] The new Security Forces Beret Flash depicts the 1041st's falcon over an airfield on a blue shield–shaped patch bordered in gold with a white scroll at its base embroidered with the motto "Defensor Fortis" (defenders of the force) in dark–blue title case.[4][73] Security forces officers wear the same basic beret flash minus the embroidered falcon and airfield and in its place affix their polished metal rank insignia.[4]}}

TACP

Air Mobility Liaison Officer example
Institute of Heraldry manufacturing instructions
An Air Mobility Liaison Officer with the 8th Air Support Operations Squadron wearing black beret with Air Mobility Liaison Officer Beret Flash and polished metal captain (O-3) rank insignia affixed (2011)[76]

In 1979, TACP airman and NCOs were given authorization to wear the black beret. In 1984, two TACP's submitted a design for a unique beret flash and crest for wear on their berets which the Air Force approved one year later.[28] The TACP Beret Flash consists of a scarlet border that represent the firepower TACP's bring to bear with two dovetailed fields of blue and green representing the close working relationship between the Air Force and the Army that is enabled by the TACP.[77] TACP officers also wear the TACP Beret Flash and Crest but with miniature polished metal rank insignia below the crest and just above the inner–border of the beret flash.[4][78][79]

Air liaison officers assigned to an air support operations squadron or group can also be given authorization to wear the black beret and TACP Beret Flash with full-size polished metal officer rank insignia (no crest).[4][28][80][81]

Some Air Mobility Liaison Officers also wore the black beret.[28] Although worn informally before then, in 2015 The Institute of Heraldry authorized a slight modification of the TACP Beret Flash for wear by Air Mobility Liaison Officers, incorporating an embroidered compass rose in the upper–left corner of the flash.[76][82] The Air Mobility Liaison Officer Beret Flash was worn in the same manner as Air Liaison Officers wear the TACP Beret Flash.[76][83]

Combat Aviation Advisors

Combat Aviation Advisor example
Combat Aviation Advisor Flash
An NCO (left) and an officer (right) with a combat aviation advisor squadron are wearing brown berets with Combat Aviation Advisor Beret Flash with the officer affixing his metal major (O-4) rank insignia (2018)[84]

From 2018–2022, AFSOC authorized the wear of the brown beret for airman, NCOs, and officers assigned to what was known as combat aviation advisor squadrons, such as the 6th and 711th Special Operations Squadrons.[84][85] The brown beret—similar to the Army's brown beret—was worn with an Army style organizational beret flash consisting of a blue field with olive–green diagonal stripes and border.[9][84] The Combat Aviation Advisor Beret Flash was worn centered over the left eye with polished metal officer rank insignia, chaplain branch insignia, or an AFSC metallic beret crest affixed to the beret flash while all other advisors wore it without accoutrements.[84][86]

US Navy

In the 1960s, select US Navy riverine patrol units operating in South Vietnam adopted the black beret to be part of their daily uniform and wore various accouterments on their berets.[87][88] In 1967, the Commander of the Riverine Patrol Force sent an official message to the Commander of River Patrol Flotilla Five authorizing the wear of the black beret.[88] In this message, the wear and appearance of the beret was defined stating, "Beret will be worn with river patrol force insignia centered on right side" and "Only standard size river patrol force insignia will be worn on beret. ... No other emblem or rank insignia will be displayed on beret."[88][89] Today, these US Navy small boat units honor their heritage by wearing the black beret during special occasions—such as induction ceremonies into the Gamewardens Association[90]—and will affix historically relevant riverine task force insignia for use as their beret flash.[91][92][93][94]

Examples of US Navy riverine units' use of the black beret
Riverine Patrol Force, Task Force 116 Insignia
Chief of Naval Operations (left) and Commander, Riverine Patrol Force (right) wearing black berets with Task Force 116 Insignia (1969)[95]
A Navy NCO from Riverine Squadron 1 receives the black beret with Task Force 116 Insignia at a ceremony making him an honorary "Gamewarden" (2011)[92]

Beret flashes of the US military (1973–present)

Air Force

  • Combat Weather Team
    —formerly Special Operations Weather Team
  • Security Forces
  • Security Forces Officer
  • –TACP
    –TACP Officer
    –Air Liaison Officer
Obsolete

Army

  • Department of the Army

Adjutant general

Obsolete
  • US Army Alaska, Fort Wainwright, Finance Element
  • 1st Cavalry Division, 15th Adjutant General Company
  • XVIII Airborne Corps, 18th Personnel Group
  • 82nd Airborne Division, 82nd Finance Battalion
  • 82nd Airborne Division, 82nd Personnel Services Battalion

Air defense artillery

Obsolete

Armor and cavalry

Obsolete

Aviation

  • US Army Special Operations Aviation Command (USASOAC)
  • USASOAC, 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment
  • USASOAC, 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, 1st Battalion
  • USASOAC, 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, 2nd Battalion
  • USASOAC, 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, 3rd Battalion
  • USASOAC, 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, 4th Battalion
  • 82nd Airborne Division, Combat Aviation Brigade
  • 82nd Airborne Division, Combat Aviation Brigade, 82nd Aviation Regiment, 1st Battalion
  • 82nd Airborne Division, Combat Aviation Brigade, 82nd Aviation Regiment, 2nd Battalion
  • 82nd Airborne Division, Combat Aviation Brigade, 82nd Aviation Regiment, 3rd Battalion
Obsolete

Chemical

Obsolete
  • 1st Special Forces, 5th Special Forces Group, 56th Chemical Reconnaissance Detachment
  • –1st Special Forces, 445th Chemical Detachment
    –101st Airborne Division, 101st Aviation Group

Civil affairs

  • US Army Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations Command (USACAPOC), 351st Civil Affairs Command, 358th Civil Affairs Brigade, 416th Civil Affairs Battalion
  • USACAPOC, 351st Civil Affairs Command, 358th Civil Affairs Brigade, 426th Civil Affairs Battalion
  • USACAPOC, 352nd Civil Affairs Command, 360th Civil Affairs Brigade
  • USACAPOC, 352nd Civil Affairs Command, 360th Civil Affairs Brigade, 404th Civil Affairs Battalion
  • USACAPOC, 352nd Civil Affairs Command, 360th Civil Affairs Brigade, 412th Civil Affairs Battalion
  • USACAPOC, 352nd Civil Affairs Command, 360th Civil Affairs Brigade, 450th Civil Affairs Battalion
  • USACAPOC, 352nd Civil Affairs Command, 360th Civil Affairs Brigade, 478th Civil Affairs Battalion
  • 1st Special Forces Command, 95th Civil Affairs Brigade
  • 1st Special Forces Command, 95th Civil Affairs Brigade, 91st Civil Affairs Battalion
  • 1st Special Forces Command, 95th Civil Affairs Brigade, 92nd Civil Affairs Battalion
  • 1st Special Forces Command, 95th Civil Affairs Brigade, 96th Civil Affairs Battalion
  • 1st Special Forces Command, 95th Civil Affairs Brigade, 97th Civil Affairs Battalion
  • 1st Special Forces Command, 95th Civil Affairs Brigade, 98th Civil Affairs Battalion
Obsolete
  • 1st Special Operations Command, 96th Civil Affairs Battalion, Company A

Engineers

  • USAREUR–AF, 173rd Airborne Brigade, 54th Brigade Engineer Battalion
  • 11th Airborne Division, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 6th Brigade Engineer Battalion
    —formerly 25th Infantry Division, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 6th Brigade Engineer Battalion
  • 11th Airborne Division, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 6th Brigade Engineer Battalion, 84th Engineer Company
    —formerly 25th Infantry Division, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 6th Brigade Engineer Battalion, 84th Engineer Company
  • XVIII Airborne Corps, 20th Engineer Brigade, 27th Engineer Battalion
  • XVIII Airborne Corps, 20th Engineer Brigade, 27th Engineer Battalion, 57th Engineer Company
  • XVIII Airborne Corps, 20th Engineer Brigade, 27th Engineer Battalion, 161st Engineer Company
  • XVIII Airborne Corps, 20th Engineer Brigade, 27th Engineer Battalion, 618th Engineer Company
  • 82nd Airborne Division, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 127th Brigade Engineer Battalion
  • 82nd Airborne Division, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 37th Brigade Engineer Battalion
  • 82nd Airborne Division, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 307th Brigade Engineer Battalion
Obsolete
  • US Army Alaska, Fort Wainwright, 47th Engineer Company
  • US Army Alaska, 172nd Infantry Brigade, 23rd Engineer Company
  • US Army Alaska, 172nd Infantry Brigade, 562nd Engineer Company
  • US Army Forces Command, 20th Engineer Battalion
  • –1st Cavalry Division, 8th Engineer Battalion
    –1st Cavalry Division, 1st Cavalry Division Artillery (original version)
  • XVIII Airborne Corps, 20th Engineer Brigade (original version)
  • XVIII Airborne Corps, 20th Engineer Brigade
  • XVIII Airborne Corps, 20th Engineer Brigade, 738th Engineer Company
  • XVIII Airborne Corps, 20th Engineer Brigade, 919th Engineer Company
  • XVIII Airborne Corps, 20th Engineer Brigade, 30th Engineer Battalion
  • 82nd Airborne Division, 127th Engineer Battalion (original version)
  • 101st Airborne Division, 326th Engineer Battalion

Field artillery

Obsolete

Infantry

  • USAREUR–AF, 173rd Airborne Brigade
  • USAREUR–AF, 173rd Airborne Brigade, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 1st Battalion
    —formerly 101st Airborne Division, 3rd Brigade, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 1st Battalion
  • USAREUR–AF, 173rd Airborne Brigade, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Battalion
    —formerly 101st Airborne Division, 3rd Brigade, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Battalion
  • USASOC, 75th Ranger Regiment
  • USASOC, 75th Ranger Regiment, 1st Battalion
  • USASOC, 75th Ranger Regiment, 2nd Battalion
  • USASOC, 75th Ranger Regiment, 3rd Battalion
  • 11th Airborne Division
  • 11th Airborne Division, 1st Brigade Combat Team
  • 11th Airborne Division, 2nd Brigade Combat Team
  • 11th Airborne Division, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 501st Infantry Regiment, 1st Battalion
    —formerly
    –25th Infantry Division, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 501st Infantry Regiment, 1st Battalion
    –101st Airborne Division, 2nd Brigade, 501st Infantry Regiment, 1st Battalion
  • 11th Airborne Division, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 509th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Battalion
    —formerly 25th Infantry Division, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 509th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Battalion
  • 35th Infantry Division, 45th Brigade Combat Team, 134th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Battalion
  • 36th Infantry Division, 56th Brigade Combat Team, 143rd Infantry Regiment, 1st Battalion
  • 82nd Airborne Division
  • 82nd Airborne Division, 1st Brigade Combat Team
  • 82nd Airborne Division, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 501st Infantry Regiment, 2nd Battalion
  • 82nd Airborne Division, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 504th Infantry Regiment, 1st Battalion
  • 82nd Airborne Division, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 504th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Battalion
  • 82nd Airborne Division, 2nd Brigade Combat Team
  • 82nd Aiirborne Division, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 325th Infantry Regiment, 1st Battalion
  • 82nd Airborne Division, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 325th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Battalion
  • 82nd Airborne Division, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 508th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Battalion
    —formerly 82nd Airborne Division, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 508th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Battalion
  • 82nd Airborne Division, 3rd Brigade Combat Team
  • 82nd Airborne Division, 505th Infantry Regiment, 1st Battalion
  • 82nd Airborne Division, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 505th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Battalion
  • 82nd Airborne Division, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 508th Infantry Regiment, 1st Battalion
    —formerly 82nd Airborne Division, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 508th Infantry Regiment, 1st Battalion
Obsolete
  • –Indiana Army National Guard, 151st Infantry Regiment, Company D (Ranger)
    –Indiana Army National Guard, 219th Battlefield Surveillance Brigade (BfSB), 152nd Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Squadron, Troop C (Long-Range Surveillance)
    –38th Infantry Division, 151st Infantry Regiment, Company D (Long-Range Surveillance)
  • Michigan Army National Guard, 425th Infantry Regiment, Company E and F (Ranger)
  • Puerto Rico Army National Guard, 92nd Infantry Brigade
  • –Texas Army National Guard, 143rd Infantry Regiment, Company G (Ranger)
    –Texas Army National Guard, 143rd Infantry Regiment, Company G (Long-Range Surveillance)
  • Texas Army National Guard, 36th Airborne Brigade
  • Texas Army National Guard, 36th Airborne Brigade, 143rd Infantry Regiment, 1st Battalion
  • Texas Army National Guard, 36th Airborne Brigade, 143rd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Battalion
  • –US Army Alaska, 172nd Infantry Brigade (original version)
    –101st Airborne Division, Screaming Eagle Replacement Training School
  • US Army Alaska, 172nd Infantry Brigade
  • US Army Alaska, 172nd Infantry Brigade, 9th Infantry Regiment, 4th Battalion
  • –US Army Alaska, 172nd Infantry Brigade, 23rd Infantry Regiment, 4th Battalion
    –US Army Alaska, 172nd Infantry Brigade, 327th Infantry Regiment, 5th Battalion, Company C (original version)
  • US Army Alaska, 172nd Infantry Brigade, 60th Infantry Regiment, 1st Battalion
  • US Army Alaska, 172nd Infantry Brigade, 327th Infantry Regiment, 4th Battalion, Company C
  • US Army Alaska, 172nd Infantry Brigade, 327th Infantry Regiment, 5th Battalion, Company C
  • US Army Alaska, 172nd Infantry Brigade, 327th Infantry Regiment, 6th Battalion, Company C
  • US Army South, 193rd Infantry Brigade, 5th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Battalion, Company A
  • US Army South, 193rd Infantry Brigade, 187th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Battalion
  • –US Army Southern European Task Force, 325th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Battalion
    –82nd Airborne Division, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 325th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Battalion
  • US Army Southern European Task Force, 509th Infantry Regiment, 1st Battalion (original version)
  • USASOC, 75th Ranger Regiment (original version)
  • USASOC, 75th Ranger Regiment, 1st Battalion (original version)
  • USASOC, 75th Ranger Regiment, 2nd Battalion (original version)
  • USASOC, 75th Ranger Regiment, 3rd Battalion (original version)
  • 25th Infantry Division, 4th Brigade Combat Team
  • 82nd Airborne Division, 1st Brigade Combat Team (original version)
  • 82nd Airborne Division, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 504th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Battalion
  • 82nd Airborne Division, 2nd Brigade Combat Team (original version)
  • 82nd Airborne Division, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 325th Infantry Regiment, 4th Battalion
  • 82nd Airborne Division, 3rd Brigade Combat Team (original version)
  • 82nd Airborne Division, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 505th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Battalion
  • 82nd Airborne Division, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 505th Infantry Regiment, 4th Battalion
  • 82nd Airborne Division, 4th Brigade Combat Team
  • 101st Airborne Division
  • 101st Airborne Division, 1st Brigade
  • 101st Airborne Division, 1st Brigade, 327th Infantry Regiment, 1st Battalion
  • 101st Airborne Division, 1st Brigade, 327th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Battalion
  • 101st Airborne Division, 1st Brigade, 502nd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Battalion
  • 101st Airborne Division, 2nd Brigade
  • 101st Airborne Division, 2nd Brigade, 502nd Infantry Regiment, 1st Battalion
  • 101st Airborne Division, 2nd Brigade, 506th Infantry Regiment, 1st Battalion
  • 101st Airborne Division, 3rd Brigade
  • 101st Airborne Division, 3rd Brigade, 187th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Battalion

Logistics

Obsolete
  • US Army Europe, 29th Transportation Battalion
  • US Army Forces Command, 561st Maintenance Battalion
  • US Army Japan, 10th Regional Support Group, 35th CSSB, 87th Quartermaster Detachment
  • 1st Cavalry Division Support Command, 15th Support and Transport Battalion (original version)
  • 1st Cavalry Division Support Command, 15th Support and Transport Battalion
  • 1st Cavalry Division Support Command, 15th Support and Transport Battalion, Company A
  • 1st Cavalry Division Support Command, 15th Support and Transport Battalion, Company B
  • 1st Cavalry Division Support Command, 27th Maintenance Battalion
  • 1st Cavalry Division, 1st Cavalry Division Sustainment Brigade, 527th Quartermaster Detachment
  • 1st Corps Support Command, 600th Quartermaster Company
  • 1st Corps Support Command, 612th Quartermaster Company
  • 1st Corps Support Command, 623rd Quartermaster Company
  • 21st Theater Sustainment Command, 16th Sustainment Brigade, 16th Special Troops Battalion, 5th Quartermaster Theater Aerial Delivery Company (original version)
  • 82nd Airborne Division, 82nd Aviation Brigade, 82nd Aviation Regiment, Company D (Aviation Maintenance)
    —currently 82nd Airborne Division, Combat Aviation Brigade, 122nd Aviation Support Battalion
  • 82nd Airborne Division, 82nd Aviation Brigade, 82nd Aviation Regiment, 33rd Aviation Maintenance Company
  • 82nd Airborne Division, 407th Supply and Transportation Battalion
    —currently 82nd Airborne Division, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 407th Brigade Support Battalion
  • –82nd Airborne Division, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 782nd Maintenance Battalion
    –82nd Airborne Division, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 782nd Brigade Support Battalion
  • 101st Airborne Division, 53rd Quartermaster Detachment
  • 451st Expeditionary Sustainment Command, 89th Sustainment Brigade, 620th CSSB, 383rd Quartermaster Company

Medical

Obsolete
  • US Army Forces Command, 86th Combat Support Hospital
  • 1st Cavalry Division Support Command, 15th Medical Battalion (original version)
  • 1st Cavalry Division Support Command, 15th Medical Battalion
  • 4th Infantry Division, 4th Medical Battalion, Company C
  • XVIII Airborne Corps, 44th Medical Brigade
  • 82nd Airborne Division, 307th Medical Battalion
    —currently 82nd Airborne Division, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 307th Brigade Support Battalion
  • 593rd Expeditionary Sustainment Command, 62nd Medical Brigade, 47th Combat Support Hospital, 250th Medical Detachment

Military intelligence

Obsolete

Military police

  • US Army Criminal Investigation Command, 3rd Military Police Group, 10th Military Police Battalion
  • XVIII Airborne Corps, 16th Military Police Brigade, 503rd Military Police Battalion, 21st Military Police Company
  • XVIII Airborne Corps, 16th Military Police Brigade, 503rd Military Police Battalion, 65th Military Police Company
  • XVIII Airborne Corps, 16th Military Police Brigade, 503rd Military Police Battalion, 108th Military Police Company
  • XVIII Airborne Corps, 16th Military Police Brigade, 503rd Military Police Battalion, 118th Military Police Company
Obsolete
  • US Army Alaska, Fort Wainwright, 472nd Military Police Company
  • –US Army Forces Command, 553rd Military Police Company
    –101st Airborne Division, 101st Military Police Company
  • XVIII Airborne Corps, 16th Military Police Group

Multidisciplinary units

Obsolete
  • Puerto Rico National Guard Headquarters–Army Element (original version)
  • Puerto Rico National Guard Headquarters–Army Element
    —currently Puerto Rico State Guard
  • Puerto Rico Army National Guard Headquarters, Command and Control
  • Puerto Rico Army National Guard, 292nd Area Command
  • –Special Operations Command Atlantic–Army Element
    –Special Operations Command Joint Forces–Army Element
  • Special Operations Command East–Army Element
  • Special Operations Task Force Europe–Army Element
  • US Army Europe, 173rd Airborne Brigade, Combat Support Battalion
  • US Army Europe, 173rd Airborne Brigade, Special Troops Battalion
  • US Army Forces Command
  • US Army Forces Command, Joint Task Force Deployable
  • US Army Garrison, Fort Bragg
  • US Army Pacific, Early Entry Command Post (US Army Alaska)
  • US Army Reserve Special Operations Command
  • US Army Southern European Task Force
  • US Army Special Operations Support Command
  • US Southern Command, Joint Task Force–Bravo
  • 1st Cavalry Division Support Command
  • 1st Special Operations Command
  • –1st Special Operations Command, 13th Support Battalion
    –1st Special Operations Command, 528th Support Battalion
  • 1st Sustainment Command
  • 3rd Special Operations Support Command
  • 4th Special Operations Support Command
  • 5th Special Operations Support Command
  • 6th Special Operations Support Command (original version)
  • 6th Special Operations Support Command
  • 7th Special Operations Support Command
  • 25th Infantry Division, 4th Brigade Combat Team, Special Troops Battalion
  • 25th Infantry Division, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 167th Brigade Support Battalion
  • 82nd Airborne Division, Special Troops Battalion
  • 82nd Airborne Division, 1st Brigade Combat Team, Special Troops Battalion
  • 82nd Airborne Division, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, Special Troops Battalion
  • 82nd Airborne Division, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, Special Troops Battalion
  • 82nd Airborne Division, 4th Brigade Combat Team, Special Troops Battalion
  • –82nd Airborne Division, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 782nd Brigade Support Battalion
    –82nd Airborne Division, 782nd Maintenance Battalion
  • –101st Division Support Command
    –Various other Fort Campbell units who lacked an organizational beret flash

Ordnance

Psychological operations

  • USACAPOC, 2nd Psychological Operations (PSYOP) Group, 15th PSYOP Battalion, 310th Tactical PSYOP Company
  • USACAPOC, 2nd PSYOP Group, 15th PSYOP Battalion, 325th and 346th Tactical PSYOP Companies
  • USACAPOC, 7th PSYOP Group, 17th PSYOP Battalion, 301st Tactical PSYOP Company
  • USACAPOC, 7th PSYOP Group, 17th PSYOP Battalion, 344th Tactical PSYOP Company
  • USACAPOC, 7th PSYOP Group, 17th PSYOP Battalion, 345th Tactical PSYOP Company
  • 1st Special Forces Command, 4th PSYOP Group
  • 1st Special Forces Command, 4th PSYOP Group, 5th PSYOP Battalion
  • 1st Special Forces Command, 4th PSYOP Group, 7th PSYOP Battalion
  • 1st Special Forces Command, 4th PSYOP Group, 8th PSYOP Battalion
  • 1st Special Forces Command, 8th PSYOP Group
  • 1st Special Forces Command, 8th PSYOP Group, 3rd PSYOP Battalion
Obsolete
  • USACAPOC, 2nd PSYOP Group, 15th PSYOP Battalion, 325th Tactical PSYOP Company (original version)
  • USACAPOC, 2nd PSYOP Group, 15th PSYOP Battalion, 346th Tactical PSYOP Company (original version)

Public affairs

Signal

Obsolete

Special forces

Obsolete
  • Special Forces personnel assigned to the Joint Chiefs of Staff
  • US Pacific Command, Joint Casualty Resolution Center–Special Forces Element
  • 1st Special Forces, Special Forces Reserve
  • 1st Special Forces, Special Forces Reserve Recognition Bar
  • 1st Special Forces, 1st Special Forces Group Recognition Bar
  • 1st Special Forces, 3rd Special Forces Group Recognition Bar
  • 1st Special Forces, 5th Special Forces Group (original version)
  • 1st Special Forces, 5th Special Forces Group Recognition Bar
  • 1st Special Forces, 5th Special Forces Group–Vietnam Recognition Bar
  • 1st Special Forces, 6th Special Forces Group
  • 1st Special Forces, 6th Special Forces Group Recognition Bar
  • 1st Special Forces, 7th Special Forces Group Recognition Bar
  • 1st Special Forces, 8th Special Forces Group
  • 1st Special Forces, 8th Special Forces Group Recognition Bar
  • 1st Special Forces, 10th Special Forces Group Recognition Bar
  • 1st Special Forces, 10th Special Forces Group, Special Forces Detachment–Europe
  • 1st Special Forces, 10th Special Forces Group, Special Forces Detachment–Europe Recognition Bar
  • 1st Special Forces, 11th Special Forces Group
  • 1st Special Forces, 11th Special Forces Group Recognition Bar
  • 1st Special Forces, 12th Special Forces Group
  • 1st Special Forces, 12th Special Forces Group Recognition Bar
  • 1st Special Forces and Utah Army National Guard, 19th Special Forces Group Recognition Bar
  • 1st Special Forces and Alabama Army National Guard, 20th Special Forces Group Recognition Bar
  • 1st Special Forces and Alaska Army National Guard, 38th Special Forces Company
  • 1st Special Forces, 46th Special Forces Company

Training

Obsolete

Joint

  • Joint Enabling Capabilities Command, Joint Communications Support Element
  • Joint Enabling Capabilities Command, Joint Communications Support Element, 1st Squadron
  • Joint Enabling Capabilities Command, Joint Communications Support Element, 2nd Squadron
  • Joint Enabling Capabilities Command, Joint Communications Support Element, 4th Squadron
  • Joint Enabling Capabilities Command, Joint Communications Support Element, Communications Support Detachment
Obsolete
  • Joint Enabling Capabilities Command, Joint Communications Support Element, 3rd Squadron

State defense forces

A Texas State Guard officer wearing an Army blue service uniform with Texas State Guard Beret Flash and brigadier general rank insignia affixed (2010)[98]
A Georgia State Defense Force chaplain wearing an Army combat uniform with State Defense Force Beret Flash and Chaplain (Judaism) Branch Insignia (2011)

The US state defense forces—also known as state guard, state military reserve, or state militia—in many US states and territories wear modified versions of Army uniforms.[8][99][100] To help separate state guard units from Army units, such as the Army National Guard, they will often wear unique name tape, badges, shoulder sleeve insignia, and/or headgear.[100] If the militia unit chooses to wear the Army black beret, a unique organizational beret flash is worn to help further distinguish them from Army units.[8][100][101][102][103][104][105] These state military reserve organizational beret flashes are worn in the same manner as today's Army beret flashes.[100][101][102][103][104][105] The following is a list of some organizational beret flashes worn by various state and territory militias:

  • State Defense Force (worn by various state guard units)

State/Territory specific beret flashes

Obsolete
  • District of Columbia Defense Force
  • North Carolina State Defense Militia, Fayette Regiment
    —currently US Army Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps
  • North Carolina State Defense Militia, 12th Regiment
  • North Carolina State Defense Militia, 31st Regiment
  • North Carolina State Defense Militia, 38th Regiment
  • North Carolina State Defense Militia, 55th Regiment
  • North Carolina State Defense Militia, 70th Regiment
  • North Carolina State Defense Militia, 83rd Regiment
  • Texas State Guard, 404th Military Police Battalion
  • Washington State Guard, 1st Brigade
  • Washington State Guard, 2nd Brigade

See also

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