Army Ditches Hated Berets in Favor of Caps

Caps replace wool berets in the official Army uniform
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted Jun 14, 2011 12:36 PM CDT
Army Ditches Hated Berets in Favor of Caps
SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA - NOVEMBER 4: U.S. soldiers salute during an honor guard ceremony marking the 26th anniversary of the US-South Korea Combined Forces Command at a U.S. Army base November 4, 2004 in Seoul, South Korea. The Combined Forces Command (CFC) was formally established on November 7, 1978...   (Getty Images)

Good news for fashion-conscious Army soldiers: They can finally ditch the ill-fitting black wool berets they've worn for years and go back to their beloved brimmed patrol caps. Army leaders say the change is taking effect today, which also happens to be the service's 236th birthday. The change comes just in time to help soldiers deal with the heat, says a colonel with the Army National Guard, as the brimmed patrol cap is easier to put on and wards off the sun.

The switch is part of a wide range of changes being made to Army uniforms. A top Army general ordered the switch to berets 10 years ago to help boost morale. But it irritated elite units who were given green or maroon berets as badges of honor. (More US Army stories.)

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