Berets, continued

Soldiers Magazine, April, 2004 by C.S. Luebke

AS a member of the Army Reserve in the northern part of the United States, I would truly enjoy knowing why we changed our headgear from the utility cap to the beret!

There may be standards as to the wear of the beret, but no two soldiers wear them the same way (I'm sure you have all seen the variations--the 'jiffy pop" look, the too-small "potholder" look, etc.).

This ugly, user-unfriendly piece of wool does not provide protection from the elements (sun, wind, snow) and stinks like a wet sheep when it rains!

And to top it all off, it requires maintenance! Shave it? No, way too much USAR time is spent on non-METL tasks already.

I would hope that, unlike so many ideas that have changed common sense in the Army (and remained in the Army), somebody with both the brains and authority to change the policy does SO.

SFC C. S. Luebke

via e-mail

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