New Scots Regiment may be wearing cheap foreign tartan

[bubba]

Most repugnent! However, it is like our troops wearing berets made in China :confused:

Or taking the black beret away from the Rangers and giving it to everyone to make them feel better about themselves.

[davedove]

Or taking the black beret away from the Rangers and giving it to everyone to make them feel better about themselves.

I got out shortly before this change came about. Apparently, some general thought it would improve morale, instead of working on real issues. The first thing it did was upset the Rangers, so they switched to a new color for them (tan). The beret is a pain to shape so that it looks right, and I see soldiers every day who still haven't got it right. The soldiers of course wear what they are told, but many, if not most, prefer the old BDU cap.

[An t-Ileach]

...The first thing it did was upset the Rangers, so they switched to a new color for them (tan). The beret is a pain to shape so that it looks right, and I see soldiers every day who still haven't got it right...

Well they shouldn't be too disappointed, the tan beret is what the Special Air Service Regiment wears. Mind you, I can imagine the annoyance and upset: it's a bit like finding that the (Light Division's) Rifle Green beret had been adopted by the US Special Forces. As for beret shaping, that's an arcane art in itself best taught by a British Army drill pig.

And MOD's a penny pinching bunch of !!!s (except when it comes to paying civilian civil servants' final salary pensions): cost cutting was one of the reasons given for killing off the regiments in the first place, so now they can't even do the decent thing by the hybrid that they created - typical.

[Riverkilt]

Sad....just plain sad....

Ron

[Big Paul]

What a crying shame!!

[arrogcow]

Or taking the black beret away from the Rangers and giving it to everyone to make them feel better about themselves.

Said it before and I'll say it again. The rangers stole the black beret from the Cavalry first, so I'm darn glad that it got taken away from them too.

Adam

[bubba]

Said it before and I'll say it again. The rangers stole the black beret from the Cavalry first, so I'm darn glad that it got taken away from them too.

Adam

The Special Forces was the first authorized to wear a beret with the uniform, the green beret. Rangers were the first authorized to wear the black beret with the uniform.

[macwilkin]

The Special Forces was the first authorized to wear a beret with the uniform, the green beret. Rangers were the first authorized to wear the black beret with the uniform.

Actually, the first US Ranger beret was green:

During WWII, the First Ranger Battalion, commonly known as Darby's Rangers, formed in Northern Ireland in 1942. Completion of training at the Commando Depot afforded those Rangers the right to wear the British Commando green beret and the tartan of the Clan Cameron of Lochiel. The U.S. Army disallowed this and Rangers never donned their berets...

http://www.suasponte.com/m_beret.htm

Too bad the brass didn't allow the Rangers to keep their Scottish connection, eh? :mrgreen:

Cheers,

Todd

[RockyR]

Not to play Mod, but this thread is about Kilts and the Scotish Regiments... not Special forces berets...

[macwilkin]

Not to play Mod, but this thread is about Kilts and the Scotish Regiments... not Special forces berets...

You'll notice, Rocky, that I tried to keep the discussion "Scottish" with a mention of the Rangers wearing the British Commando beret with a Cameron tartan patch. :mrgreen: For those who may be unaware, the Commando training camp was in Cameron country at Achnacarry Castle.

But, there is a connection here, involving esprit-de-corps and unit insignia. Members of the old Lowland Regiments, the KOSB's, the Royal Highland Fusiliers and the Royal Scots, for example, are not keen on wearing the kilt in the new RRS, since trews has been the traditional garb of the Lowland soldier since the 19th century.

Regards,

Todd