Beret's

[Deadly Delta]

Hi, i was wondering is there any truth to the rumour that the rdf infantry will be issued black berets with green patches in 2005?

[Come-quickly]

1. No

2. Who cares what colour your beret is as long as it isnt a fetching shade of pink

3. I heard the same story in 1997 when I joined up, only it was going to happen in 1999, the issues for the reserves are getting appropriate training equipment and actually being made use of militarily.

[bulldemboots!]

The rumour I heard was that the "integrated reserve" would get a black berret with a green patch.

[JAG]

For the four years I was in, and the year (almost) it took me to get it, I kept hearing similar "Next year" rumours.

CQ is right- the issue for reserves is training & equipment. A beret is a hat. Worry more about the Kevlar helmet and the SIA drills.

[Deadly Delta]

I'm not actually worried about it lads, i was just wondering! Obviously equipment and training are more important issues, but i dont have any questions to ask about them!

[ICUN]

I heard the beret story as well a few times. It was always "at the end of the year" or "next year"

[Fouga2]

DD what unit you with? 25Inf BN here. "A" Coy. F block Dun Ui Mhaoiliosa

[Deadly Delta]

25th D Coy' hence the "Delta". Were u on easter camp? I've just finished. U probably heard that rumour too then?

[DeV]

I heard that rumour in 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2002.

According to what was said my either the Minister or a senior PDF officer a few years ago at an RDFRA Annual Delegate Conference, it is the members who will make that decision, via RDFRA.

[FMolloy]

I saw one of those berets in the stores in Cathal Brugha a few years ago.

[Bulldog Jr.]

Sure there was talk of putting a Patch on the outer most garment of Reserves uniforms(smocks) saying something like like reserves in irish but so many complaints were made to RDFRA about it the DoD backtracked, so my point: if we were keeping our Green Berets what would'v been the point of such a patch as the beret is the biggest give away you can have!!So i see it that such a change is in the pipelines and they saw the patch as a was of telling the difference. Sure when my dad joined just over 25years ago they wore black berets to till they got the same unform as the PDF.

[DeV]

We should all be proud of the fact that we are volunteers and retain some sort of distinguishing mark.

But, in 2003, Maj Gen Sreenan (now Chief of Staff) made this announcement at the RDFRA Annual Delegate Conference, "You expressed a preference that there should be no distinguishing patch on the DPM uniform of the Reservist - if that is the wish of the Reserve - then there will be NO patch".

[Bulldog Jr.]

Doesnt bother me what kind of colour Beret i wear, be it Black or Green ill still wear it with the same pride! The colour of our Beret is besides the point its what we do while wearing them thta counts, plus i must agree having something to show us as Volenteers is a good thing!

[rod and serpent]

The reserves and the regulars should wear the same coloured beret, beause it promotes uniformity . The TA and the regular British Army wear the the same coloured beret the only difference being Airborne, RMP and Commando forces colour schemes but there is no difference on the head wear except for corps badges ie ORs wear metal badges of their units and Officers wear embroidered badges with the exception of the Paras they are all metal badges.

[BRENDAN]

With the Cavs glengarry the opposite is happening, the PDF lads are gradually loseing their red patches. Cav officers are the only ones at the moment who are fully the same for PDF/RDF.