By ROBERT BURNS, AP Military Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) - In a symbolic fashion statement, the chief of the Army said Tuesday that the beret - for decades the distinctive headgear of elite Army units - will become standard issue for all soldiers.

Soldiers who now wear the fold-up ``overseas'' cap, the saucer-like ``service'' cap, or the baseball-style ``battle dress uniform'' cap will instead wear a black beret. Helmets, of course, will still be worn in combat.

Army chief of staff Gen. Eric Shinseki said in a surprise announcement that the change will take effect next June 14, the Army's birthday.

``When we wear the black beret it will say that we, the soldiers of the world's best army, are committed to making ourselves even better,'' Shinseki said in a speech to the annual convention of the Association of the United States Army, a booster organization. He said the beret would be a ``symbol of unity.''

Aides to Shinseki said they expected some grumbling, particularly among Army Rangers who already wear black berets.

Emmett Hiltibrand, a retired Ranger and Vietnam veteran who is president of the 75th Ranger Regiment Association, said in a telephone interview from Columbus, Ga., that he was appalled by Shinseki's decision.

``It's going to look silly,'' Hiltibrand said, and will erode some of the distinction of being a Ranger.

``The beret is a symbol of excellence,'' he said. ``It is not to be worn by everybody, every Tom, Dick and Harry.''

On the other hand, Col. Vince Ogilvie, a Pentagon public affairs officer who previously served as a member of the 82nd Airborne, the paratroops who wear maroon berets, cheered the move.

``I personally like the beret,'' he said. ``From my point of view, it's a great idea. It really looks great with the uniform.'' He added that he understood that Rangers would take a different point of view.

Shinseki said introducing the black beret as standard headgear for soldiers will symbolize the new-look Army. He said he got the idea last week when he officiated at a change-of-command ceremony for the U.S. Army Special Operations Command, whose soldiers include the so-called Green Berets who specialize in guerrilla warfare, cover action, infiltration behind enemy lines and sometimes training foreign forces.

``As I stood looking at those (soldiers), I was reminded of the special significance that the beret has come to symbolize for the United States Army,'' Shinseki said. ``It is time for the entire Army to accept the challenge of excellence that has so long been a hallmark of our special operations and airborne units.''

Army paratroops will continue to wear their maroon berets and Army rangers already wear black berets.

Shinseki portrayed his announcement as fitting a broader plan for transforming the Army, still burdened by Cold War-era equipment, attitudes and practices, into a more high-tech, adaptable and unified organization ready to confront the diverse security challenges of the 21st century.

Shinseki, who took over the top Army post in July 1999, said he is preparing to ``make our case'' for an increase in the size of the Army, which is authorized to have 480,000 soldiers on active duty.

The Army chief did not say how big an increase he expected to push for, but 40,000 has been mentioned by some.

OUT.

I don't think it will help morale in the least, nor do I think not working on weekends will help either. WTF four day weekends for all federal holidays. Give me a break. You train men to be pussies and that is what you get in combat, a bunch of pussies.

I think it's a bad idea. Morale won't improve at all.

For the non-military types: Wearing a black beret has always meant being a part of the Ranger Regiment (or Ranger battalions back in the day).

These units have very high morale and the beret is a symbol of that, but it had to be earned. It wasn't the beret that increased morale, it was the challenges one endured and overcame to earn the right to wear it.

This is a poor decision.

i can just see some fat ass pregnant finance clerk waddling through the chow line sporting her new black beret
what a fucking joke

I hear you. And Dirk, right on: they can never wear the scroll.

Frack: I understand that Rangers will now wear green berets. Rangers' displeasure with this is not a slap in the face of Special Forces - but rather a lament at the blurring of the lines of elite units.

Rangers and Special Forces have inherently different missions. They are not the same thing. Each takes deserved pride in being the best at what they do, but they do different things. Hence, different berets.

It's buillshit.

...and I take offense to the waddling comment as well. I NEVER waddled, only delicately sashayed, actually it was more like floating on a gentle breeze. Well, as best as I could while carrying a 35 pound bowling ball w/arms and legs that never held still for more than 5 minutes always pulling my spine or crushing a nerve or blood vessel or a small bowel or (this is the one I LOVED THE MOST) when the not-so-little bugger jumped up and down on a full bladder. Now THAT WAS FUN!

So, my brotha while I can somewhat understand your displeasure about this ruling, don't misdirect your anger towards females merely because they are holding a job while also giving life.

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....beauty knows no pain.