Green beret
The green beret was the official headdress of the British Commandos, a special-forces unit active during World War II.
There are certain other military organizations that also wear the green beret because they have regimental or unit histories that have a connection with the British Commandos.
9 Commando faced with the same problem had adopted the Tam o' Shanter, but, as a traditional Scottish headdress, this was not considered suitable for what was a British unit.
1 Commando was to adopt a uniformed headdress then the beret, which had been worn by the Tank Regiment since the First World War (and had recently been adopted by the Parachute Regiment), would meet the requirements: it had no British regional affinity, it was difficult to wear improperly, and it could be easily stowed away without damage (when for example tin hats were in use).
[2] The proposal that the commandos should start wearing green beret as their official headdress was submitted to the Chief of Combined Operations and forwarded by Lord Mountbatten to the Under-Secretary of State for War.
Members of the Royal Netherlands Marine Corps also receive upon completion of the Commando Course a green beret, but with the gold anchor on a red background.
A number of Coastal Jaeger troops receive training for unconventional warfare and reconnaissance behind enemy lines.
The Commandos Marine, nicknamed bérets verts ("green berets"), are the special operations forces unit of the French Navy.
As the unit traces its origins back to the United Kingdom, with the first generation being made up of Free French volunteers trained alongside their British peers during the Second World War, the Commandos Marine wear the same green berets as the British Commandos, pulled to the right (a unique case in the French Armed Forces where berets are pulled to the left).
Presently, most of the Paratroopers are part of the Portuguese Rapid Reaction Brigade which also includes the Commandos and the Special Operations forces.
[6] The Special Boat Service (SBS) also wear the green Commando beret but with their own cap badge consisting of a sword with two blue waved lines with the words "by strength and guile" The Commando Badge of a Fairbairn-Sykes[7] fighting knife on a triangular patch/badge is worn on the sleeve in perpetuity by all those who have passed the course.
Army (Special Operations Command), Navy (Fuerza de Guerra Naval Especial, FGNS) and Air Force ( Escuadrón de Zapadores Paracaidistas, EZAPAC ) of Spain have their own special operations units, all wearing green berets with the unit badges.
The 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) had many OSS World War II veterans in their ranks when it was formed in 1952.
Captain Frank Dallas had the new beret designed and produced in small numbers for the members of the Special Forces.
[11] Their new headdress was first worn at a retirement parade at Fort Bragg on 12 June 1955 for Major General Joseph P. Cleland, the now-former commander of the XVIII Airborne Corps.
[12] In 1956 General Paul D. Adams, the post commander at Fort Bragg, banned its wear, even though it was worn surreptitiously when deployed overseas.
Later that day, Kennedy sent a memorandum which included the line: "I am sure that the green beret will be a mark of distinction in the trying times ahead".
On April 11, 1962, in a White House memorandum to the United States Army, President Kennedy reiterated his view: "The green beret is a symbol of excellence, a badge of courage, a mark of distinction in the fight for freedom".
[13] In addition to being the headdress of the United States Army Special Forces, "Green Berets" is also a well known nickname of the organization.
