United States military beret flash
[1][2][3] These flashes—a British English word for a colorful cloth patch attached to military headgear—are worn over the left eye with the excess cloth of the beret shaped, folded, and pulled over the right ear giving it a distinctive appearance.
[9][10] Leveraging geometrical divisions, shapes, and colors a heraldic artist will create a design that will represent the history and mission of the requesting organization.
[9][10][11][12] The institute will also monitor the production of the new beret flash to ensure quality and accuracy of the design is maintained.
)—creator of the US Army parachutist badge, airborne background trimming, and established the term "beret flash" in US military lexicon—the message described the beret flash as shield–shaped with a semi–circular base made of felt 2 in (51 mm) tall and 1.625 in (41 mm) wide using solid colors to represent each of the special forces groups of the era.
[2][22][23][24] The message also described who was authorized to wear the organizational beret flash stating that only special forces qualified paratroopers would be permitted to wear their special forces unit's organizational beret flash.
[22] These organizational beret flashes were to be worn centered over the left eye with either the 1st Special Forces Regiment DUI, polished metal officer rank insignia, or chaplain branch insignia positioned below their parachutist badge and centered on the beret flash.
[3][22] Later, the parachutist badge was removed and non–qualified soldiers assigned to a special forces unit wore a rectangular cloth beret flash, known as a recognition bar, 1.875 in (4.76 cm) long and 0.5 in (1.27 cm) wide color and pattern matched to their group's organizational beret flash.
[27][28][29][30] Historical photographs from the 1960s through the 1970s show soldiers assigned to reconnaissance, ranger, and armor units informally wearing black berets with various units affixing a wide variety of custom beret flashes that were worn over the left eye or left temple.
[18][28][30][41][42][43] Army articles and historical photographs of 101st soldiers show them wearing organizational beret flashes patterned after their unit's airborne background trimming and were affixed with either their polished metal rank insignia, DUI, or chaplain branch insignia centered on the beret flash and worn over the left eye.
[28][29][46] The Army's 1981 uniform regulation describes the wear of these berets with the only authorized accoutrements being organizational beret flashes or recognition bars with officer rank insignia, chaplain branch insignia, or DUI affixed.
[29] This was codified in regulations in 2001 but was amended in 2011 making the black beret optional headgear with certain uniforms.
[68] From 1970 through the 1980s, weather parachutists with the 5th Weather Squadron wore maroon berets with an Army style beret flash that incorporated the squadron's design and colors from their emblem's alchemical symbol for water and affixed their Parachutist Badge to the flash.
[68] In 1986, the gray beret was authorized for wear by weather parachutists who continued to wear the aforementioned cloth beret flash until a new large color metallic Special Operations Weather Team Crest was authorized.
[68] In 1992, the Air Force approved the return of the weather parachutist's blue, black, and yellow beret flash from the late 1970s to present and affixed their large color metal Special Operations Weather Team Crest to it.
[68] In 1996, weather parachutists assigned to Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) began wearing a new Army style beret flash, known as the Special Operations Weather Team Beret Flash, while those assigned to Air Combat Command, known as combat weather teams, continued to wear the blue, black and yellow beret flash.
[68] Officers affixed their polished metal rank insignia while enlisted and NCOs affixed their Parachutist Badge to the Special Operations Weather Team Beret Flash until 2002 when the Combat Weather Team Crest was created.
[73][74][75] The 1041st's beret flash has a depiction of a white falcon carrying a pair of lightning bolts on a somewhat heart-shaped light–blue cloth shield that was worn over the left temple.
[4][74] Security forces officers wear the same basic beret flash minus the embroidered falcon and airfield and in its place they affix their polished metal rank insignia.
[4][79][80] Air liaison officers assigned to an air support operations squadron or group can also be given authorization to wear the black beret and TACP Beret Flash with full-size polished metal officer rank insignia (no crest).
"[89][90] Today, these US Navy small boat units honor their heritage by wearing the black beret during special occasions—such as induction ceremonies into the Gamewardens Association[91]—and will affix historically relevant riverine task force insignia for use as their beret flash.
