Surrender to the green beret. Overview of berets of special units

If for a civilian, a beret is an ordinary headdress, which, in principle, is more popular among women, then for military personnel, a beret is not just an integral part of the uniform, but a symbol. Currently, each branch of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation has its own beret. Hats differ not only in color, but also in the rule and the right to wear it. Therefore, not everyone knows how it differs, for example, in taking the GRU special forces from the headdress of the marines.

The first mention of an army headdress

The very first army berets appeared at the turn of the 17th and 18th centuries in England and Scotland. Then the warriors wear special caps that look like berets. However, the mass distribution of such a headdress began only during the First World War. The first who began to wear them were the soldiers of the tank and mechanized units of the French army.

Further, the baton for the introduction of such an element of clothing was the UK. With the advent of tanks, the question arose of what to wear to the tanker, because the helmet was very uncomfortable, and the cap was too bulky. Therefore, it was decided to introduce a black beret. The color was chosen on the basis that the tankers are constantly working and are near the equipment, and soot and oil are not visible on the black color.

The appearance of a beret in the army

During the Second World War, such hats became even more popular, especially among the Allied forces. US Special Forces soldiers noted the following conveniences of these headgear:

• First of all, they hid their hair well;
• Dark colors were not visible in the dark;
• The berets were warm enough;
• He could wear a helmet or a helmet.

Accordingly, some types and types of troops in Great Britain and the United States adopted a headdress as one of the main elements of uniforms. In the Soviet army, this element of clothing began to appear already in the early sixties, as the head attribute of the landing and special forces. Since then, the rules and wearing of such hats have not changed much.

Which one does the special forces take?

At the end of the 20th century, berets became an integral part of the daily and dress uniforms of the armies of many countries. Almost every defensive state has elite special units that have their own unique headgear:

1. The mountain infantry detachments of the French armed forces, the Alpine Chasseurs, wear a dark blue beret of a sufficiently large diameter.
2. The elite Foreign Legion is characterized by light green robes.
3. French naval special forces are distinguished by wearing a green beret.
4. German airborne troops and reconnaissance units wear maroon berets, but with different emblems on it.
5. The Royal Netherlands Marines are distinguished by wearing dark blue uniform elements, while the paratroopers are wearing maroon headdresses.
6. British special forces SAS have been wearing beige caps since the mid-forties of the last century, and the marines are green.
7. The US Rangers are recognizable by the same color as the British Special Forces - beige.
8. US Special Forces have been wearing green berets since 1961, earning their nickname.

It can be seen that most of the NATO member countries have an identical color range of hats. As for the shape, it is round for all armies, and differs only in size.

Distribution in the Armed Forces of the USSR

In 1967, an updated uniform was adopted for the Airborne Forces. The famous Soviet artist A.B. Zhuk submitted a proposal to General V.F. Margelov to use crimson caps as an attribute of paratroopers, referring to the use of such caps in other countries of the world. The commander agreed and approved the beret. For privates and sergeants, an emblem in the form of an asterisk was intended, which was attached to the front in the center of the beret, and a blue flag was located on the right, and a cockade was provided for officers.

A year later, a blue beret was adopted for the paratroopers, as the leadership considered that it more symbolizes the color of the sky. As for the marines, black was approved for this type of troops. Tankers also used black berets, but not as the main headgear, but during the maintenance and repair of equipment to protect their heads from dirt.

The difference between the uniform of the GRU special forces and the rest of the military branches

Special Forces developed with the Airborne Forces at the same time and due to similar specifics and the use and profile of the tasks of these troops, their uniforms were identical. The special forces soldiers wore exactly the same uniform as the paratroopers. Outwardly, it is very difficult to distinguish who is standing in front of you: a commando or an airborne officer. After all, the color, and the shape, and the cockade itself are the same. However, the GRU had one caveat.

Blue berets and the uniform of the Airborne Forces in Soviet times were mostly worn by special forces soldiers in training units or at a parade. After the training centers, the soldiers were assigned to combat units, which could be carefully disguised as other branches of the military. This was especially true for those who were sent to serve abroad.

Instead of a white and blue vest, beret and lace-up boots, the soldiers were given the usual combined arms uniform, for example, like tankers or signalmen. So you could forget about berets. This was done in order to hide the presence of the special forces from the eyes of the enemy. Thus, for the GRU, the blue beret is a ceremonial headdress and only in those cases when it is allowed to wear it.

The beret of the GRU special forces is not just a type of headdress and an integral part of the uniform, but a symbol of valor and courage, honor and nobility, the right to wear which is not given to every even the most experienced and brave warrior.

Video: how do they pass the standards for a maroon beret?

In this video, Pavel Zelennikov will show how the special forces elite receive an olive and maroon beret:

Black berets, however, like other hats of this type, symbolize courage and courage. Wearing them is practiced by almost all the armies of the world.

In some troops, everyone receives such hats, while in others, berets are equated with special, almost sacred attributes, and the very right to wear them can be earned only during difficult exams. The black berets of the Russian armed forces are better known as an attribute of the marines.

Rights to wear black berets

Black berets can be worn by Marines, as well as police special forces such as OMON. They receive such rights only after passing with honor the most difficult tests. Passing for a black beret consists of exams that include several stages.

The procedure for passing exams for the right to wear a black beret

During the first stage, applicants make a forced march with elements of overcoming water obstacles, orienteering, transferring comrades, and solving various introductory tasks. The fighters themselves are equipped with full combat gear, along with body armor, helmets and personal weapons. At the second stage, the fighters go through a special obstacle course. Overcoming the obstacle course takes place with the use of gas masks in a smoky or gassed environment, and all this is accompanied by arbitrary explosions.

After screening, the remaining candidates demonstrate their physical fitness by performing a set of special exercises. Next, the standards for practical shooting are given. It should be noted that in this case, no one will take into account the fact that the fighters are completely exhausted. And at the end of the test, candidates pass the hand-to-hand combat technique, which includes three sparring sessions (two minutes each) and a change of opponents.

As a result, those who were not broken by hard trials and shot well, in a solemn ceremony, are awarded the honorary right to wear black berets with the presentation of the headgear themselves. Such an event is held not so often, a maximum of once every six months, and there are usually not so many candidates. As a rule, the award ceremony is held by an outstanding and meritorious officer who has distinguished himself by personal heroism and courage, and who has also received high awards.

Of course, it may seem that passing the exam for black berets is easier than for maroon ones. Nevertheless, both tests require excellent physical fitness and powerful fortitude, and the amount of energy expended is approximately equal. Tests differ mainly in the length of the forced march, the time of hand-to-hand combat, penalties and the intricacies of building an obstacle course.

From the history of black berets in Russia

In 1705, Peter the Great decided to form a regiment of naval soldiers in the Russian Empire in the Western manner, which could be useful in naval battles. So, on November 27 of the same year, he issued a corresponding decree on the formation of the first such regiment.

In the Russian Empire, even before the decree of Peter the Great, there was already something like marines. So, during the Russian-Swedish war, the Eagle ship had soldiers trained in special skills. According to the plan of Peter the Great, it was assumed that the soldiers should fire on enemy ships from the coastline, destroying enemy crews.

When the battles began at sea, such fighters actively participated in boarding battles, as was the case during the Gangut battle of 1714. Later, they provided assistance to the ground forces. Marines were quickly brought in by sea, landed and reinforced the already fighting troops.

At the dawn of Soviet times and until 1939, the marines were either reorganized or disbanded. During the Finnish War, the marines had to take an active part. In addition, she had to endure considerable loads, which were especially intensified beyond the Arctic Circle.

Formations and units of the Marine Corps performed almost all the assigned combat missions during the Second World War. They were parachuted into territories occupied by the enemy, they made passages in mine-explosive barriers on the coast, and carried out especially important tasks. However, this did not save the Marine Corps from the next, but already the last, disbandment. They were recreated again only in the 1960s, perhaps because veterans remembered that the Germans were afraid of the Marines and called them the "Black Death".

"Black Berets" today

"Black berets" of our time are an integral part of the Russian Navy. They are quickly delivered by ships to the places of warfare on the coasts, and immediately enter into battle. The battles are fought mainly on the coast, capturing or freeing coastal infrastructure facilities.

"Black Berets" can participate both as part of the main forces and in independent operations. In conditions of urgent need, they can be easily regrouped, create strike groups in cooperation with other troops. The marines are armed with the most modern military equipment, which is able to provide coastal fortifications, as well as watercraft for forcing water barriers.

On the Days of the Marine Corps, the "black berets" arrange a "font" in the bays of the sea

For Russian marines of all generations, November 27 is their professional holiday. These days, marines bathe in the sea bays, and military units hold open days. So, in 2018, the 312th anniversary of the marines of the Russian Navy was celebrated. This is a wonderful event, celebrated by all veterans and units of the Navy. It should be noted that Russian marines do not bathe in fountains, this is not their tradition. According to a long tradition, this takes place in the bays of the sea.

If you have any questions - leave them in the comments below the article. We or our visitors will be happy to answer them.

Black berets are not only a headdress, but also a reference to the branch of the military that they wear. That is how the people call the Marines (another name, also tied to the color of the beret - black death). However, in reality, not only the MP RF have the right to wear.

The black beret is the prerogative of tank, armored and coastal troops, marines, SOBR and OMON. Wherein uniform beret worn only by marines. The rest are allowed its technical "variation".

Who has the right to wear such a headdress?

Such powers are vested not only in conscripts and professional military, but also in reserve, retired or retired citizens. You can lose such a right by committing illegal actions discrediting military honor. Such a procedure is not carried out automatically and by anyone.

The decision can be made by the commanders of the troops (district, group of troops, fleet, front), the commander-in-chief of all the troops of the country, the minister of defense and his deputy.

After the entry into force of the relevant order, wearing a beret will be regarded as an illegal act. The violator will be subject to administrative punishment. It cannot be avoided by people who put on the distinctive badge of foreign troops as a joke or for some other disrespectful reason. In other words, civilians and former military personnel, deprived of their status for committing acts that discredit military honor, should not wear military identification marks.

The punishment depends on who exactly committed the act. If an ordinary person, then he will have to pay a fine (1-1.5 rubles), as well as hand over all uniforms. If necessary, a search with confiscation can be attributed and conducted. A detective or other specialist of a similar profile, who put on a black beret while performing an official task, will be forced to pay 1.5-2 thousand rubles. Law enforcement agencies will seize things.

After which exams can I wear it?

You must prove your right to wear by passing an examination test (consists of several stages). It is carried out at the training ground at a specially allotted time, the day is appointed by the commanders. Only fighters who have demonstrated certain physical, psycho-emotional and mental abilities at the preparatory stage are allowed to surrender.

Test progress:

Simple names hide complex complex checks. At the march-throw stage, a fighter has to overcome water obstacles, prove himself in orienteering, perform additional tasks (support and transfer of a comrade, performing various kinds of introductions). At the same time, the military is dressed in full uniform, he has a backpack behind him. In the general account, ammunition weighs about the same as the belly of a pregnant woman in the last month (therefore, these loads are often compared).

When crossing an obstacle course, pressure is applied to the fighter. Organizers affect his senses. The desired effect is achieved by simulating and creating noises of a real battle, as well as using smoke, conventional and gas bombs.

Important! If you forget or do not put on a gas mask in time, the test is recognized as failed.

By the time the shooting standards were passed, the person was already pretty exhausted. If there are serious diseases of the heart and nervous system, the hands will tremble and it will not be possible to pass the stage. Therefore, the black beret, among other things, is also a hallmark of excellent health.

The final check includes 3 sparring sessions. Opponents change after each. Duration of 1 battle: 2 minutes.

Soldiers who survived are solemnly awarded with a beret. Usually it is presented by a person with an impeccable reputation who has achieved high achievements in the military field.

What other props complement the uniform with a black beret in Russia?

To begin with, it is worth clarifying 2 fundamental points:

Violation of any of these rules entails the imposition of an administrative penalty, and also often becomes a cause of conflicts.

Important! Those who have served regard the mixing of the distinctive features of several troops as a personal insult (or an insult to patriotic feelings), which sometimes causes extremely unpleasant incidents, up to and including beatings.

The beret itself is worn with a crease on the right side. There is a distinctive sign - a cockade and a band.

In forums on the Internet, some users claim that the black beret is a combined arms paraphernalia (a misconception that originated in the wake of the adoption of amendments to the military uniform law of 2011). However, if you decide to wear it without being a marine, tanker or riot policeman, they will be able to “ask” you. It is better not to take risks and adhere to the norms of the official and well-known color separation..

Not only Russian marines wear this headdress. For example, it is part of the uniform of the Swiss Guards. At the same time, in most European countries, marines wear dark blue hats (Holland) or green hats (Great Britain, Finland) on their heads. But the American Marines abandoned both the blue and green versions, as they considered the beret to be too feminine an accessory.

In many armies of the worldberetsindicate the affiliation of the units using them toelite troops. Since they have a special mission, the elite units must have something to separate them from the rest. For example, the famous "green beret" is "a symbol of excellence, a sign of valor and distinction in the struggle for freedom."

History of the military beret

Given the practicality of the beret, the informal use of the beret by the European military goes back thousands of years. An example is the blue beret, which became the symbol of the Scottish military in the 16th and 17th centuries. As an official military headdress, the beret began to be used during the War of Succession to the Spanish Crown in 1830, commissioned by General Tomás de Zumalacárregui, who wanted to make headdresses resistant to the vagaries of mountain weather, easy to care for and used on special occasions in an inexpensive way. .

Other countries followed suit with the creation of units of the French Alpine Chasseurs in the early 1880s. These mountain troops wore clothing that included several features that were innovative for the time. Including, and large berets, which have survived to this day.
Berets have features that make them very attractive to the military: they are cheap, can be made in a wide range of colors, can be rolled up and tucked into a pocket or under an epaulette, they can be worn with headphones (this is one of the reasons why tankers adopted berets) .

The beret was found to be particularly useful for armored car crews, and the British Tank Corps (later the Royal Tank Corps) adopted the headgear as early as 1918.

After the 1st World War, when the issue of official changes in the form of clothing was considered at a high level, General Elles, who was a promoter of berets, made another argument - during maneuvers, it is comfortable to sleep in a beret and it can be used as a balaclava. After lengthy debate in the Ministry of Defense, the black beret was officially approved by His Majesty's decree of March 5, 1924.

The black beret remained the exclusive privilege of the Royal Tank Corps for quite some time. Then, the practicality of this headgear was noticed by the rest, and by 1940, all British armored units began to wear black berets.

German tank crews, in the late 1930s, also adopted the beret with the addition of a padded helmet inside. The black color has become popular in the headgear of tank crews, as it does not show oil stains.

The Second World War gave berets a new popularity. English and American saboteurs, thrown behind the Germans, in particular, to France, quickly appreciated the convenience of berets, especially dark colors - it was convenient to hide hair under them, they protected the head from the cold, the beret was used as a comforter, etc.

Some English units introduced berets as headgear for formations and military branches. So, for example, it was with the SAS - the Special Aviation Service, a special forces unit engaged in sabotage and reconnaissance behind enemy lines - they took a sand-colored beret (it symbolized the desert, where the SAS had to work hard against Rommel's army).

British paratroopers chose a crimson beret - according to legend, this color was suggested by the writer Daphne DuMaurier, the wife of General Frederick Brown, one of the heroes of the Second World War. For the color of the beret, paratroopers immediately received the nickname "cherries". Since then, the crimson beret has become the unofficial symbol of military paratroopers around the world.

The first use of berets in the US military dates back to 1943. The 509th Parachute Regiment received crimson berets from their English counterparts, in recognition and respect.

The use of a beret as a headdress for military personnel in the Soviet Union dates back to 1936. According to the order of the NPO of the USSR, military women and students of military academies were supposed to wear dark blue berets as part of summer uniforms.

Berets became, by default, a military headdress at the end of the 20th and the beginning of the 21st century, just like the cocked hat, shako, cap, cap, kepi, at one time in their respective eras. Berets are now worn by many military personnel in most countries around the world.

And now, in fact, about berets in elite troops. And we will start, of course, with the Alpine Jaegers - the unit that introduced the fashion for wearing berets in the army. The Alpine Chasseurs (Mountain Fusiliers) are the elite mountain infantry of the French Army. They are trained to fight in mountainous terrain and in urban areas. They wear a wide dark blue beret.


Soldiers of the French Foreign Legion wear light green berets.

The French Navy commandos wear the green beret.

The French Marines wear dark blue berets.

French Air Force Commandos wear dark blue berets.

French paratroopers wear red berets.

German airborne troops wear berets in maroon (Maroon).

The German special forces (KSK) wear berets of the same color, but with their own emblem.

They wear a large black beret.

The Royal Dutch Marines wear dark blue berets.

The Airmobile Brigade (11 Luchtmobiele Brigade) of the Armed Forces of the Kingdom of the Netherlands wears maroon berets (Maroon).

The Finnish Marines wear green berets.

Italian paratroopers of the Carabinieri regiment wear maroon berets.

Soldiers of the special unit of the Italian Navy wear green berets.

The Portuguese Marines wear dark blue berets.

Soldiers of the British Parachute Regiment wear maroon berets.

Paratroopers of the 16th Air Assault Brigade of the British Army wear the same beret, but with a different emblem.

Special Air Service (SAS) commandos have been wearing beige berets (tan) since the 2nd World War.

The British Royal Marines wear green berets.

Canadian paratroopers wear berets in maroon (Maroon).

The Australian Army 2nd Commando Regiment wears green berets.

The American "Green Berets" (United States Army Special Forces) naturally wear the green berets that President John F. Kennedy approved for them in 1961.

US Army Airborne troops wear maroon berets, which they received in 1943 from their British counterparts and allies.

And in the United States Marine Corps (USMC), berets are not worn. In 1951, the Marine Corps introduced several types of berets, green and blue, but they were rejected by tough warriors because they looked "too feminine."

Georgian Army Special Forces wear maroon (Maroon) berets.

Serbian special forces soldiers wear black berets.

The Air Assault Brigade of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Tajikistan wears blue berets.

Hugo Chavez wears the red beret of the Venezuelan Paratrooper Brigade.

Let's move on to the valiant elite troops of Russia and our fellow Slavs.

Our response to the appearance in the armies of NATO countries of units that wore berets, in particular, parts of the US SOF, whose uniform headdress is green, was the Order of the Minister of Defense of the USSR dated November 5, 1963 No. 248. According to the order, a new field uniform is being introduced for special forces units of the USSR Marine Corps. This uniform was supposed to be a black beret, made of cotton fabric for sailors and sergeants of military service and woolen fabric for officers.

The cockades and stripes on the berets of the marines changed many times: replacing the red star on the berets of sailors and sergeants with a black oval-shaped emblem with a red star and bright yellow edging, and later, in 1988, by order of the Minister of Defense of the USSR No. 250 of March 4, the oval emblem was replaced by an asterisk bordered by a wreath. The Russian army also had many innovations, and now it looks like this:

After the approval of a new uniform for the Marine Corps, berets appeared in the airborne troops of the USSR Armed Forces. In June 1967, Colonel General V.F. Margelov, then commander of the Airborne Forces, approved sketches of a new uniform for the airborne troops.

The designer of the sketches was the artist A. B. Zhuk, known as the author of many books on small arms and the author of illustrations for the SVE (Soviet Military Encyclopedia). It was A. B. Zhuk who proposed the crimson color of the beret for paratroopers.

A raspberry-colored beret was, at that time, all over the world an attribute of belonging to the landing troops, and V.F. Margelov approved the wearing of a raspberry beret by military personnel of the Airborne Forces during parades in Moscow. On the right side of the beret was sewn a small blue triangular flag with the emblem of the airborne troops. On the berets of sergeants and soldiers in front there was a star framed by a wreath of ears, on the berets of officers, instead of an asterisk, a cockade was attached.

During the November parade of 1967, the paratroopers were already dressed in a new uniform and crimson berets. However, at the very beginning of 1968, instead of crimson berets, paratroopers begin to wear blue berets. According to the military leadership, the color of the blue sky is more suitable for the airborne troops and by order No. 191 of the Minister of Defense of the USSR of July 26, 1969, the color blue was approved as a parade headdress for the Airborne Forces. Unlike the crimson beret, on which the flag sewn on the right side was blue, the flag on the blue beret became red.

And the modern, Russian version:

The soldiers of the GRU special forces wear the uniform of the Airborne Forces and, accordingly, blue berets.

Special forces units of the internal troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia wear a maroon (dark red) beret. But, unlike other branches of the armed forces, such as marines or paratroopers, for the special forces of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the maroon beret is a sign of qualification and is awarded to a fighter only after he has undergone special training and has proved his right to wear a maroon beret.

Until the moment they receive a maroon beret, special forces soldiers wear a protective color beret.

Soldiers of the reconnaissance of the internal troops wear a green beret. The right to wear this beret must also be earned, as well as the right to wear a maroon beret.

Our Ukrainian brothers are also the heirs of the USSR, and therefore, they have retained the beret colors used earlier in this country for their elite units.

The Marine Corps of Ukraine wears black berets.

Airmobile troops of Ukraine wear a blue beret.

Green berets- the intelligence elite of the internal troops. Few people know what a harsh exam hand over scouts, in order to receive the highest mark of professional excellence. How they become green berets, we will talk about this below.
The green berets of the intelligence officers of the internal troops are like a medal for courage. It is extremely difficult to obtain this distinctive badge; only the most prepared are allowed to test.

The tests begin with a forced march of 12 km, with each soldier, in addition to weapons, carrying a backpack weighing about 30 kilograms. The luggage contains a supply of water, dry rations, ammunition and everything you need for autonomous survival in the forest. During the cross-country, scouts are constantly fired upon with blanks, bombarded with packages and forced to do push-ups. Having overcome 12 kilometers, the scouts find themselves at the base camp in the forest.

Now they need to very quickly use the map and compass to find control points and return back. You have 2 hours for this task. If at least one of them lags behind the group by more than 50 meters, he is removed from the route.

One of the main advantages of a scout is his ability to navigate the terrain, and this is done not with the help of modern GPS navigators, but using a compass and a map.

According to the military, in modern warfare this will give our intelligence officers a permanent advantage over the enemy, because in the event of a global conflict, all positioning satellites will be cut down. Therefore, you will have to use what is at hand, the most reliable means.

After this test, a group of scouts is waiting for a fire-assault strip. Here, about 20 types of obstacles of various difficulties, so that the soldiers do not relax, there are stretch marks all around, many sections of the strip are specially smoked with camouflage smoke. After this difficult strip, the scouts storm the building, that is, they go through a whole system of intricate corridors and rooms as quickly as possible. A real labyrinth where streamers, signal mines and camouflage smoke await. In addition, they are still being shot at at this time from around the corner. The last meters of the fire-assault strip must be crawled under a stretched net, the weapon must be held in a special way, on bent elbows and always with the shutter towards you. In general, throughout the entire exam, each scout makes sure that the machine always remains clean.

After passing through the fire-assault zone for the scouts of the internal troops, another test begins. He needs to equip the machine shop with one blank cartridge and fire a shot. All this means that his weapon, despite all the ordeals, all the crosses, dashes, rolls, remained clean and ready for battle. If the shot does not follow, then the scout is removed from the exam.

The lucky ones who managed to pass will have to fight in a 12-minute hand-to-hand fight, they beat without sparing.

For real, no one, of course, expects tired soldiers to win in a fight, you just need to stay on your feet and not be afraid of your own blood.

After all the tests, the reconnaissance unit lines up near the assault strip, where the commander hands green berets to the winners. Now these soldiers have the right to stand in the same ranks along with the same professionals.

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