Non-state actors wearing his iconic black beret One of the most famous photographs of
Che Guevara taken by
Alberto Korda was of him wearing a black beret with a gold star.
Fidel Castro also wore a black beret during the
revolution against the Batista government of Cuba. In the 1960s several activist groups adopted the beret. • The
Black Panther Party, of the United States formed in 1966, wore black berets. • A similar
Black Power organisation in
Bermuda was named the Black Beret Cadre in 1969. Two men with links to the group later assassinated
Governor of Bermuda Richard Sharples. • Chicano activists wore the black beret in the 1960s and 70s (in homage to Che Guevara) as a symbol of militancy and organized the
Black Berets por La Justicia throughout California and the Southwestern United States. •
Irish National Liberation Army members wore a black beret. •
Patriotic League of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina members typically wore black berets (among other colours) that were common among the older
Bosniak male population, usually with the
Ljiljani coat of arms stitched on the front of the beret. It was also common among other Bosniak paramilitary forces during the
Bosnian War. •
Provisional Irish Republican Army members wore a black beret. •
ETA wore black berets over hoods in public appearances. •
THRUSH troops on
The Man from UNCLE wore black berets. • Since August 2017, the
Knights of Columbus Fourth Degree members are now wearing black berets as part of their new uniform.
Argentina The
Argentine Navy's
Batallón de Infantería de Marina 5 (5th Marine Battalion), of
Falklands War Mount Tumbledown fame (1982), wears a black beret. This was introduced by (then) Commander Manuel Tomé around 1977, and the beret was awarded on completion of a Cold Weather and Mountain Warfare Course. Today, all units of the Southern Marine Force of the
Argentine Marine Corps wear black berets with unit badges.
Australia In the Australian Army, All RAAC Units (Royal Australian Armoured Corps), wear the black beret.
Austria In the Austrian
Bundesheer all armored units (Armored Battalions, Mechanized Infantry Battalions, Artillery Battalions and Mechanized Headquarter Battalions), wear the black beret.
Azerbaijan In the
Azerbaijani
Armed Forces armored units of underwater offence of Azerbaijani Navy wear the black beret.
Bangladesh In the
Bangladesh Army, all units of the Armoured, Cavalry and Lancer Corps wear black berets.the Rapid Action Battalion of Bangladesh Police also uses black beret.
Belgium In the
Belgian Army, the black beret is worn by cavalry and engineer units.
Brazil The
Brazilian armour and mechanized troops also wear the black beret, as well as the special forces unit of the Military Police of Rio de Janeiro,
Batalhão de Operações Policiais Especiais (BOPE). In the Brazilian auxiliary military forces of the Polícia Militar (Military Police), specially in
Minas Gerais state, officers sometimes wears black berets as official parts of patrol gear.
Canada In the
Canadian Armed Forces, black berets are worn by
Royal Canadian Armoured Corps soldiers and by all sailors (except military police and
special operations sailors).
Chile In the
Chilean Army, the black beret is worn by the paras and the special forces.
Croatia In the
Croatian Army black berets are worn by military police units,
1st Mechanized Battalion and the Cadet Battalion.
Cuba Special unit of the police.
Cyprus In the
Cypriot National Guard, the black beret is exclusively given to soldiers of the Armoured Forces and to Officers of the same branch after graduating from the Greek Armoured Forces officers' school. The school is considered the toughest academy of the Greek Army, bar special forces, and therefore the black beret is considered an honour for the bearer.
Czech Republic In the
Czech Army, military policemen wear black berets.
Denmark In the
Danish Army, the black beret was originally used by all combat regiments, but now it is worn by the
Jutland Dragoons,
Guard Hussars,
Royal Life Guard,
Army Combat and Fire Support Center, Garnisonskommandant Vordingborg and
1st Danish Artillery Battalion.
Estonia Since 2013 the professional soldiers of the
Estonian Navy wear the black berets.
Finland Only members of the
Armored Brigade wear black berets.
France In the
French Army, the black beret is worn by the
501e Régiment de Chars de Combat and by the 16e Bataillon de Chasseurs à Pied.
Germany In the
German Army, an oversized black beret was introduced during the
National Socialist era for
tank crews, to be worn over the crash helmet; however this was dropped in favour of a black
garrison cap during
World War II. Today the black beret (of conventional size) is worn by the Armoured Corps and the Armoured Reconnaissance Corps.
Greece In the
Greek Army, black berets are worn by the Panzer (Armored Vehicles) branch, tracing back to the tradition of the original cavalry units.
India In the
Indian Army, all Cavalry and Armoured Corps,
National Security Guards & Border Security Force wear black berets.
Indonesia In the
Indonesian Army, black beret is worn by the members of
Cavalry Corps (except cavalry battalions under
Kostrad strategic reserve command which wearing dark green beret universal to all of its soldiers). In the
Indonesian Navy, members of the
Submarine Corps wear black berets.
Iraq In the pre-2003
Iraqi Army, the black beret was the most commonly worn headgear and continues to be worn by both army and police personnel of the post-2003 Iraqi Army.
Ireland In the
Irish Army the majority of the members of the Permanent Defence Forces, specifically the infantry, wear black berets except for certain combat support units such as MPs, Cavalry etc.
Israel In the
Israel Defense Forces, soldiers serving in the
Armor Corps wear black berets.
Italy In the
Italian Army most units wear a black beret. Exceptions are: Paratroopers,
Alpini, Army Aviation Corps (AVES),
Lagunari and
Bersaglieri.
Luxembourg The black beret is worn by all soldiers in the
Luxembourg Army.
Lithuania The black beret is worn by Juozas Vitkus Engineer battalion soldiers in the
Lithuanian Armed Forces.
Malaysia In the
Malaysian Army, the members of the Royal Armor Corps wear the black berets.
Namibia In the
Namibian Army, the black beret is worn by members from
Artillery Brigade,
Engineer Regiment,
Signal Regiment,
Logistic Support Battalion,
Air Defence Brigade, the
Namibian Air Force and
Namibian Navy also wear the black beret
Nigeria In the
Nigerian Air Force, the black beret is worn by Nigerian airforce regiment and Navy personnel
Netherlands In the
Dutch Army, the black beret is worn by cavalry battalions.
New Zealand In the
New Zealand Police, members of the
Armed Offenders Squad wore the black beret.
Norway The
Norwegian Army Panserbataljonen (armoured) and other cavalry units wear black berets.
Philippines In the
Philippine Army, the members of the
1st Scout Ranger Regiment,
Presidential Security Group and Tank Officers from the Philippine Army Light Armor Division In the
Philippine Air Force, members of the
Special Operations Wing wears black berets. In the
Philippine National Police, members of the
Special Action Force wears black berets. In the
Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, members of the Traffic Enforcers wears black berets.
Pakistan In the
Pakistan Army, the Armoured Corps wears black berets as well as special forces.
Poland In the
Polish Armed Forces, the black berets are worn by armored units of
Polish Army, and by
Polish Navy.
Portugal In the
Portuguese Army, the black beret is worn by the
cavalry branch, including the armoured troops and the
military police. The black beret is also worn by several Portuguese civil forces, like the
Bomb disposal unit of the
Public Security Police, the Prison Guard Corps and the Civil Defense.
Russia Both the
Russian Naval Infantry and
OMON special police wears the black beret with its dress and field uniforms, when not wearing helmets.
Serbia Members of the
Serbian military police wear black berets.
Singapore The black beret is worn by the
Armour formation of the
Singapore Armed Forces (SAF).
Spain Traditionally in the
Spanish Armed Forces black berets were used to denote paratroopers units. The custom originating in the
Spanish Air Force, although it is now used also by other non-paratroopers units in the Army and the Air Force. In the
Spanish Army, the black beret is worn by the Mechanized Brigades and the
Parachutist Brigade BRIPAC. In the
Spanish Air Force, the black beret is worn by the paratroopers units, the Air Deployment Support Squads EADA and SEADA, as well as by Air Force Police Units. The special operations unit EZAPAC used to wear the black beret until 1997 that was change to a
Green Beret, to denote their Special Forces specialization.
Somalia , an Armoured battalion commander wearing his black beret In the
Somali Army, members of the
Armoured Battalions and the
Army's rear wear a black beret, inherited from British military tradition. In the
Somali Navy, the black beret is the standard issue headgear.
South Africa In the
South African Army, members of the
South African Armour Corps, the South African Intelligence Corps,
Defence Intelligence Division and the Technical Service Corps wear the black beret, each with their respective corps badge. Members of the
South African Navy Maritime Reaction Squadron also wear the black beret.
South Korea In the
South Korean army, black berets are worn by
South Korean army special operations forces.
Sri Lanka In the
Sri Lankan Army, the
Armoured Corps,
Mechanized Infantry and the
Special Forces wear black berets. In the
Sri Lankan Navy, the black beret is worn by the Members of the elite
Special Boat Squadron.
Sweden In the
Swedish Army, all armour and mechanized units wear black berets.
Switzerland In the
Swiss Army, black berets are worn by Tank Branch, Pioneers, Rescue Troops, Communication and Command Troops, high command, Tank Grenadiers, Chaplains, armed forces legal service and other troops.
Turkey In the
Turkish Land Forces, the black berets are worn by armor personnel.
United States In the United States military, the beret was unofficially worn by a variety of
special operations units during and following World War II. In the spring of 1951, the 10th and 11th Ranger Companies wore black berets during their training at
Camp Carson, Colorado, before their deployment to Japan.
U.S. Army In 1973, permission was granted to local commanders to encourage distinctive, morale-enhancing uniform items and the black beret was adopted by armor and armored cavalry units in the United States. A black beret was authorized for wear by female soldiers in 1975. On January 30, 1975, it was officially assigned as part of the newly created battalions of
United States Army Rangers who had worn it unofficially during the Vietnam War. In 1979, the
U.S. Army Chief of Staff ruled that the black beret was restricted to just ranger and airborne units (the latter receiving their distinctive maroon berets on November 28, 1980). However, since June 14, 2001, the black beret is worn by all
United States Army troops unless the soldier is approved to wear a different distinctive beret. The Rangers now wear
tan berets, alluding to the buckskins worn by
Rogers' Rangers during the
French and Indian War. The black beret is worn as part of the
Army Service Uniform (ASU), the U.S. Army's dress uniform. It also became the official garrison headgear to be worn with the
Battle Dress Uniform (BDUs) in 2001, and from 2005 the
Army Combat Uniform (ACU). The change was implemented by General
Eric Shinseki, Army Chief of Staff at the time, who stated that it was about promoting "...our values as an institution." From the beginning, the beret was unpopular with soldiers because the headgear required two hands to put it on, provided no shade from the sun (unlike the
patrol cap), had to be shaved and shaped upon acquisition and, as black wool, was hot and uncomfortable in warm weather. When worn improperly, the beret prompted several nicknames for the resulting look, such as "the Cyclops", "the Pirate", or "the Princess." Despite years of negative feedback, the beret remained part of the ACU until 2011, when incoming Sergeant Major of the Army
Raymond F. Chandler made it his first order of business to address the wishes "thousands of soldiers" who wanted the army to end the wear of the beret with the ACU, and the army subsequently did just that. The black beret remained the headgear for the ASU, but was replaced as the default headgear with the ACU patrol cap.
U.S. Air Force In 1979, the black beret was authorized for wear by enlisted personnel in the
Tactical Air Control Party (TACP). In 1984, two airmen from Pope Air Force Base, North Carolina submitted the current
flash and badge design. It was approved for all TACP airmen in 1985. TACP specialists (AFSC 1C4X1) are currently the only United States Air Force specialty allowed to wear the coveted black beret as part of their daily duty uniform wear.
U.S. Navy During the
Vietnam War U.S. Navy personnel assigned to
patrol boats and members of Inshore Undersea Warfare Group 1, WESTPAC Division wore the
South Vietnamese navy black beret with badge. Unlike the U.S. Navy SEAL teams, the beret was authorized for wear In Country only. Unit tradition had the back ribbon cut into two pennants after first contact with the enemy with the ends of the pennant notched in a "V" to signify he had made an enemy "kill". Until October 2016, a black beret was authorized to be worn in the U.S. Navy, albeit solely by female sailors of all pay-grades. Female commissioned officers wore the U.S. Navy officer crest on the beret above the left eyebrow, female petty officers and seamen wore the combination cover's device, and female chief petty officers wore their rate insignia instead. The female black beret's usage was discontinued along with the officer's tiara by the navy in 2016 as part of a naval effort to reduce the number of uniform items, make them appear more unisex, and also due to a lack of widespread use.
Ukraine takes part in Exercise Northern Light '03 on the west coast of
Scotland in 2003. The
Ukrainian Marines formerly wore, and were known as the "Black Berets" until 2018.
Venezuela In the
Venezuelan Army, black berets are of general use except for Paratroopers, Special Forces, Counter-insurgency troops and soldiers stationed inside the Ministry of Defence and Army headquarters. ==See also==