The Army authorizes five beret colors, and each one signals something specific about the soldier wearing it. Army beret colors and who wears them break down this way: black is the default for any soldier not authorized a distinctive color, maroon goes to soldiers assigned to Airborne units, green belongs to Special Forces, tan to Rangers, and brown to soldiers in the Security Force Assistance Brigades. Most of these are tied to a current assignment rather than a qualification you keep for life, and the rules for each color have their own wrinkles.
Black Beret
The black beret is the standard headgear for every soldier who is not authorized one of the distinctive colored berets. It became the Army-wide beret in 2001 under Chief of Staff General Eric Shinseki. Since 2011, when the patrol cap replaced the beret as the everyday duty headgear, the black beret has mostly appeared with the service uniform at ceremonies and formal occasions rather than in daily wear.1Army Publishing Directorate. DA Pam 670-1 Guide to the Wear and Appearance of Army Uniforms and Insignia
Maroon Beret: Airborne Units
The maroon beret is worn by soldiers assigned to Airborne-designated units. This is where people get tripped up: it is an assignment-based authorization, not a permanent award for completing jump school. A qualified paratrooper who transfers out of an airborne organization switches back to the black beret. The color is recognized around the world as the mark of airborne forces.
Green Beret: Special Forces
The green beret is the closest thing the Army has to a permanent, individual beret authorization. Any Special Forces-qualified soldier holding a Career Management Field 18 military occupational specialty wears it, and keeps wearing it in assignments outside SF units, including at the Command and General Staff College or in ROTC instructor duty. Soldiers who earned the Special Forces tab but are not branched Special Forces are more limited: they wear the green beret only while assigned to an SF unit or position.2U.S. Army Fort Jackson. DA Pam 670-1 Guide to the Wear and Appearance of Army Uniforms and Insignia
The green beret was first adopted by the 10th Special Forces Group in 1953, worn without formal Army approval for years. It became official on October 12, 1961, when President John F. Kennedy visited Fort Bragg and directed that Special Forces soldiers wear it.3ARSOF History. JFK Visits Fort Bragg – A Photo Essay
Tan Beret: Rangers
The tan beret is worn primarily by soldiers currently assigned to the 75th Ranger Regiment or the Ranger Training Brigade. It also extends to Ranger-qualified soldiers serving in certain headquarters positions, including combatant command headquarters, the Joint Staff, and Department of the Army Headquarters, but only if they previously served in the 75th Ranger Regiment and departed on honorable terms. The 75th Ranger Regiment has sole authority to validate that prior service.2U.S. Army Fort Jackson. DA Pam 670-1 Guide to the Wear and Appearance of Army Uniforms and Insignia
Earning the Ranger tab through Ranger School does not by itself authorize the tan beret. The tab is an individual qualification; the beret follows assignment.
Rangers switched to tan in 2001. They had worn the black beret since 1975, and when Shinseki moved the black beret to the entire Army that year, the Ranger Regiment was invited to choose a new color. They picked tan, and the change took effect on June 14, 2001.
Brown Beret: Security Force Assistance Brigades
The brown beret is the newest color, introduced on February 8, 2018, for soldiers assigned to Security Force Assistance Brigades. SFABs specialize in advising and assisting partner-nation militaries, and their soldiers are experienced officers and NCOs drawn from operational units across the Army.
Wearing the brown beret depends on SFAB assignment. To receive the full benefits attached to the assignment, including reenlistment bonuses, soldiers must complete the Combat Advisor Training Course at the Military Advisor Training Academy.4U.S. Army Human Resources Command. Security Force Assistance Brigade Frequently Asked Questions
How the Colors Actually Appear in Daily Wear
The color a soldier is authorized and the color a soldier wears on any given day are not always the same thing. Since June 14, 2011, the patrol cap has been the standard headgear for duty uniforms. Berets no longer sit on most soldiers’ heads every morning. They appear at parades, changes of command, other ceremonies, and whenever a commander directs their wear.1Army Publishing Directorate. DA Pam 670-1 Guide to the Wear and Appearance of Army Uniforms and Insignia
The transition to the Army Green Service Uniform is pulling the beret further out of daily use. Under the AGSU, which becomes mandatory on October 1, 2027, the heritage green garrison cap is the primary headgear for service wear. The beret can still be worn with the AGSU when a commander directs it, and the distinctive colored berets remain authorized either way.5The United States Army. Army Uniforms and Grooming Guide
Soldiers in Airborne, Ranger, Special Forces, and SFAB units continue wearing their distinctive berets under the conditions their assignments allow. Even within those units, patrol caps take over for hands-on work like vehicle maintenance and flight-line duties, where the beret’s lack of a bill and poor sun protection make it impractical.
Religious Accommodations in Place of the Beret
Soldiers whose faith requires a head covering can request a religious accommodation to wear items like turbans, hijabs, or under-turbans in place of the beret. Since 2017, brigade-level commanders have had the authority to approve these requests, and once approved, the accommodation applies for the soldier’s entire career rather than needing renewal at each assignment.6The United States Army. Turbans, Beards, Dreadlocks Now Permissible for Some Soldiers
Requests are submitted in writing and explain the type of accommodation and the religious basis. Supporting documentation like a letter from a religious leader or a photo of the requested headgear can strengthen the request but is not required. Anything that requires a waiver beyond what a brigade commander can approve goes to the Secretary of the Army or a designee.7U.S. Army Central. AR 670-1 Wear and Appearance of Army Uniforms and Insignia