United States military beret flash

Part of a special forces detachment with the 8231st Army Unit, US Army Forces, Far East[8][9] wearing green berets with their Parachutist Badge—note the two officers (upper-right) wearing their rank insignia below their badge—ca. 1956[10]

Basic Parachutist Badge

Senior Parachutist Badge

It is not clear when organizational beret flashes began to be used by the US Army. However, US Army films and photographs between 1956 and 1962 suggest these beret flashes may have been introduced in late 1961,[10][11][12][13] around the time the green beret was officially authorized for wear by members of the US Army Special Forces.[14][15] Prior to that time, the green beret was worn informally by special forces paratroopers who used their Parachutist Badge as their beret flash. The Parachutist Badge was worn high on the beret positioned either over the left eye or left temple and officers would wear their polished metal rank insignia below their badge.[10]

Other beret accouterments began to appear in the 1960s and 70s, particularly between 1973 and 1979 when the US Department of the Army's morale-enhancing order was in force and various colored berets began to be worn my numerous units and branches of the US Army.[14][15][16][17] Historical photographs from the 1960s through the 1970s show soldiers and rangers assigned to various ranger units wearing an Airborne Tab, Ranger Tab, or homemade Long-Range Reconnaissance Patrol (LRRP) Tab on their black beret above their DUI, Parachutist Badge, or rank insignia (see Example 1).[17][18] In the late 1970s, ranger units began incorporating their Ranger Tab onto the top of their unit's organization beret flash.[17] In 1973, paratroopers in various airborne units began wearing maroon berets and in 1974 the soldiers in the 101st Airborne Division began wearing dark-blue berets.[17][19] Historical photographs of these paratroopers in the 1970s show them wearing their Parachutist Badge on their maroon berets, just as the special forces had done on their green berets in the 1950s,[10] but unlike the special forces they also wore their unit's background trimming[4]—which made their debut in World War II[20]—with officers and some enlisted and NCOs wearing their polished metal rank insignia below it (see Example 2).[17][21] Paratroopers of the 82nd Airborne Division wore their maroon berets differently in the early 1970s and used their unit's DUI as their beret flash (see Example 3).[17][22] Similarly, historical photographs of soldiers from the 101st Airborne Division show them wearing traditionally styled US Army organizational beret flashes, patterned after their unit's background trimming, with their polished metal rank insignia (enlisted, NCOs, and officers alike) attached; later, between 1976 and 1977, 101st soldiers would added their Air Assault Badge to their berets and wore them to the left of the wearer's beret flash (see Example 4).[17][19][23] Another example worth noting are armor soldiers with the US Army's armored cavalry regiments in Germany in the 1970s who began wearing black berets with a maroon and white cloth oval as their beret flash. These armor soldiers wore the oval behind their DUI, to the left of the wearer's polished metal rank insignia (enlisted, NCOs, and officers alike), over their left temple (see Example 5).[14][15][16][17][24] Also during the 1970s, soldiers of the 172nd Infantry Brigade began to wear olive-brown berets with traditionally styled organizational beret flashes with each battalion having their own unique design and was worn in the same manner as today's organizational beret flashes.[2][15][17] By 1979, the US Army put a stop to the use of berets by conventional forces, leaving only special forces and ranger units the authority to wear berets.[14][15][16]

Example 1

Ranger Tab

An infantry officer with the US Army Infantry School's Ranger Department wearing black beret with his Ranger Tab above his rank insignia, ca. 1971[18]

Example 2

US Army Infantry School's Airborne Department Background Trimming

An infantry officer with the US Army Infantry School's Airborne Department wearing maroon beret with his Parachutist Badge and unit background trimming above his rank, ca. 1973[17]

Example 3

1958–94: 782nd Maintenance Battalion DUI

A Signal Corps paratrooper with the 82nd Airborne Division, 82nd Division Support Command wearing his maroon beret with 782nd Maintenance Battalion DUI, ca. 1973[22]

Example 4

326th Engineer Battalion Background Trimming—note design similarity with the unit's beret flash below

An engineer officer with the 101st Airborne Division wearing dark-blue beret with 326th Engineer Battalion Beret Flash, rank insignia, and Air Assault Badge, ca. 1977[17]

Example 5

Armored Cavalry Oval

An armor NCO with the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment wearing black beret with his rank insignia next to the Armored Cavalry Oval with his unit's DUI, ca. 1978[25]

A Medical Corps paratrooper with the 11th Special Forces Group wearing green beret with 1st Special Forces DUI above his unit's recognition bar, ca. 1967[26]

11th Special Forces Group (Airborne) Beret Flash—note similarities with the recognition bar depicted below

11th Special Forces Group (Airborne) Recognition Bar

In 1980, the US Army reversed part of its decision allowing airborne units to wear maroon berets, ranger units black berets—which switched to tan berets in 2001—and special forces units green berets.[14][15][16][27][28] The US Army's 1981 uniform regulation describes the wear of these newly approved berets with the only authorized accoutrements being officer rank insignias, DUIs, recognition bars, and organizational beret flashes; however, organizational beret flashes were only worn by select units and paratroopers.[29][30] For example, only special operations qualified paratroopers, those earning the special qualification identifier (SQI) of "S," were authorized to wear their special forces unit's organizational beret flash while none-qualified soldiers wore a cloth recognition bar, color and pattern matched to their unit's organizational beret flash, below their DUI or officer rank insignia.[29][30][31] The recognition bar was discontinued in 1984 after the Special Forces Tab became authorized for special forces qualified paratroopers and all members assigned to a special forces unit now wear their unit's organizational beret flash; however the requirements for earning the "S" SQI remain and when achieved are noted in a paratrooper's service record.[30][31] Throughout the 1980s, organizational beret flashes became the norm for all units authorized to wear berets with enlisted and NCOs wearing their unit's DUI and officers their polished metal rank insignia centered on top of their unit's beret flash.[2][29][30][32]

TIOH manufacturing instruction for Department of the Army Beret Flash

The design of each unit's organizational beret flash was created and/or approved by The US Army Institute of Heraldry (TIOH).[33] TIOH based their original organizational beret flash designs after a unit's existing background trimming.[4] For newer units authorized an organizational beret flash, TIOH will research the requesting unit's heraldry leveraging geometrical divisions, shapes, and colors to represent the history and mission of the unit in the creation of a design.[34][35] Once the requesting unit agrees upon a design, TIOH creates manufacturing instructions and conducts quality control for companies authorized to produce the organizational beret flash.[34][36][37]

In late 2000, when General Eric Shinseki, Chief of Staff of the Army, decided to make the black beret the standard headgear of the US Army, he also decided that all units that did not have an organizational beret flash will wear a new universal one.[2][27][33][38] However, units can request authorization for an organizational beret flash,[39] as was done for the US Army's new Security Force Assistance Command and its brigades for wear on their brown berets.[40][41][42][43][44][45][46] According to Pam Reece of TIOH, the Department of the Army Beret Flash "is designed to closely replicate the colors of the Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army at the time of its victory at Yorktown."[27]

In 1957, the Strategic Air Command's Elite Guard was the first US Air Force unit authorized to wear berets. The first beret flash worn on the unit's navy-blue beret was a metal full-color replica of the Strategic Air Command Shield.[47][48] In 1966/67, the newly formed 1041st Security Police Squadron was authorized to wear a different shade of dark-blue beret and used a depiction of a falcon carrying a pair of lightning bolts on a light-blue cloth patch as their beret flash.[49][50][51] In 1976, the US Air Force approved the navy-blue beret, worn by Strategic Air Command's Elite Guard and US Air Force Combat Controllers, as the official uniform item for all US Air Force police and security forces.[49][52] The beret flash used on these berets was a metal full-color replica of the police or security forces' major command shield.[53][54] In early 1997, the US Air Force stood up the Security Forces AFSC and honored the heraldry of the 1041st Security Police Squadron by creating a new cloth beret flash for all security forces airman and NCOs that depict the 1041st's falcon over an airfield with the motto "Defensor Fortis" (defenders of the force) embroidered on a scroll at its base.[3][49] Security Forces Officers wear the same basic beret flash minus the embroidered falcon and airfield and in its place attach their polished metal rank insignia.[3]

1041st Security Police Squadron's Beret Flash A security policeman with the 1041st Security Police Squadron wearing the unit's distinctive dark-blue beret and flash, ca. 1968[50]

Air Combat Command (ACC) Shield, a major command of the US Air Force A law enforcement specialist from George Air Force Base wearing dark-blue beret with the ACC Shield, ca. 1990[54]

A CCT NCO with the 7th Aerial Port Squadron wearing dark-blue beret with his Senior Parachutist Badge and rank insignia, ca. 1964[55]

Historical photographs from the Vietnam Era show US Air Force combat controllers (CCTs) wearing navy–blue berets.[55][56] Initial wear of these berets followed the trend of the US Army Special Forces whereby CCT's wore their Parachutist Badge over their left eye acting as their beret flash with officers wearing their polished metal rank insignia below their badge; yet other CCTs wore these berets with their Parachutists Badge and polished metal rank insignia (enlisted, NCO, and officer alike) over their right temple with the excess of the beret's material pulled over the left hear.[10][57][55][56] The navy-blue beret was officially approved for wear by CCTs in 1973 but five years latter, in 1978, they received authorization to wear scarlet berets with a large metallic CCT Beret Flash, created by retired CCTs Jack Hughes and Gene Adcock.[52][58][59] The new scarlet beret and beret flash were worn in the same manner as it is today with the flash centered over the left eye and the excess cloth of the beret pulled over the right ear.[3][52][60] The CCT Beret Flash remained the same until 1984 when its shape was slightly modified and some of its elements rearranged.[59] A polished metal version of the CCT Beret Flash was later adopted when the US Air Force changed their uniform regulations allowing bright metal badging to be worn on service uniforms.[59] Special Tactics Officers also wear the scarlet beret and wear their miniature polished metal rank insignia just below a visually similar beret flash to the CCT's but contains different symbols and freezes representing the different AFSCs they oversee (CCTs, Pararescue, and Special Reconnaissance).[3][61][62]

A PJ with 37th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron wearing maroon beret with his Parachutist Badge, ca. 1967[57]

In 1966, US Air Force pararescuemen, also known as a pararescue jumper (PJ), were authorized to wear the maroon beret and a large metallic Pararescue Beret Flash.[57][58] The color of the beret (maroon) was chosen to symbolize the sacrifice required of PJs and its initial wear followed the trend of the time whereby PJs used their Parachutist Badge as their beret flash due to perceived gaps in production and distribution of the Pararescue Beret Flash.[10][57][58][63] The Pararescue Beret Flash was derived from the Air Rescue Service shield—designed by TSgt Bill Steffens (Retired) and approved by the US Air Force in 1952[64][65]—and consists of a guardian angel wrapping its arms around the Earth—which symbolizes the mission of the PJ—surrounded by a parachute mounted on a banner with the phrase, "That others may live," embossed at its base—the pararescue creed.[66] Historical photographs from the Fall 1975 graduating class of PJs show the graduates wearing the modern-day large polished metallic Pararescue Beret Flash on their newly earned berets and worn in the same manner as before.[67] Combat Rescue Officers wear a modified version of this large polished metallic beret flash just above their miniature polished metal rank insignia on the same maroon beret as the PJs.[3][62]

In the mid 1960s, US Air Force commando weathermen[68], also known as weather parachutists, with Detachment 26 of the 30th Weather Squadron and Detachment 32 of the 5th Weather Squadron informally wore black berets.[69] The beret flash worn on these black berets was a black cloth rectangle with a depiction of a yellow embroidered anemometer surmounted by a fleur-de-lis with the words “Combat Weather” split by the anemometer.[69] In 1963, weather parachutists from Detachment 75 of the 2nd Weather Group wore gray berets and like the PJs and CCTs of the era used their Parachutist Badge as their beret flash and worn their polished metal rank insignia (enlisted, NCO, and officer alike) just below their badge.[57][56][69] From 1970 through the 1980s, weather parachutists with the 5th Weather Squadron wore maroon berets with a US Army style beret flash that incorporated the squadron's colors from their emblem's alchemical symbol for water—the green, blue, and red colors inside the symbol were designed to represent Earth, air, and fire respectively—and wore their Parachutist Badge attached to the flash.[35][69] In 1979, weather parachutists, now called special operations weather technicians (SOWTs), where authorized to wear dark-blue berets with a US Army style beret flash consisting of a blue and black field surrounded by yellow piping.[35][69] Enlisted and NCOs wore their Parachutist Badge attached of the flash while officers wore their polished metal rank insignia.[69] In 1986, the gray beret was authorized for wear by all SOWTs who continued to wear the aforementioned cloth beret flash until a new large color metallic SOWT Beret Flash was authorized.[69] This large metallic beret flash used the same color field as the previous cloth beret flash but had a parachute with the letters "USAF," a dagger, and lightning bolts centered in the field with a scroll at the bottom embossed with the words “Air Weather Service;” this metal beret flash was surrounded by a gilded band embossed with the words “Special Operations Weather Team."[69] In 1992, the US Air Force approved the return of the SOWT's blue, black, and yellow cloth beret flash from the 70s and used their color metallic SOWT Beret Flash from the 80's as their beret crest (i.e. it was placed on top of the cloth beret flash).[69] In 1996, the SOWTs assigned to the US Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) wore a new US Army style beret flash while those assigned to Air Combat Command, known as combat weatherman (CWT), continued to wear the original blue, black and yellow beret flash.[35][69][70] The AFSOC SOWT Beret Flash consisted of a red border representing the blood shed by their predecessors, a black background represented special operations, and three colored diagonal lines represented the services they supported (green=US Army, purple=joint forces, and blue=US Air Force).[69] Enlisted and NCOs wore their Parachutist Badge on top of the AFSOC SOWT Beret Flash while officers wore their polished metal rank insignia until 2002 when the Combat Weather Team Crest was created.[69] The Combat Weather Team Crest incorporated the center elements of the 1986 metallic SOWT Beret Flash/Crest—specifically the parachute, lightning bolts, and dagger—with arched banners embossed with "Combat Weather Team" above, "Airborne" below, and "USAF" in a center rectangular banner.[69] The Combat Weather Team Crest was worn attached of both SOWT and CWT Beret Flashes by enlisted and NCOs while officers continued to wear their polished metal rank insignia.[69][71][72] In 2007/2008, the AFSOC SOWT Beret Flash stopped being worn and the Combat Weather Team Crest became the de facto beret flash for these units.[69][73] In 2009—when the Special Operations Weather AFSC was established—a new large polished metallic Special Operations Weather Beret Flash was approved for wear by all SOWTs and CWTs (enlisted, NCOs, and officers alike) but took an additional year to create and was worn in the same manner as the modern-day CCT and Pararescue Beret Flashes.[3][69][73][74] In 2019, SOWTs were re-designated Special Reconnaissance so the name embossed on the Special Operations Weather Beret Flash was changed to "SPECIAL U.S.A.F. RECON" and the fleur-de-lis was removed, otherwise this last variant of the SOWT's beret flash remains the same.[75][76]

Weather parachutist beret flashes from the 1960s–2018[69][75]

1960s Commando Weatherman Beret Flash

1970–80s 5th Weather Squadron Beret Flash

1979–86 & 1992–96 SOWT Beret Flash, 1996–10 CWT Beret Flash

1986–91 SOWT Beret Flash

1996–07 AFSOC SOWT Beret Flash

2007–10 SOWT Beret Flash

2010–18 Special Operations Weather Beret Flash

A weather parachutist NCO with the 82nd Airborne Division wearing the CWT Beret Flash with Combat Weather Team Crest, ca. 2007[77]

A weather parachutist with the 107th Weather Flight wearing SOWT Beret Flash with Combat Weather Team Crest, ca. 2008[78]

A weather parachutist with the 320th Special Tactics Squadron wearing Combat Weather Team Crest as beret flash, ca. 2010[79]

A weather parachutist with the 335th Training Squadron wearing the Special Operations Weather Beret Flash, ca. 2017[80]

In 1979, TACP airmen were given authorization to wear the black beret. In 1984, two TACP airmen submitted a design for a unique beret flash and crest.[14] The US Air Force approved the TACPs' flash and crest design in 1985.[14] The TACP Beret Flash—which followed the basic design language of US Army beret flashes[35]—incorporates red borders that represent the firepower TACP's bring to bear with two dovetailed fields of blue and green represent the close working relationship between the US Air Force and US Army that is enabled by the TACP.[81] The TACP Crest incorporates am arched banner at its top embossed with "U.S. Air Force" held up by erect–wings which symbolize the combat readiness of the TACP, at its center is a sword symbolizes the firepower controlled by the TACP, a lightning bolt representing modern–day communications used by the TACP, an eight-point star symbolizes the worldwide mobility commitment of the TACP, and at the crest's base is a rectangular banner embossed with the letters "TACP."[81] Latter, air liaison officers were given authorization to wear the black beret and the TACP Beret Flash, no crest.[14][82][83] In 2019 US Air Force uniform instruction changed directing air liaison officers, now called TACP officers, to where the TACP Beret Flash and Crest with miniature polished metal rank insignia below the crest and just above the outer-border of the beret flash.[3][84][85] Similarly, air mobility liaison officers (AMLOs) also wore the black beret.[14] Although worn informally before then, in 2015 TIOH authorized a slight modification of the TACP Beret Flash for wear by AMLOs, incorporating a compass rose in the upper-left corner of the beret flash, and was worn in the same manner as US Army beret flashes.[2][3][86][87] Despite this, the US Air Force Uniform Board and uniform regulations do not address the wear of the AMLO Beret Flash by these liaisons.[3][88]

TACP Beret Flash without crest, worn by air liaison officers A pilot with the 682nd Air Support Operations Squadron wearing black beret with TACP Beret Flash and rank insignia, ca. 2011[89]

A pilot with the 8th Air Support Operations Squadron wearing black beret with AMLO Beret Flash and rank insignia, ca. 2011[86]

In 2004, the US Air Force authorized the wear of the pewter-green beret to graduates of the US Air Force Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape (SERE) Specialist Technical School.[90] The beret flash worn on these berets is a polished metallic shield embossed with a bald eagle in front of a compass rose with barbed wire across it and the SERE motto, "Return With Honor," at its base.[90] The SERE Specialist Beret Flash is worn centered over the left eye.[3][90]

In 2018, AFSOC authorized the wear of the brown beret for airman, NCOs, and officers assigned to a CAA unit, specifically the 6th and 711th Special Operations Squadrons. The brown beret is worn with a US Army style cloth beret flash consisting of a dark-blue field with olive-green stripes and border.[35][91] The cloth beret flash is worn centered over the left eye with officers wearing their polished metal rank insignia attached.[91]

In the 1960s, select US Navy riverine patrol units operating in South Vietnam adopted the black beret to be part of their daily uniform and wore various accouterments on their berets.[92][93] In 1967, the Commander of the Riverine Patrol Force sent an official message to the Commander of River Patrol Flotilla Five authorizing the wear of the black beret. In this message, the commander of the force defined the wear and appearance of the beret as well as what is to be worn on the beret stating, "Beret will be worn with river patrol force insignia centered on right side." and "Only standard size river patrol force insignia will be worn on beret. ... No other emblem or rank insignia will be displayed on beret."[93][94] Today, these US Navy small boat units honor their heritage by wearing the black beret during special occasions, such as award and promotion ceremonies, and will affix either historical riverine task force insignia or their unit insignia for use as their beret flash.[95][96][97][98]

By the early 1970s, some of the US Marines remaining in South Vietnam were combat advisers supporting the Republic of Vietnam Marine Division, also known as the South Vietnamese Marine Corps (VNMC).[99] Those US Marine combat advisers wore a derivative of the NVMC combat uniform.[99] Many of these US Marine advisors wore VNMC green berets with a metallic version of the VNMC Beret Flash and wore it over their right temple with the excess cloth of the beret pulled over their left ear.[99][100]

River Patrol Force, Task Force 116 Insignia Chief of Naval Operations (L) and Commander, Riverine Patrol Force (R) wearing black berets with Task Force 116 Insignia affixed, ca. 1969[101]

VNMC Beret Flash (metallic version) A US Marine Corps VNMC Advisor wearing green beret with metallic VNMC Beret Flash, ca. 1971[99]

Starting in the 1970s, a special female beret was authorized for wear as alternate headgear for the US Army, US Air Force, US Navy, and US Marine Corps with various service uniforms.[29][102][103][104] The US Navy was the last service to remove the female beret from their uniform regulations in September 2015.[105] These black (Army), dark-blue (Air Force), navy-blue (Navy), and dark-green (Marine Corps) female berets were of similar design and worn on the crown of the head.[29][102][103][104][106] These service members wore their traditional cap devices on these female berets but unlike today's US Army and US Air Force beret flashes, these devices were worn center-forward on the beret with the exception being the US Navy who wore their devices centered over the left eye.[29][102][103][104][106]

Commissioned officers of the US Army wore a gold metal replica of the coat of arms of the United States on their female berets[29] while US Air Force commissioned officers, commissioned warrant officers, and warrant officers wore a silver version of the same insignia.[107] US Army commissioned warrant officers and warrant officers wore a gold metal spread–eagle enclosed within a wreath on their female berets.[108] US Navy commissioned officers and commissioned warrant officers wore a silver spread–eagle surmounting a silver shield and gold fouled anchors on their female berets while warrant officers wore only the gold fouled anchors until commissioned.[109]

US Army and US Air Force enlisted and NCOs wore a gold (Army) or silver (Air Force) metal replica of the coat of arms of the United States surrounded by a like-colored metal ring on their female berets.[29][102] US Navy enlisted and NCOs wore a silver spread–eagle with the letters "USN" mounted above the wings on their female berets while more senior NCOs (E-7/OR-7 through E-9/OR-9) wore their polished metal collar rank insignia.[110][111]

All US Marines wore a subdued eagle, globe, and anchor as their female beret flash.[103]

US military cap devices used on the former female service uniform berets

Army cap devices

Air Force cap devices

Navy cap devices

Marine Corps Emblem (subdued)

An Army medical officer wearing black female beret with Officer Cap Device, ca. 1975[112]

An airman wearing dark-blue female beret with Enlisted Cap Device as her beret flash, ca. 1974[102]

A sailor wearing navy-blue female beret with Enlisted Cap Device

A marine wearing dark-green female beret with subdued Marine Corps Emblem, ca. 1978[103]

• 
  United Nations Peacekeepers
• 
  Multinational Force and Observers (cloth variant)

• 
  Department of the Army (worn when no authorized beret flash exists)

• 
  82nd Airborne Division (Div), 1st Infantry Brigade Combat Team (IBCT), 68th Armor Regiment's (RGT) 4th Battalion (BN), Alpha Company (Co)

• 
  US Army Special Operations Aviation Command (USASOAC)
• 
  USASOAC's 160th Special Operations Aviation RGT
• 
  USASOAC, 160th Special Operations Aviation RGT's 1st BN
• 
  USASOAC, 160th Special Operations Aviation RGT's 2nd BN
• 
  USASOAC, 160th Special Operations Aviation RGT's 3rd BN
• 
  USASOAC, 160th Special Operations Aviation RGT's 4th BN
• 
  82nd Airborne Div, Combat Aviation Brigade (CAB)
• 
  82nd Airborne Div CAB, 82nd Aviation RGT's 1st BN
• 
  82nd Airborne Div CAB, 82nd Aviation RGT's 2nd BN
• 
  82nd Airborne Div CAB, 82nd Aviation RGT's 3rd BN

• 
  25th Infantry Div, 4th IBCT, 40th Cavalry RGT's 1st Squadron
• 
  82nd Airborne Div CAB, 17th Cavalry RGT's 1st Squadron
• 
  82nd Airborne Div, 1st IBCT, 73rd Cavalry RGT's 3rd Squadron
• 
  82nd Airborne Div, 2nd IBCT, 73rd Cavalry RGT's 1st Squadron
• 
  82nd Airborne Div, 3rd IBCT, 73rd Cavalry RGT's 5th Squadron
• 
  173rd IBCT, 91st Cavalry RGT's 1st Squadron

• 
  95th Civil Affairs Brigade (BDE)
• 
  95th Civil Affairs BDE's 91st Civil Affairs BN
• 
  95th Civil Affairs BDE's 92nd Civil Affairs BN
• 
  95th Civil Affairs BDE's 96th Civil Affairs BN
• 
  95th Civil Affairs BDE's 97th Civil Affairs BN
• 
  95th Civil Affairs BDE's 98th Civil Affairs BN
• 
  304th Civil Affairs BDE's 404th Civil Affairs BN
• 
  1st Training BDE's 478th Civil Affairs BN
• 
  358th Civil Affairs BDE's 416th Civil Affairs BN
• 
  358th Civil Affairs BDE's 426th Civil Affairs BN
• 
  360th Civil Affairs BDE
• 
  360th Civil Affairs BDE's 412th Civil Affairs BN
• 
  360th Civil Affairs BDE's 450th Civil Affairs BN

• 
  20th Engineer BDE's 27th Engineer BN
• 
  20th Engineer BDE, 27th Engineer BN's 57th Engineer Co
• 
  20th Engineer BDE, 27th Engineer BN's 161st Engineer Co
• 
  25th Infantry Div, 4th IBCT's 6th Engineer BN
• 
  82nd Airborne Div, 1st IBCT's 127th Engineer BN
• 
  82nd Airborne Div, 2nd IBCT's 37th Engineer BN
• 
  82nd Airborne Div, 2nd IBCT, 37th Engineer BN's 738th Engineer Co
• 
  82nd Airborne Div, 3rd IBCT's 307th Engineer BN
• 
  82nd Airborne Div, 3rd IBCT, 307th Engineer BN's 919th Engineer Co
• 
  173rd IBCT's 54th Engineer BN

• 
  25th Infantry Div, 4th IBCT, 377th Field Artillery RGT's 2nd BN
• 
  82nd Airborne Div Artillery
• 
  82nd Airborne Div Artillery, 319th Field Artillery RGT's 1st BN
• 
  82nd Airborne Div Artillery, 319th Field Artillery RGT's 2nd BN
• 
  82nd Airborne Div Artillery, 319th Field Artillery RGT's 3rd BN
• 
  173rd IBCT, 319th Field Artillery RGT's 4th BN

• 
  US Army Special Operations Command's (USASOC) 75th Ranger RGT and Special Troops BN
• 
  USASOC, 75th Ranger RGT's 1st BN
• 
  USASOC, 75th Ranger RGT's 2nd BN
• 
  USASOC, 75th Ranger RGT's 3rd BN
• 
  25th Infantry Div's 4th IBCT
• 
  25th Infantry Div, 4th IBCT, 501st Infantry RGT's 1st BN
• 
  25th Infantry Div, 4th IBCT, 509th Infantry RGT's 3rd BN
• 
  45th IBCT, 134th Infantry RGT's 2nd BN
• 
  82nd Airborne Div
• 
  82nd Airborne Div's 1st IBCT
• 
  82nd Airborne Div, 1st IBCT, 501st Infantry RGT's 2nd BN
• 
  82nd Airborne Div, 1st IBCT, 504th Infantry RGT's 1st BN
• 
  82nd Airborne Div, 1st IBCT, 504th Infantry RGT's 2nd BN
• 
  82nd Airborne Div's 2nd IBCT
• 
  82nd Airborne Div, 2nd IBCT, 325th Infantry RGT's 1st BN
• 
  82nd Airborne Div, 2nd IBCT, 325th Infantry RGT's 2nd BN
• 
  82nd Airborne Div, 2nd IBCT, 508th Infantry RGT's 2nd BN
• 
  82nd Airborne Div's 3rd IBCT
• 
  82nd Airborne Div, 3rd IBCT, 505th Infantry RGT's, 1st BN
• 
  82nd Airborne Div, 3rd IBCT, 505th Infantry RGT's 2nd BN
• 
  82nd Airborne Div, 3rd IBCT, 508th Infantry RGT's 1st BN
• 
  173rd IBCT
• 
  173rd IBCT, 143rd Infantry RGT's, 1st BN
• 
  173rd IBCT, 503rd Infantry RGT's 1st BN
• 
  173rd IBCT, 503rd Infantry RGT's 2nd BN

• 
  1st Special Forces Command's (CMD) 389th Military Intelligence BN

• 
  16th Military Police (MP) BDE
• 
  16th MP BDE, 503rd MP BN's 21st MP Co
• 
  16th MP BDE, 503rd MP BN's 65th MP Co
• 
  16th MP BDE, 503rd MP BN's 108th MP Co
• 
  16th MP BDE, 503rd MP BN's 118th MP Co

• 
  Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC)-Army Element
• 
  Special Operations Command (SOC) Africa-Army Element
• 
  SOC Central-Army Element
• 
  SOC Europe-Army Element
• 
  SOC Korea-Army Element
• 
  SOC North-Army Element
• 
  SOC Pacific-Army Element
• 
  SOC South-Army Element
• 
  US Army Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations CMD
• 
  USASOC
• 
  US Special Operations CMD-Army Element
• 
  XVIII Airborne Corps

• 
  52nd Ordnance Group, 192nd Ordnance BN's 28th Ordnance Co
• 
  52nd Ordnance Group, 192nd Ordnance BN's 722nd Ordnance Co
• 
  52nd Ordnance Group, 192nd Ordnance BN's 767th Ordnance Co

• 
  2nd Psychological Operations (PSYOPS) Group, 15th PSYOPS BN's 310th, 325th, and 346th Tactical PSYOPS Cos
• 
  4th PSYOPS Group
• 
  4th PSYOPS Group's 3rd PSYOPS BN
• 
  4th PSYOPS Group's 7th PSYOPS BN
• 
  4th PSYOPS Group's 8th PSYOPS BN
• 
  7th PSYOPS Group, 14th PSYOPS BN's 301st Tactical PSYOPS Co
• 
  7th PSYOPS Group, 17th PSYOPS BN's 344th Tactical PSYOPS Co
• 
  7th PSYOPS Group, 17th PSYOPS BN's 345th Tactical PSYOPS Co
• 
  8th PSYOPS Group

• 
  Marketing and Engagement BDE's US Army Parachute Team
• 
  82nd Airborne Div's 49th Public Affairs Detachment

• 
  Airborne and Special Operations Test Directorate
• 
  Defense Logistics Agency's Defense Distribution Depot-Army Element
• 
  General Lucius D. Clay National Guard Center's 165th Quartermaster Co
• 
  Program Executive Office's Airborne Procurement Team
• 
  Yuma Proving Ground's Airborne Test Force
• 
  3rd Expeditionary Sustainment CMD, 264th Combat Sustainment Support BN's 647th Quartermaster Co
• 
  36th Sustainment BDE's 294th Quartermaster Co
• 
  36th Sustainment BDE, 294th Quartermaster Co's 36th Quartermaster Detachment
• 
  77th Sustainment BDE's 861st Quartermaster Co
• 
  82nd Sustainment BDE, 189th Combat Support Sustainment BN's 11th Quartermaster Co
• 
  82nd Sustainment BDE, 189th Combat Support Sustainment BN's 824th Quartermaster Co
• 
  518th Sustainment BDE's 346th Quartermaster Co
• 
  642nd Regional Support Group, 352nd Combat Sustainment Support BN's 421st Quartermaster Co

• 
  JSOC's Joint Communications Unit–Army element
• 
  21st Signal BDE's 55th Signal Co
• 
  359th Signal BDE's 982nd Signal Co
• 
  528th Sustainment BDE's 112th Special Operations Signal BN

• 
  Special Forces personnel in non-special operations units
• 
  1st Special Forces CMD
• 
  1st Special Forces Group
• 
  1st Special Forces Group's 39th Special Forces Detachment
• 
  3rd Special Forces Group
• 
  5th Special Forces Group
• 
  7th Special Forces Group
• 
  10th Special Forces Group
• 
  19th Special Forces Group
• 
  20th Special Forces Group

• 
  25th Infantry Div, 4th IBCT's 725th BDE Support BN
• 
  82nd Airborne Div, 1st IBCT's 307th BDE Support BN
• 
  82nd Airborne Div, 2nd IBCT's 407th BDE Support BN
• 
  82nd Airborne Div, 3rd IBCT's 82nd BDE Support BN
• 
  82nd Airborne Div, CAB's 122nd Aviation Support BN
• 
  173rd IBCT's 173rd BDE Support BN

• 
  82nd Sustainment BDE
• 
  528th Sustainment BDE

• 
  Joint Readiness Training Center–Army Element
• 
  Joint Readiness Training Center, 509th Infantry RGT's 1st BN
• 
  Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps
• 
  Quartermaster Center and School's 262nd Quartermaster BN
• 
  Security Force Assistance Command (SFAC)
• 
  SFAC's 1st Security Force Assistance BDE
• 
  SFAC's 2nd Security Force Assistance BDE
• 
  SFAC's 3rd Security Force Assistance BDE
• 
  SFAC's 4th Security Force Assistance BDE
• 
  SFAC's 5th Security Force Assistance BDE
• 
  SFAC's 54th Security Force Assistance BDE
• 
  US Army Infantry School's Airborne and Ranger Training BDE
• 
  US Army Infantry School, Airborne and Ranger Training BDE, 507th Infantry RGT's 1st BN
• 
  US Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School (SWCS)
• 
  SWCS's Special Forces Warrant Officer Institute
• 
  SWCS's Special Warfare Medical Group
• 
  SWCS's Special Warfare NCO Academy
• 
  SWCS's 1st Special Warfare Training Group
• 
  SWCS's 2nd Special Warfare Training Group
• 
  US Army Training and Doctrine Command's Airborne/Airlift Action Office
• 
  XVIII Airborne Corps's NCO Academy
• 
  82nd Airborne Div's Advanced Airborne School

• 
  CAA
• 
  CCT
• 
  Combat Rescue Officer
• 
  Pararescue
• 
  Security Forces
• 
  Security Forces Officer
• 
  Special Reconnaissance
• 
  Special Tactics Officer
• 
  SERE Specialist
• 
  TACP and TACP Officer

State defense forces—also known as state guard, state military reserve, or state militia—in many US states and territories wear modified versions of US Army uniforms.[33][113][114] To help separate these state guard members from other federal uniformed services, such as the US National Guard, some will wear a unique organizational beret flash on their military beret.[33][115][116][117][118][119][120] The following is a list of some of these organizational beret flashes worn by various state military reserve units:

• 
  State Defense Force (worn by various state militias)

• 
  California State Guard
• 
  Maryland Defense Force
• 
  New York Guard
• 
  Puerto Rico State Guard
• 
  Puerto Rico State Guard, Air Division, 1st Air Base Group's Security Forces
• 
  Texas State Guard
• 
  Washington State Guard
• 
  Washington State Guard's 1st BDE
• 
  Washington State Guard's 2nd BDE