[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 145 (Monday, November 13, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2085]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    A MILITARY INSIGNIA THAT MATTERS

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                           HON. DOUG BEREUTER

                              of nebraska

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, November 13, 2000

  Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Speaker, recently the Chief of Staff of the Army 
took it upon himself to permit all members of the Army, including all 
reservists and National Guardsmen, to wear a black beret. 
Traditionally, this honor has only been conferred upon Army Rangers, 
with Airborne units being permitted to wear maroon berets and Special 
Forces the well-known green beret.
  While the Army chief's motive of enhancing morale may have been 
laudable, the decision to permit all Army personnel to wear the prized 
beret diminishes its significance. A nation does not create crack 
troops by giving everyone the insignia that previously had been 
reserved only for the elite.
  Mr. Speaker, symbols often have meaning. The symbolism and mystique 
of the black beret was earned on the battlefield, and in countless 
thankless peacekeeping operations. Making the prized black beret common 
headgear diminishes the efforts and the sacrifices of those who have 
earned the right to wear the beret. This Member urges the Army to 
reconsider this decision, and submits into the Congressional Record an 
article in the November 4, 2000 edition of the Omaha-World Herald 
entitled ``Still Time to Save the Black Beret.''

                   Still Time To Save the Black Beret

       The black beret is a symbol of the mighty effort that U.S. 
     Army Rangers put into training, readiness and service. An 
     effort in the brass to usurp that badge of honor must feel 
     like a bayonet in the gut.
       Gen. Eric Shinseki, the new Army chief of staff, came up 
     with the idea personally and unilaterally, apparently after 
     giving a talk to an audience of black-bereted Rangers, 
     maroon-bereted Airborne and green-bereted Special Forces. His 
     thought: Give every member of the Army, including reservist, 
     the right to wear a black beret. National Guard, too.
       His reasoning: If the black beret is good for the elite 
     Rangers, it would be good for everyone else, too. The Army 
     must ``accept the challenge of excellence,'' he said in 
     announcing the change. The black beret ``will be symbolic of 
     our commitment to transform this magnificent Army into a new 
     force.''
       Oh, and it's also a fashion statement, too, according to an 
     Army spokesman. Black is the only color beret that would go 
     with every Army uniform. So black it must be.
       What is Shinseki thinking? These guys are the Rangers, the 
     Army's least unconventional warriors. They do 15-mile runs 
     just to get warmed up. With full pack. They are known for 
     being able to survive off the land--on rats, snakes and 
     insects if necessary. Their kind of combat is called, with 
     good if understated reason, ``extreme prejudice.''
       They often remain Rangers, in spirit at least, for the rest 
     of their lives. They have active and up-front veterans 
     organizations. And it is these organizations that stepped up 
     to lead the objections to Shinseki's fashion statement. 
     (Active-duty Rangers will, of course, obey any order fully 
     and promptly, no matter how much the order might sear the 
     soul.)
       Shinseki offered to give the Rangers an alternative--a 
     group of senior noncommissioned officers is going to come up 
     with a substitute Ranger symbol. An alternative, whatever it 
     might be, is not good enough, the veterans groups said.
       Amen to that. Receiving the black beret is an honor earned 
     by hard work, courage and commitment. Handing it out willy-
     nilly to every soldier who passes basic training is something 
     akin to awarding the Medal of Honor to anyone who reaches the 
     rank of private first-class. But, hey, they'll come up with 
     some alternative or other to give to Medal-of-Honor winners. 
     No prob.
       The idea was ill-conceived from the start. Thankfully, 
     there is time to get Shinseki's idea overturned. If veterans 
     organizations can't do the job through official channels, 
     they have said they will go to the new president, whoever he 
     might be, and ask for an executive order. President Kennedy, 
     after all, gave exclusive rights to green berets to the 
     Special Forces. President Bush or President Gore could easily 
     do the same for the Rangers.
       And should.

       

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