Military: Berets

[t00bsoks]

When a Marine officer completes Ranger School, or say, a Force Recon guy (Or SEAL or PJ)completes airborn training, are they given berets?

[Milkman Dan]

I didn't know Marine officers could even attend Ranger school...can they?

[t00bsoks]

https://www.infantry.army.mil/usmc/courses/course_ranger.htm

That seems to say so.

[Milkman Dan]

Crazy. You learn something everyday.

[t00bsoks]

Yup.

I guess I'll have to wait for Eightball or SKS Lover to join to find out.

[Milkman Dan]

Yup.

I guess I'll have to wait for Eightball or SKS Lover to join to find out.
Where the hell is Eightball, anyway?

I found this on a website:
I am a Reconnaissance Marine that graduated Ranger School in class 12-93.

I was never awarded a black beret, and the Marine Corps does not authorize the coveted Ranger Tab on my uniform. You don't go to the school for ornaments of dress; you go to become the best at our profession of arms. Inside a man's heart is where he makes the difference, not on his head. Believing that the Army will better itself by wearing a stolen badge of honor, is a fantasy.

[t00bsoks]

Ah, thanks.

[GoatChomper]

I didn't know Marine officers could even attend Ranger school...can they?
Yup, sure can. Ever notice the gongs over/under a troop's nametag instead of the service tag? That's where foreign/other service decorations go.

[Milkman Dan]

Yup, sure can. Ever notice the gongs over/under a troop's nametag instead of the service tag? That's where foreign/other service decorations go.
What's the point of them attending Ranger school? Is it so they can perform, what's the word I'm looking for...ah hell, I'll just say joint operations with Ranger units? Or do they get integrated with the actual Ranger unit?

[Shadow]

They may attend Ranger School, but one thing that denotes the difference between a soldier from a marine is the fact that marines don't wear berets. It is also noted in their manual of dress that they are prohibited from wearing berets.

The rough equivelant of U.S. Army Rangers in the USMC is Force Recon.

[gYmBaG]

im not surprised that marines can attend ranger school, after all, the ranger school has been using marine corps shooting courses since early 90s i think

[SWATJester_os]

When a Marine officer completes Ranger School, or say, a Force Recon guy (Or SEAL or PJ)completes airborn training, are they given berets?

they can be awarded it, but it's not authorized for wear.

Many marines crosstrain ranger school, army airborne, etc. The point of the schools is to make you a better soldier, not to make your uniform look pretty.

[GoatChomper]

What's the point of them attending Ranger school?
It's manifold.....

1. They can take that training back to their units.

2. You never know when crosstraining will be valuable.....say, an Air Force combat controller assigned to an Army unit who's been trained to drive a Stryker might find himself at the wheel of one.

3. The familiarization with other-service cultures, TO&E, capabilities, and limitations is invaluable for senior officers who find themselves in a joint-services command.

[t00bsoks]

they can be awarded it, but it's not authorized for wear.
Ah, this is what I was really looking for.

[Toastar]

Aren't rangers taught how to bring in air and artiliary support too, at least thats what WW2 rangers were taught, but are marines taught that also in basic/schools.

[Dee Kaos]

By the way, most marines who attend Ranger school sew the tab onto the inside of the shirt pocket flap. Its not only officers.

[gYmBaG]

whats the point of sewing it on the inside of the pockets? just to say you have it on you or something?

[Toastar]

yes.

[gYmBaG]

makes sense, i guess it feels better knowing its on your uniform, then not having it

[Army GI]

Swat, I got a quick question. In the Army, if you're awarded the Ranger tab (or any other skill badge), are you required to wear it?

[SWATJester_os]

By Army Regulation, no. But, individual unit commanders can regulate HOW you wear your uniform, including the requirement of wearing badges. For instance, 82nd and 101st require you wear your airborne and air assault badges, respectively. While I'm not 100% on it, I've HEARD that 2ID requires you to wear your EIB if you've won it. Everyone in ranger bat wears their tab if they have one.

[Army GI]

Well, I would have guessed that for the 101st or 82nd you'd have to wear your wings no matter what.

I was talking about if you were in a regular joe NG, or mech infantry, or cadet battalion. I'm not sure if I earned one, I'd want to wear it.

Am I weird?

[SWATJester_os]

Not really. I don't always wear my combat patch and CIB....well I wear the CIB but not the combat patch, as a protest that we're not authorized 3rd ID, 1st AD or 108th Airborne, even though we earned all three patches.....but yet our fucking sister unit is authorized fucking special forces patches.