Sunday, February 25, 2001

By Sandra Jontz
Washington bureau

Confusion about the controversial black beret and accompanying dress codes continues to course through the U.S. Army as soldiers prepare for changes effective June 14.

At least part of that is because the Army is still formulating policy regarding the new attire.

For example, the Army News Service reported Feb. 13 that soldiers wearing the beret while in Class A or Class B uniforms will not blouse their boots, the term used when pant legs are tucked into the boot and slightly ballooned.

That’s because soldiers instead will wear low-quarter dress shoes instead of boots, said Master Sgt. David Schad, spokesman for Sgt. Maj. of the Army Jack Tilley.

Soldiers who wear jump or combat boots will continue to blouse their boots.

"It’s no change from the people wearing berets today," Schad said. "The Class A and B uniforms will not change. For people switching to the beret, nothing changes except their headgear."

Or possibly what’s in their heads.

Another recent announcement is that soldiers will have to take a test on the history of the Army as a "rite of passage" before donning the black beret.

Information about the test still is sketchy since officials have yet to decide how many questions will be asked and whether the test will be verbal or written.

During Tilley’s recent rounds to installations in Egypt, Kosovo, Macedonia, Germany and Korea, he told soldiers about the test. But Tilley fielded few questions about the subject, Schad said.

"The test has come up, and it’s not a big point. [Tilley is] telling the soldiers, and frequently their heads go north and south," Schad said as he nodded his head up and down. "They understand this."

"The intent of the history portion of the rite of passage is simply to get soldiers refocused on the Army’s history and the great things the Army has done for our country over the last two centuries."

Soldiers who fail simply will be retested until they pass.

"They’ve got to earn it," Schad said.

Another recent announcement from Army News Service said that general officers spent some time last week getting instruction on the proper way to wear a beret at a conference in Washington, D.C.

The pet project of the Army Chief of Staff Gen. Eric K. Shinseki has drawn a firestorm of criticism from those who say letting all soldiers wear the revered black beret dishonors those who worked hard to earn the honor.

Shinseki has said the beret would instill the sense of pride among the entire Army that has long been associated with the Rangers.

For six years beginning in 1973, the U.S. Army let local commanders encourage the use of the black beret as a morale-enhancing distinction until Gen. Bernard Rogers, Army Chief of Staff, banned its use in 1979.

However, the Rangers were permitted to wear it again beginning in 1975.

The berets, some of which are being manufactured in foreign countries, will cost the Army $23.8 million. One will be issued to each of the 1.3 million active duty, reserve and National Guard soldiers this spring. A second beret will be issued in the fall.

Criticism seems to quiet when Tilley explains the rationale, Schad said.

"People then understand the intent is not to take anything away from anybody. ‘It’s not about what’s on your head, it’s about what’s in your heart,’ " Schad said, quoting Tilley.

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