William Green is upset with the U.S. Army.
Green, a fisheries and wildlife senior, is angry at Chief of Staff of the Army Gen. Eric Shinseki’s decision to issue black berets as standard headgear for all Army personnel.
The beret is now only worn by Army Rangers - a specialized fighting force.
But, it’ll become the official headgear of the U.S. Army effective June 14. Green, himself a Ranger from 1992 until 1996, says that is wrong.
“These are men who set the standard for the rest of the Army to follow,” he said. “It’s an insult to Army Rangers past and present.”
Green said issuing the beret to all Army personnel takes recognition away from the Rangers.
“I’ve been deployed around the world on training missions and wherever we went people knew who we were by that beret,” he said. “And they knew we were some of the best soldiers in the world.”
Shinseki’s announcement Oct. 17 stated that “the Army must change to maintain its relevance for the evolving strategic environment.”
By implementing the berets Army-wide, Shinseki also said he hopes to symbolize excellence and unity. But Green disagrees with that tactic.
“The beret represents excellence and achievement, but it only represents excellence if you’ve earned it,” he said. “It loses its symbolism of excellence if the work is not being put in to earn that beret.”
Green compared the beret issue to academics.
A 4.0 represents excellence in an academic endeavor, he said. But to give somebody who earned a 2.5 a 4.0 “to make them feel better about themselves and to represent excellence - there is no excellence there,” he argues.
Green said although he holds other members of the armed forces in the highest regard, the Rangers have always been held to a higher standard.
The 75th Army Rangers Association, a national independent organization not affiliated with the Army, opposes the new plan for the headgear.
The group of former Rangers is sponsoring a campaign to raise awareness for its cause.
On Feb. 10, Rangers Dave Scott and David Nielsen, both veterans, left on a march from Fort Benning, Ga. The trip will conclude March 10 at the White House where the two plan to ask President Bush to reverse Shinseki’s decision.
Emmett Hiltibrand, president of the association, served as a Ranger from 1968 until 1989.
And he said he’s furious about the decision to issue black berets as standard headgear.
“The only thing we get as a reward for doing the hardest job in the world is wearing that beret,” he said. “And (Shinseki) wants to take it from us.”
Due to a gag order imposed by Shinseki, no active-duty Rangers are involved in the protest, Hiltibrand said. The Army, meanwhile, maintains black berets are not symbolic of the spirit of the Rangers.
“Rangers are measured by the size of their heart, their courage, skill and commitment, not by what they wear on their head,” Army spokesman Maj. Ryan Yantis told The State News.
Yantis said Rangers exhibit other distinctive markings besides black berets, such as a shoulder sleeve insignia as well as specialized jump boots.
“We understand that for some veterans this is an emotional issue and we respect their right to express their opinions,” Yantis said. “The Army feels this is the right decision as we move forward with our transformation to a lighter, more mobile and lethal force for the future.”
Hiltibrand, in turn, insists that the berets serve as much more than just a hat.
“It’s a mentality - a brotherhood, a camaraderie, a spirit,” he said. “It’s a spirit of men that do a special mission. Pick another color, general.
“Black belongs to the Rangers.”
Ed Roncocan be reached at roncoedw@msu.edu.
