Military beret

Troops began wearing berets as a part of the headgear of military uniforms in some European countries during the 19th century; since the mid-20th century, they have become a component of the uniforms of many armed forces throughout the world. Military berets are usually pushed to the right to free the shoulder that bears the rifle on most soldiers, but the armies of some countries, mostly within Europe, South America, and Asia, have influenced the push to the left.

In many countries, berets have become associated with elite units, who often wear berets in specific colours. For instance, the maroon beret is mostly traditional headgear for airborne forces around the world, with a few exceptions—for example, the Russian Airborne Troops, who wear a sky-blue beret, and the Portuguese Paratroopers who wear a green beret.

History

The use of beret-like headgear as a civilian headdress dates back hundreds of years, an early example being the Scottish Blue Bonnet, which became a ''de facto'' symbol of Scottish Jacobite forces in the 16th and 17th centuries. Berets themselves were first used as a military headdress in the 1830s during the First Carlist War in Spain, where they were said to have been imported from the South of France by Liberal forces, but were made famous by the opposing General Tomás de Zumalacárregui, who sported a white or red beret with a long tassel, which came to be an emblem of the Carlist cause.

The French Chasseurs alpins, created in the early 1880s, were the first regular unit to wear the military beret as a standard headgear. These mountain troops were issued with a uniform which included several features which were innovative for the time, notably the large and floppy blue beret which they still retain. This was so unfamiliar a fashion outside France that it had to be described in the ''Encyclopædia Britannica'' of 1911 as "a soft cap or tam o'shanter".

Berets have features that make them attractive to the military; they are cheap, easy to make in large numbers, can be manufactured in a wide range of colors encouraging ''esprit de corps'', can be rolled up and stuffed into a pocket or beneath the shirt epaulette without damage, and can be worn with headphones.

The beret was found particularly practical as a uniform for armored vehicle crews; the British Royal Tank Regiment adopted a black beret which would not show oil stains and was officially approved in 1924. German '' Panzertruppen'' also adopted a black beret or ''Schutzmütze'' in 1934, which included a rubber skull cap as head protection inside.

The wearing of berets of distinctive colors by elite special forces originated with the British Parachute Regiment, whose maroon beret was officially approved in July 1942, followed by the Commando Forces whose green beret was approved in October of that year. The United States Army Special Forces adopted a darker green beret in 1955, although it was not officially approved until 1961.

By country

A

Afghanistan

Most berets were used by senior enlisted personnel and officers.

Algeria

Light green berets are used by para-commando units.

Angola

In the Angola Armed Forces, the following berets are in use:

Argentina

Berets are worn by some units in the Argentine Armed Forces, with distinctive colors for some units or functions. The beret colours are as follows:

Armenia

The Armed Forces continue to wear Soviet-style (pieced fabric) berets, which are draped to the right in most circumstances. When appearing in public on parade, the berets are draped to the left side so that the insignia shows to observing dignitaries and the public.
* Light blue - Airborne Forces, Peacekeeping Forces
* Black - Police Troops
* Wine red - Police Special Troops
* Bright Green - Border Guards

Australia

In all service branches, the beret is "bashed" to the right and a badge or insignia is worn above the left eye. In the army, all units can wear them with certain units wearing unique ones. In the navy, the beret is an optional item and in the air force, it is only worn by certain units.

Austria

The Austrian coat of arms is worn on the left side of the beret (officers in gold, NCOs in silver, enlisted personnel as well as conscripts in dark grey). An exception are members of the special forces (): after successfully completing the Basic Special Forces Course (), they wear the Special Forces Badge () instead of the coat of arms on their berets.

Azerbaijan

B

Bahrain

*Black - Royal Bahraini Army and Royal Bahraini Naval Force
*Blue - Royal Bahraini Air Force
*Red - Military Police
*Tan - Special Forces
*Green - Royal Guard
*Olive Green - National Guard
*Maroon - Public Security Forces
*Dark Blue - Coast Guard
*Dark Green- Harasat

Bangladesh

Belgium

Initially, the only unit of the Belgian military to wear berets were the from the 1930s. Since World War II they have been adopted by all units. Berets vary in colour according to the regiment, and carry a badge (sometimes on a coloured shield-shaped patch) which is of gilt for officers, silver for non-commissioned officers and bronze for other ranks. Members of cavalry units all wear silver-coloured badges.

Benin

Bolivia

Berets in Bolivian Army:
*Black — Paratroopers
*Maroon — Armoured Corps
*Green — Special Operations Forces, ''Commandos''
* Camouflage — Special Forces "''Bolivian Condors''"
*Tan — Mountain Infantry (''Satinadores de Montaña'')
* Blue — Engineer units
Berets in Bolivian Air Force:
* Royal Blue - Air Force Infantry personnel

Brazil

Bulgaria

Berets have been worn by Bulgarian military personnel since 1991. Berets vary in colour according to the military branch, and carry a crest pin (sometimes on a coloured background patch) resembling the unit's insignia.

* Red — Bulgarian Land Forces and the counter-terrorism police detachment SOBT
* Light blue — Bulgarian Air Force and the 68th Special Forces Brigade
* Black — Bulgarian Navy SOF and the Gendarmerie
* Green — Military police

C

Cambodia

*Dark red - 911 Special Forces Regiment
*Royal Purple - Military Police

Cameroon

* ''Bataillon des Troupes Aéroportées'' (Airborne Battalion) - dark red/maroon
* ''Bataillon Spécial Amphibie'' (Special Amphibious Battalion) - Dark green
* ''Bataillon d'Intervention Rapide'' (Rapid Intervention Battalion) - light green
* ''Fusiliers de l'Air'' (Air Force Infantry) - royal blue
* ''Fusiliers Marins'' (Marine Infantry) - black
* ''Garde Presidentielle'' (Presidential Guard) - royal purple
*" All others army units - Navy Blue
*" Gendarmerie (military Police) - Red

Canada

The colour of the beret is determined by the wearer's environment, branch, or mission. The beret colours listed below are the current standard:

Chile

Berets in Chilean Army:
* Black — Special Operations Brigade "Lautaro" (Commandos, Paratroopers and Special Combatants)
* Maroon — Armoured Cavalry
* Green — Mountain troops
* Olive green — Aviation Brigade

Berets in Chilean Navy:
* Black — Combat Divers, combat crews and Maritime Boarding and Police operatives
* Green — Marine special forces

Berets in Chilean Air Force:
* Dark blue — Parachuting demonstration group ''Boinas Azules'' and Ground troops
* Black — Special forces

China

Since May 5, 2000, the People's Liberation Army has adopted woolen berets for all its personnel, along with the traditional peaked caps.
Type 99 beret
*Olive green — Ground Forces and Strategic Forces
*Dark blue — Navy
*Black - Marine corps
* Blue-grey — Air Force (including Airborne troops)
Berets were not officially adopted by the CAPF, but some of the forces issued their own types
NOT OFFICIAL:
*Red—CAPF Provincial Women Special Police Corps
*Dark blue—Public Security Police SWAT

During the 80s, camo berets were issued to some of the recon forces of PLA. It has no badge on it.

Type 07 uniform is being issued to both PLA and CAPF on August 1, 2007.
Colours of 07 berets are changed to the same colours with the service uniform. And several changes in designs were made from type 99 beret. The berets were not being issued until summer of 2009 to most of the troops.

Other than colours of the berets, the most significant difference between type 99 and type 07 is the type 99 beret badge is cloth, while type 07 is plastic.

Colombia

Berets are worn by all personnel of the National Army of Colombia (''Ejército''), certain members of the Navy (''Armada'') and National Police (''Policía Nacional''), with distinctive colors for some units or functions. The beret colors are:

Croatia

In the Croatian Army berets are used in special forces and guard brigades, as well as in cadet battalion.

During Croatian War of Independence, Croatian Army consisted of seven professional brigades—guard brigades, each having its beret colour. During the army reforms number of guard brigades was cut to two, but the battalions kept the names and insignia (colour of beret also) of ex brigades.

Joint staff:
*Green with golden cap badge — Joint staff
*Red — presidential guard on their battledress uniforms
*Green (badge on the right) — Special Operations Battalion
*Black — Military police

Guard brigades:
*Armored Mechanized Guard Brigade
**Black — 1st Mechanized Battalion "Sokolovi"
**Brown — 2nd Mechanized Battalion "Pume"
**Black — Tank Battalion "Kune"
*Motorized Guard Brigade
**Black — 1st Mechanized Battalion "Tigrovi"
**Green — 2nd Mechanized Battalion "Gromovi"
**Black — 1st Motorized Battalion "Vukovi"
**Red — 2nd Motorized Battalion "Pauci"

Black beret is also used in Cadet battalion.
Also dark blue beret is used in Croatian Navy.

Cuba

In the Cuban Revolutionary Armed Forces, the following berets are in use:

Czech Republic

The Armed Forces of the Czech Republic use berets for both battledress and display uniform. The colour of the beret is defined by the branch of the armed forces. The beret displays the state coat of arms with two swords crossed underneath and the badge of rank of the individual.

D

Denmark

The Royal Danish Army first introduced the black berets for its armour personnel in 1958. In 1968 it was extended to the whole army, Homeguard and parts of the Navy and Airforce, replacing the standard issue Side cap.
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E

Ecuador

Berets are worn by all personnel of the Ecuadorian Army (''Ejército'') and certain members of the Navy (''Armada'') and Air Force (''Fuerza Aérea''), with distinctive colours for some units or functions. The beret colours are:

Egypt

* Maroon — Paratroopers
* Forest green — Armour
* Dark blue — Infantry
* Dark blue with red band — Presidential Guard
* Black — Artillery
* Red — Military Police
* Green — Engineers

Eritrea

All personnel of the EDF or Eritrean Defense Forces wear Berets.

* Red — Air Force Units
* Green — Army Units
* Blue — Naval Units
* Purple — Border Guard

Estonia

All personnel in the Estonian Military used to wear Berets in the beginning on 90's. In 2013, berets were reinstated.

*Green — Ground Forces
*Black — Armoured Corps, Naval Units
*Slate — Air Force
*Red — Military police
*White - Military Bands Service when not in parade dress uniform

F

Finland

The Finnish Defence Force uses berets with cap badges for the Army, Navy and the Air Force. The berets are worn in "clean" garrison duties such as roll calls and with the walking-out uniform, but not with the battle dress. Until the mid-1990s, the beret was reserved for troops with special status, such as the armoured troops, coastal jägers and the airborne jägers, but is nowadays used by all units. In winter, berets are replaced by winter headgear.

Berets are also used by the Finnish Border Guard, which is a military organization under the aegis of the Ministry of Interior during peacetime.

* Brown (Badge: golden bear's head, sword and fir tree twig) — Special Border Jägers
* Olive (Badge: golden bear's head, sword and fir tree twig) — Border Jägers
* Olive (Badge: silver lion's head) — Army
* Olive (Badge: golden lion's head with crown) — Finnish Rapid Deployment Force and Army units abroad (other than UN peace keepers)
* UN Blue (Badge: UN white and blue embroidered patch) — UN peace keepers
* Black (Badge: silver Gothic helmet) — Armoured Brigade
* Burgundy (Badge: arrow and parachute) — Airborne Jägers of the Utti Jäger Regiment
* Royal Blue (Badge: silver griffin) — Army helicopter pilots
* Royal Blue (Badge: silver Air Force insignia) — Air Force
* Royal Blue (Badge: golden harp with sword) — Military bands
* Navy Blue (Badge: silver anchor and golden lion) — Navy, including coastal troops, except for Coastal Jägers
* Dark Green (Badge: gold sea eagle's head) — Coastal Jägers

France

The military beret originated in the French Army, in the form of the wide and floppy headdress worn by the Chasseurs Alpins (mountain light infantry) from their foundation in the early 1880s.
The practical uses of the beret were soon recognised and the Marine Infantry forming part of the Expeditionary Force sent in China in 1900 used berets as headwear A tight-fitting version was subsequently adopted by French armoured troops towards the end of World War I. Between the wars, special fortress units raised to garrison the Maginot Line wore khaki berets as did the 13th Demi-Brigade of Foreign Legion when it was created in 1940. The Vichy Milice of the War period wore a blue beret.

The beret in blue, red or green was a distinction respectively of the Metropolitan, Colonial and Legion paratrooper units during the Indochina and Algerian wars. In 1962 the beret in either light khaki or the colours specified above became the standard French Army headdress for ordinary use.

With the exception of the '' Commandos Marine'' and the '' Fusiliers Marins'', whose berets are worn pulled to the right, all other French military berets (army, air force and Gendarmerie) are pulled to the left with the badge worn over the right eye or temple. Also the military forces of the countries that have historical, colonial, or cooperative ties with France such as Algeria, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Gabon, Lebanon, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Niger, Sénégal, Togo, Tunisia or have been trained by the French military wear their beret pulled left.

Gendarmerie personnel serving with the European Gendarmerie Force (EUROGENDFOR) an EU crisis response and intervention force wear the standard EUROGENDFOR royal blue beret and badge when so assigned.

G

Gabon

Berets in Gabonese Army:

* Dark red/''rouge''— Paratroopers
* Light grey — Armoured troops
* Green — Republican Guard
* Green — Commandos Marine
* Dark red — Army Medical Corps
* Dark blue — other Army units

Germany

The German '' Heer'' uses berets with different badges for every branch of service. The ''Luftwaffe'' and the ''Marine'' issue dark blue berets only to their ground or land combat units (called ''Luftwaffensicherungstruppe'' and ''Marineschutzkräfte'') respectively. Berets are usually worn at special ceremonies and roll calls, although units with a special ''esprit de corps'', especially armoured and mechanized infantry (''Panzergrenadiere'') battalions, wear their berets all the time. German berets are always pulled to the right, with the badge visible over the left temple.

Military bands wear the beret colour of their respective division (e.g. black in the 1st Panzerdivision).

Ghana

The beret colours worn by the Ghana Army are as follows:
*Black — Armoured Corps, Artillery Corps
*Dark Green — Airborne Force (ABF)
*Red — Military Police
*Dark Blue — All other Arms and Corps

Greece

The beret colours worn by the Hellenic Army are as follows:
*Light blue — Presidential Guard
*Black — Armoured Corps
*Green — Special Forces (including Commandos, Marines and Parachute despatchers/riggers)
*Dark red/maroon — Army Aviation
*Bright red/scarlet — Airmobile troops
*Dark Blue — All other Arms and Corps when in 8a, 8b and 8c Service Dress.
*Red -71st Airmobile Brigade (PONDUS)
When in camouflage fatigues, the camouflaged cap is worn instead of the dark blue beret.
The beret colours worn by the Hellenic Air Force are:

* Blue-grey (same colours as RAF) — Air Force Underwater Operations Squadron
*Dark red/Maroon — Air Force Special Operations Squadron

Guatemala

*Black - Parachute Brigade (''Brigada Paracaidista'')
*Maroon - Kaibiles (Special Forces)

H

Hungary

History: the first beret-type cap (khaki colour, with black ribbon and "eagle" badge) was issued for Air Force enlisted personnel in 1930, but berets became popular in the 1970s, when reconnaissance troops (paratroopers) were issued with rifle green (or grass green) berets. Previously maroon beret was also experimented and even reversible (green to camo) "multi-purpose" berets were produced, but the standardization started on the 1975 military parade. In 1982 military secondary school students were issued with green berets too, while in 1987 River Force troopers received dark blue beret. After the collapse of the communism the beret as "mark of the elite trooper" received more and more popularity among soldiers. Light green (with border guard's badge) berets were issued for Border Guard reaction forces between 1990 and 2007. The berets of Hungarian forces were made first in "eastern-european style" (like worn by most Warsaw Pact armies), sewn together from 4 pieces. After 1993 "western style" one-piece berets were adopted.

Berets currently in Hungarian military:
*Black (with tank troops' badge) — Armoured Units
*Black (with - battalion number - numbered oak leaf badge) — Territorial Voluntary Reserve Forces
*Black (with anchor badge) — River Forces
*Scarlet red (with MP badge) — Military Police
*Scarlet red (with artillery or AA badge) — Artillery, Anti-Aircraft Artillery
*Rifle green (with paratroops badge) — Paratroopers, Long-range recons, Field recons
*Rifle green (with engineer's badge) — Engineers
*Rifle green (with infantry badge) — Infantry (only in foreign missions)
*Dark brown (with infantry badge) — Guard Battalion Special Team (only in the 2000s, discontinued)
*Tan (with special operation's badge) — 2nd "Vitéz Bertalan Árpád" Special Operations Brigade
*Maroon (carmine red) (with LC badge) - Logistic Corps (issued in 2020)

Except these, mission-type berets were/are used in international peacekeeping missions (UN blue, EBECS yellow, MFO brick red etc.) worn. Beside the official versions different unofficial beret types, colours and badges are worn, for example Dark Blue berets by Signal Corps cadets etc.

I

Iceland

Icelandic armed services commonly use berets.

India

The beret is the standard headgear for the Various forces of Indian Armed Forces. Berets are worn by officers and Other ranks, apart from Sikhs, who wear turbans. The beret colours worn by the Indian Army are as follows:

*Light Green (shades vary considerably) — Infantry regiments and Directorate of Military Intelligence (India)
*Dark (rifle) green — Rifle Regiments, some Light Infantry regiments (including the Mechanised Infantry Regiment), Assam Rifles, Commando Battalion for Resolute Action, and National Cadet Corps (India)
*Maroon — The Parachute Regiment, Para (Special Forces), Special Frontier Force, Garud Commando Force, MARCOS, Special Group
*Black — Indian Army Armoured Corps, Border Security Force, National Security Guards, Indian Navy, Indian Coast Guard and Military Nursing Service
*Bluish Grey — Army Aviation Corps, Cadets of Training Academies of Army and Indian Air Force NC(e)
*Scarlet — Corps of Military Police (India), Naval Police and Air Force Police
*Navy blue — Regiment of Artillery, Indian Army Corps of Engineers, Indian Army Corps of Signals, Corps of Army Air Defence (India), All Service arms of Indian Army, Defence Security Corps, Indo-Tibetan Border Police, Central Industrial Security Force, Central Reserve Police Force, Sashastra Seema Bal and Railway Protection Force
*Sand — Border Road Organisation
*Dark Blue — National Disaster Response Force
*Light Blue — All personnel serving with the United Nations forces irrespective of unit, arm or service

Indonesia

The beret is the standard headgear of armed forces and police personnel in Indonesia. It is also worn by paramilitary and other uniformed services in the country such as the Fire Brigade, Search and Rescue, Scouts, civil militias (such as ''Banser'') and civil paramilitary organizations. In the Military Services (Army, Navy and Air Force), the berets are dragged to the right (the insignia are worn on the left side), while in the Indonesian National Police force and Military Police Corps, the berets are dragged to the left (the insignia are worn on the right side). Both having its own meaning, dragged to the right meaning "ready for combat and defense" and dragged to the left meaning "ready for law enforcement and order".
Military and Police services according to their beret colours which represent different units within the force are as shown below:
*Indonesian Army (TNI AD)
**Green - Army HQ, Territorial Army, regular Infantry, and Army staff
** Red - Army Special Forces Command ("Kopassus") including Para-Commandos
**Dark Green - Raider Infantry air-mobile units, Mechanized Infantry
**Green - Strategic Reserve Command Corps ("Kostrad") which itself includes infantry brigades, Airborne/Para brigades, reconnaissance platoons, cavalry and artillery battalions.
**Black - Cavalry and Armored Cavalry (Tank) Corps
**Brown - Field Artillery Corps and Air Defense Artillery Corps
**Green - Corps of Engineers (Previously Steel Grey)
**Red Maroon- Army Aviation Corps (Previously Maroon/Brick Red later switched to Green for 11 years and switched back to Red Maroon)
**Green- Signal Corps (Previously Khaki)
**Green - Logistics and Transportation Corps (Previously Dark Blue)
* Indonesian Navy (TNI AL)
**Navy Blue - Standard berets for the Navy, worn by all personnel such as Naval seamen and naval sailors in duty of ships' company, or on the Naval bases.
**Black - Submarine Forces
**Dark Blue - Naval Aviation, Underwater Rescue Service, Naval Hydro-Oceanography Center
**Reddish Purple (Magenta) - Marine Corps and Joint naval special forces ( Jala Mengkara Detachment)
**Maroon - Frogman Command
* Indonesian Air Force (TNI AU)
**Dark Blue - Standard berets for the Air Force, with Air Force insignia worn by Airmen and Air Force staff.
**Orange - Air Force Infantry Quick Reaction Forces Command (Kopasgat).
*Inter-services
**Black - All personnel in Armed Forces/TNI HQ
**Light Blue (beret dragged to the left) - Military Police personnel from all branches (Army, Navy, Air Force)
**Light Blue - All personnel attached in United Nations' Peace Keeping Force ( Garuda Contingent), and the Presidential Security Force (Paspampres)
**Red - Special Operations Command
**Dark Brown - Cadets and midshipmen of the Indonesian Military, Naval, and Air Force Academies
**Light Brown - Armed Forces Reserve Component (since 2022)

*Indonesian National Police (paramilitary, not part of the armed forces / TNI), all Police berets are dragged to the left unless noted
**Dark Blue - Mobile Brigade Corps (Brimob)
**Dark Brown - Patrol Units (Sabhara), Canine Units, Music, Security Services
**Ultramarine - Water and Aerial Units
**Light Blue - Internal Affairs and Provost, U.N. Police with U.N. beret which dragged to the right
**Maroon - Cadets of the Indonesian Police Academy
*Non-military
**Dark Brown - Scouts
**Light Brown - Ministry of Defence employees and Armed Forces Civil Servants (PNS), beret dragged to the left
**Purple - College Students Regiment

Iran

* Dark Blue - Iranian Marines
* Black - Iranian Army Airborne Forces, IRGC Commandos, and Police
* Green - Iranian Army Special Forces (Rangers), Iranian Marines Special Forces, IRGC Special Forces
* Tan - Iranian Army Commandos
* Scarlet - Iranian Army Armored Crew personnel

Iraq

The beret color system used for the different branches of the Iraqi military and security forces changed after the fall of Saddam Hussein.
Beret colors currently (and formerly) worn by Iraqi forces are as follows:
* Maroon — Army (formerly Special Republican Guards, Paratroops and/or Special Forces)
* Khaki (olive green) — no longer used (formerly Logistics and Transport personnel)
* Green — Special Forces (formerly Commandos and Thunder Paratroops)
* Bright Red — Military Police
* Black — Police (formerly Republican Guards and regular Army)
* Blue — Air Force
* Dark Blue - Iraqi Navy
* Blue-Grey - no longer worn (formerly Iraqi Air Force)

Ireland

All Army personnel wear a common capbadge, a sunburst insignia with the letters "FF" inscribed above the left eye of the beret. The Irish Defence Forces cap badge for Officers in the Army has a more subdued appearance.
Air Corps and Naval Service personnel wear their own cap badge on berets.

The beret colours worn by the ''Irish Defence Forces'' are as follows:

The beret colours worn by the ''Reserve Defence Forces'' are as follows:

Israel

Israeli Defense Forces soldiers wear berets only on formal occasions, such as ceremonies and roll calls, and in disciplinary situations such as courts martial and imprisonments. While they are not attending formal occasions, they must place the beret beneath the left epaulette. The Border Police, which are a unit of the civil police rather than the military IDF, wear their berets at most times. The beret colors are as follows:

Italy

Italian Army personnel used to wear a garrison cap alongside the combination cap, until the early 1970s when the garrison cap was replaced by the beret. Until the early 1980s the general Army colour for the beret was drab khaki, the black being reserved to armoured units. The colours presently used by the Italian Army are as follows:

* Maroon — Paratroopers, Folgore Airborne Brigade;
* Light blue — Army Aviation, 66th Airmobile Infantry Regiment
* Black — all other Army units (the Bersaglieri light infantry have royal blue beret strings, instead of black ones like the rest of the Italian Military)
* Green — The Lagunari Serenissima amphibious infantry Regiment received 'Lagoon green' berets in 2011 after service in Afghanistan
* Green Asparagus — Army Incursori Special Operations Forces

The Italian Navy uses the following berets:

* Green — Navy Commando frogmen Operational Raider Group (COMSUBIN GOI)
* Medium blue - Navy Rescue frogmen Operational Divers Group (COMSUBIN GOS)
* Navy blue - San Marco Marine Brigade of the Italian Navy
* Orange - Units part of the Multinational Force and Observers mission in Sinai

The Italian Air Force uses the following berets:

* Teal blue — Air Force guards
* Tan — Air Force Incursori ( RIAM)

Other Italian services that use berets:

* Maroon — Carabinieri Tuscania Airborne Regiment; Police di Stato Parachute units (Display Team and NOCS)
* Green — Guardia di Finanza ( GICO); Corpo Forestale dello Stato
* Light blue — Prison Police
* Dark blue - Carabinieri (MP units)
* Red — Carabinieri Cacciatori Hunter units
* Grey — Guardia di Finanza
* Blue — Polizia di Stato

J

Japan

All members in the Ground Self-Defense Force are authorized to wear wool rifle green berets - referred to as the "ベレー帽" (ベレーボウ　or ''bereebou'') - as an optional head covering for dress, working and camouflage uniforms since 1992. However, it is normally considered a special dress item, worn for public relations events or parades. An embroidered goldwork cap badge representing the JGSDF logo identical to the one used on the service dress peaked cap is required by regulation to be affixed to the beret.

Jordan

The beret colours worn by the Jordanian Army are as follows:
*Brown - Infantry
*Maroon — Special Forces
*Black — Armoured Corps
*Green — Royal Guards
*Dark Blue - Artillery
*Sky-blue - Engineers
*Red — Military police
*Grey Blue - Air Force
*Dark Blue - Navy

K

Kazakhstan

*Light Blue - Paratroops
*Maroon - National Guard - Internal security
*Orange - Emergency Rescue Units
*Navy Blue - Navy Units

Kenya

The beret colours worn by the Kenya Armed Forces are as follows:

* Black — Armoured Corps
* Green — Airborne Battalion
* Red — Military police
* Dark Blue - All other Arms and Corps including naval service
* Blue Grey - Air Force

Kuwait

* Green: Kuwait National Guard
* Olive Green: National Guard Training Institute
* Commando Green: 25th Commandos Brigade
* Black: Army Ground Forces and Navy Forces
* Police Black: Ministry of Interior and National Assembly Guard
* Fire Black: Fire Force and Logistics Support
* Dark Blue: General Fire Department (''Former'')
* Red: Military Police
* Maroon: Amiri Guard Authority
* Commando Maroon: 67th Special Operations Battalion
* Blue: Aviation
* Air force Blue: Air Force
* Light Blue: Fire Force Prevention Sector
* Commando Blue: Special Forces
* Khaki Tan: Military College

L

Latvia

The beret colours worn by the Latvian Army are as follows:
*Olive-green — Special Tasks Unit
*Red — Military police
*Black - National Guard, Navy
*Tan - Mechanized infantry brigade (army) from 18.11.2018
*Blue - Air Force

Lebanon

All units, in the Lebanese Armed Forces wear berets when not in combat mode (Helmet), training camp (cap) or formal uniform (formal hat).

The Lebanese Army, unlike most militaries, wears the beret slanted (pulled down) on the left side as the Army emblem is positioned to the right aligned with the right eyebrow.

* Green - The Intervention Regiments (SF)(6 Regiments)
* Brown - Airborne Regiment (SF) (Al Moujawkal)
* Red - Military Police
* Black - All 11 army Brigades.
* Maroon beret - Rangers Regiment ''Fawj al-Maghaweer'' (SF), Marine Commandos ''Maghāwīr al Baħr'' (SF)
* Dark Blue — The Mobile Gendarmerie Unit in the Lebanese Internal Security Forces
* Tan - The reconnaissance and intervention unit in the Lebanese General Security (al Rassed wal Tadakhol)

Lithuania

* Maroon — National Defence Volunteer Forces
* Scarlet — Military Police
* Green — All other forces excluding the Air Force and the Navy
* Grey — (SOP- Specialiųjų operacijų pajėgos) SOF- Special operations force
* Black — Engineers
* Dark Blue - Anti Aircraft forces

M

Malaysia

The beret is the headgear of ground forces, air aviations and special forces in the Malaysian Armed Forces. The colours presently used are:

Maldives

The beret colours worn by the Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF) are as follows:
* Maroon — Special Forces
* Red — Military Police
* Green — Marines and other support units
* Black — Parade Beret for Coast Guard

Mali

The beret colours worn by the Malian Armed Forces are as follows:
* Red — Paratroopers.
* Brown — National Guard.
* Green — Infantry and other army units.
* Dark blue — Air Force
* Blue - Police

Mexico

In the Mexican Army, the beret is worn by:
* Green - Special Forces
* Maroon — Paratroopers (formerly purple, circa 1980s)
* Black — Presidential Guards Corps
* Steel Grey — Armor
* Brown - Airmobile Units

In the Mexican Navy:
* Black — Paratroopers, Navy Special Forces.

Armed Forces wide, the blue beret with the UN arms is used by peacekeeping forces beginning in 2015–16, when Mexico sent armed forces personnel to UN peacekeeping operations.

Mongolia

In 2002, new army uniforms were introduced to the Mongolian armed forces and along with new uniform design, dark green berets were issued to all personnel. According to the rules, all military berets are pushed to the right and displays a "Soyombo" symbol in middle of golden oak leaves in the right side.

Berets are worn by Mongolian Police since 1994. Police berets are different from the army beret in color and in shape, while it is pushed to the left while army berets are pushed to the right.

* Dark green - All branches of Armed forces
* Red - Internal troops.
* Dark blue - National emergency troops (rescuers)
* Black - Police unit (pushed to the left)
* Light blue - UN peacekeepers (pushed to the right)

Morocco

The Moroccan military Uniform is inspired from the French Uniform, the berets are usually pulled to the left with the badge worn over the right eye or temple.

*Lime Green - Armed Forces (Les Forces armees royales), including Paratroopers
*Red - Royal Guard (La garde royale)
*Blue - Royal Moroccan air force
*Dark BLue - The Air Force and Security Forces
*UN Blue - Moroccan-United Nations troops Personnel serving with the United Nations on international peacekeeping missions
*Brown - Moroccan Auxiliary troops

Mozambique

Presently, the following berets are in use by the Defense Armed Forces of Mozambique:
*Brown — Army general use
*Red — Commandos
*Olive Green - ''Forcas Especiais'' (Special Forces)
*Navy blue — ''Fuzileiros'' (Marines)

N

Namibia

Nepal

* Deep Green: Nepalese Army
* Maroon: Nepal Police
* Grey: Armed Police Force

Netherlands

When the Royal Netherlands Armed Forces acquired new modernised uniforms (designed by the Dutch couturier Frans Molenaar) in 2000, the berets changed as well. Since 2004, soldiers of the Royal Netherlands Army have worn a petrol (blue-green) beret, whereas previously they wore brown.

The following colours are also used (before and after the modernisation):

Navy:
* Dark navy blue with a bronze metal crown & anchor on a red flash — Royal Netherlands Marine Corps
* Dark navy blue with a gold color metal anchor on a black flash — Royal Netherlands Navy
* Dark navy blue with a silver color metal anchor on a Blue flash — (Civilian base security for the Royal Netherlands Navy)
Army:
* Green (The Green Beret) — Commandos of the ''Korps Commandotroepen''
* Maroon (The Red Beret) — Airmobile troops of the 11 Air Manoeuvre Brigade "11 Luchtmobiele Brigade" (Air Assault)
* Black — Armour and Cavalry
* Petrol (blue-green) — Royal Netherlands Army
Note: The only Dutch military unit that do not wear a beret are the ''Gele Rijders'' (Horse Artillery), who wear a blue garrison cap with yellow trimming.

Air Force:
* Grey-blue — Royal Netherlands Air Force

Military Police:
* Bright blue — with emblem '' Koninklijke Marechaussee'' (Royal Gendarmerie)
Other:
* UN blue — All military members of the United Nations
* Brick red — All military members of the Multinational Force and Observers
* Dark blue — 1(GE/NL)Corps (Eerste Duits-Nederlandse Legerkorps)

All regiments and services have their own distinctive colours. There are quite a lot, but the number of colours in the logistic services was reduced in 2001. This colour is shown in a patch of cloth behind the beret flash. The intendance (maroon), transport troops (blue), military administration (pink; hence the nickname 'Pink Mafia'), technical service (black), and medical troops and service (green) lost their colours and all now wear yellow patches. In 2010, the technical service and medical troops and services recovered their colors. The intendance and transport troops merched into one regiment with new colours (maroon with blue border) and the administration got the crimson color.

*Infantry — Red, except:
**Grenadier Guards — Red with blue border
**Rifle Guards — Green with yellow border
**Fusilier Guards — Orange with blue border
**Regiment van Heutsz — Black with orange border
**Limburg Rifles Regiment — Green with maroon border
*Korps Commandotroepen — Black with dark green border
*Cavalry (Armour) — Blue with white, red or orange border
*Cavalry (Reconnaissance) — Blue with black border
*Artillery — Black with red border
*Engineers — Brown
*Signals — Blue with white border
*Logistics — Yellow (obsolete since 2010)
*Legal Affairs — Black with white border
*Psychological and Sociological Service — Red
*Protestant Chaplains — Black
*Catholic Chaplains — Blue
*Jewish Chaplains — Black
*Humanist Society Chaplains — Bright green
*Hindu Chaplains — Bright blue
*Troops in Initial Training — Red
*Royal Military Academy Cadets — Red with yellow border
*Physical Training Instructors — Blue
*Technical Staff — Maroon

New Zealand

Royal New Zealand Navy -

*Dark blue - Military police
*Dark blue/black - All other branches

New Zealand Army -

Pre 2002 beret colours -

*Khaki - Royal Regiment of New Zealand Artillery
*Green - Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment
*Jet black - Royal New Zealand Armoured Corps
*Royal blue - Royal New Zealand Military Police
*Red - Regular Force Cadet School
*Rifle green - Royal New Zealand Corps of Signals
*Grey - Royal New Zealand Nursing Corps
*Cypress green - New Zealand Intelligence Corps
*Sand or 'ecru' - New Zealand Special Air Service
*Dark blue - All other corps

Post 2002 beret colours -

*Sand or 'ecru' - New Zealand Special Air Service
*Dark blue - Royal New Zealand Military Police
*Rifle green - All other corps

Royal New Zealand Air Force -

The RNZAF does not currently wear berets except for;

*Dark blue - Military police

Nicaragua

The Nicaraguan Armed Forces wear berets in the following colours:

Berets in Nicaraguan Army:
* Green — Special Forces (COE)
* Black - Generals of Staff's Protection VIP
Berets in Nicaraguan Navy:
* Dark Blue — Special Naval Forces

Nigeria

* Dark Green — infantry soldier
* light red. - Military Police
* Dark red. - medical
* Dark blue. - Artillery
* black .- engineering
* white. - provost

Norway

The Norwegian armed forces use the beret as a garrison cap, but some units (mostly armored vehicle personnel) also use it in the field. The Norwegian beret and all other headwear except those of the Navy and His Majesty The King's Guard always have the current king's cipher as a badge in gold (most of the army) or silver (the air force); currently this is a numeral ''5'' inside an ''H'', for "Harald V". The navy has a crowned gold anchor for their enlisted personnel, a crowned gold anchor surrounded by a circle of rope for their petty officers, and a crowned golden anchor surrounded by leaved branches for officers. The colours used are:
* Royal blue — Brigade Nord (except cavalry troops, intelligence troops and military police)
* Umbra green — Border Guards
* Black — Cavalry, armoured battalion and KESK
* Khaki — Norwegian Army 2nd Battalion
* Emerald green — Telemark Battalion
* Maroon — Army Ranger Command
* Red — Military police
* Olive green — formerly used by other army units & Home Guard
* Grey — Home Guard
* Olive green with silver badge — recruits in His Majesty's The Kings Guards; Krigsskolen
* Dark blue — Royal Norwegian Navy
* Air force blue — Royal Norwegian Air Force Base Defence Units
* Air force light blue — Royal Norwegian Air Force Air Defence Artillery Units

The special operations units of the Navy wear the same berets as the rest of the navy. However they have a coloured patch behind the cap badge, the colour of which determines the unit:

* Green — Marinejegerkommandoen
* Blue — Minedykkerkommandoen
* Maroon — Kystjegerkommandoen
* Red - Military Police

O

Oman

The Royal Omani Armed Forces wears the beret as its standard headgear. Each color divisions are as follows:

P

Pakistan

* Rifle green — Frontier Force Regiment, Defence Services Guards
*Rifle green with cherry color patch behind the badge - Baloch Regiment
*Green with Green Plume — Punjab Regiment
*Cherry Pink with a red feather hackle — Sindh Regiment
*Green with red patch behind badge — Azad Kashmir Regiment
*Chitrali Style with White Feather — Northern Light Infantry
*Black — Regiments of Armored Corps
*Dark Blue — Regiment of Artillery, Corps of Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, Corps of Signals
*Maroon — Army Air Defence, Army Aviation Corps
*Light Blue — Pakistan Army Corps of Engineers, Army Services Corps
*Red — Pakistan Army Medical Corps, Military Police
*Dark Maroon - Special Service Group (SSG)
*Green with Red Plume - Pakistan Military Academy Cadets
*Dark Blue - Worn by the General Staff officers (rank of Colonel and above) irrespective of their Regimental association.

Paraguay

The Paraguayan Armed Forces wear berets in the following colours:

Berets in Paraguayan Army:
* Green — Paratroopers
* Dark Blue - Presidential Guard
Berets in Paraguayan Navy:
* Camouflage — Special Naval Forces
Berets in Paraguayan Air Force:
* Red - Air Force Infantry and Airborne personnel

Panama

Berets were widely worn by many units in the Panama Defense Forces (PDF) under Manuel Noriega. The PDF was abolished in February 1990, and with it all of the old military units stood down. Unique beret insignia were never approved, so units authorized to wear berets wore a combination of the approved shoulder insignia, as well as rank and qualification insignia (e.g. parachutist wings) on the berets. The following were being worn at the time of the 1989 invasion:
* Black - 7th Infantry Company "Macho de Monte"; ''Comando Operacional de Fuerzas Expeciales'' (COFFEE - Special Forces Command)
* Maroon - Battalion 2000; 2nd Airborne Infantry Company "Puma"; 3rd Infantry Company "Diablo Rojo"
* Lime Green - 4th Infantry Company "Urraca"
* Camouflage - 7th Infantry Company "Macho de Monte"; ''Comando Operacional de Fuerzas Expeciales'' (Cadre)

Philippines

Poland

Black berets were introduced before World War II for tank and armoured car crews. During World War II, berets were widely adopted in the Polish Army on the Western Front, armored troops - black, airborne - grey, commando - green. After the war in the communist era, berets were worn only by armoured units (black), navy for field and work uniform (black), paratroopers (maroon), and marines (light blue). After 1990, the beret became the standard headgear in the Armed Forces of Republic of Poland. Around the year 2000 the design of the Polish Army Beret changed, the beret sewn together from three pieces of material with four air holes, two at each side was changed to a smaller beret molded from one piece of material with no air holes.
The following colours are in use:

Berets in other ministries:

The black beret is also the distinctive headgear of World War II veterans, particularly Armia Krajowa veterans.

The dress code of the Polish armed forces states than when not worn on the head or kept in a locker the beret should be placed under the left shoulder loop. This practice was discontinued due to introducing new field uniform (wz. 2010) with rank insignia placed on chest.

Portugal

The beret was first introduced in the Portuguese Armed Forces in 1956, when the Air Force Paratroopers adopted the green beret. The Portuguese Army adopted the brown beret for its ''Caçadores Especiais'' special forces in 1960, generalizing its wear to all units in 1962.

The following colors of berets were or are still worn by the Portuguese Military and Paramilitary forces:

File:Capt. Miguel Jorge KFOR Tactical Reserve Maneuver Battalion Liaison Officer Mobile Gun System Battalion, Deputy S3, Braga, - Portuguese Army Cavalry (black beret).jpg, Army black beret
File:Portuguese Army Special Operations ( Ranger ) Beret.jpg, Army Special Operations Troops ( Rangers ) moss/dry green beret
File:Comandos Portugal.jpg, Army Commandos red beret
File:Portuguese Army Paratrooper green beret.jpg, Army Paratroopers green beret
File:Portuguese Navy Marine dark blue beret.jpg, Navy Marines dark blue beret
File:Honor-guard.jpg, Air Force Police light blue beret

R

Rhodesia

Zimbabwe-Rhodesia made changes to the army in 1979 and shortly after Zimbabwe disbanded all the regiments Rhodesian Security Forces in favour of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces in 1979–1981.

Up to this point the Security Forces wore the beret as the primary working dress and service dress headgear. Like most countries formerly associated with the British Empire, Berets were coloured according to unit or service branch, with a distinctive regimental cap badge pinned above the left eye. The Rhodesian Security Forces were integrated into the new Zimbabwe Defence Forces in 1980.

Rhodesia introduced the brown beret as a new colour for specialist berets, for use of the Selous Scouts, which has since been used for specialist units in the Finnish and Brazilian forces, and with the New Zealand SAS

Rhodesian beret colours were as follows:

Like the United Kingdom, Rhodesia also used flashes and hackles behind cap badges on their berets, such as:
* The blue, yellow and red shield on the medical corps beret.
* The blue diamond flash on the military police beret
*The red outline of the Rhodesian Artillery beret
*The red tombstone of the Grey Scouts beret
*The red diamond hacking of the Rhodesian Regiment beret (similar to that of the KRRC)
*The Blue and Red hackle of the 4th Battalion Rhodesian Regiment Beret.

Romania

Russia

The Soviet Union's beret color scheme detailed below (e.g. for airborne troops and naval infantry) remained in effect in post-1991 Russia. In the late 1990s the Russian Ministry of Extreme Situations introduced orange berets for its own troops.

In the Soviet Union berets were sewn together from three pieces of material with four air holes, two at each side, worn with the service badge centered between the eyes and draped to the right in most circumstances. When appearing in public on parade, the berets were draped to the left side so that the insignia shows to observing dignitaries and the public.

In 2011 the Russian defence ministry authorised the wearing of berets by all non-naval military personnel as part of their field uniforms.

The current beret colour scheme is:

File:Russian paratroopers 106th VDD.JPG, Russian Paratroopers 106th VDD
File:27osn Den Pamyati.JPG, Olive and Red beret wearing National Guardsman on the Day of Remembrance
File:2018_Moscow_Victory_Day_Parade_43.jpg, National Guard troops wearing maroon berets in the 2018 Moscow Victory Day Parade
File:2018 Moscow Victory Day Parade 42.jpg, EMERCOM troops marching in the 2018 Moscow Victory Day Parade.

S

Saudi Arabia

Senegal

* Tan/sand - ''Bataillon de Parachutistes'' (Army Parachute Battalion)
* Brown - ''Bataillon de Commandos'' (Army Commando Battalion)
* Black - ''Detachment Forces Speciales'' (Special Forces Detachment)
* Orange - ''Groupement Mobil d'Intervention'' (Mobile Intervention Group)
* Blue - ''Legion de Gendarmerie d'Intervention'' (Gendarmerie Intervention Unit)
* Green - ''Compagnie Fusilier de Marine Comandos'' (COFUMACO)(Navy Marine Commandos)

Serbia

The Serbian Armed Forces are wearing berets as their standard headdress.

Singapore

The Singapore Armed Forces and Singapore Police Force have adopted the beret as their standard headdress. The different color divisions are as follows:

The berets are all adorned with the Singapore Armed Forces coat of arms, with the exception of the Air Force beret, Military Police beret, navy beret and police beret which are adorned with their respective cap-badge. Officers in the navy have a different cap-badge from the ratings. Officers of the rank of colonel and above have a different cap-badge.

*National Cadet Corps (Land)- Green
*National Cadet Corps (Air)- Blue
*National Cadet Corps (Sea)- Black
*National Police Cadet Corps- Dark Blue
*National Civil Defence Cadet Corps- Black

All berets have the National Cadet Corps, National Police Cadet Corps or National Civil Defence Cadet Corps crest on the front.

Slovakia

Slovenia

*Rifle Green - Special forces
*Green — Military Police
*Olive green - Signal units
*Black - Armour units
*Maroon - motorised infantry/Paratroopers
*Dark blue — Navy units
*Light blue — Air force
*Grey - Mountain units
*Sand - NBC units
*Red - Guard unit

Somalia

The Somali Armed Forces has the beret has the standard headgear since its inception in 1960. Each function within the security forces of Somalia has a unique colour.

South Africa

The South African National Defence Force wears the beret as its standard headgear. The different color divisions are as follows:

The berets are all adorned with the unit's insignia. Some of the traditional units wear other headgear - for example, the Cape Town Highlanders Regiment and the band of the South African Military Health Service.

Outside of Army, the South African Military Health Service wear light maroon berets. The South African Special Forces Brigade which is a separate entity, not part of the army, also wear the Maroon beret which is traditional for parachute units in the western world.

South Korea

Berets are worn by members of the Republic of Korea Army and some elite units of the South Korean Military, including:

*Black — Army Republic of Korea Army Special Warfare Command (with yellow backing), Reserve Officer Training Corps, KATUSA (Korean Augmentation to the United States Army)
*Dark Green — Army
*Dark Blue - Air Force Military Police
*Red — Air Force Combat Control Team (CCT)
*Maroon — Air Force Special Air Rescue Team (SART)
*Green — Marine Corps Force Reconnaissance, Marine Corps armoured units
*Grey — Navy UDT/SEAL Team ( Naval Special Warfare Flotilla)
*Camouflage — Army armoured units
*reddish brown - Army aviation
*UN Blue - United Nations peacekeepers

Other than these units, several secret commando units (mostly disbanded in the mid-1990s, among them the "Unit 684" which became infamous for its mutiny) formed to infiltrate North Korea during the Cold War days wore black berets and adorned them with the badges of individual units. Korean liaison soldiers serving in the U.S. Eighth Army

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