Wear and Appearance of Army Uniforms and Insignia

h. Subdued shoulder sleeve insignia, former wartime service (para 28–17c(2)).
i. Name and U.S. Army distinguishing tapes (paras 28–24a and 28–24b).
j. Organizational flash (para 28–31a).
k. Foreign badges are not authorized for wear on these uniforms.
3–5. Headgear
a. Beret.
(1) General. The beret is the basic headgear for utility uniforms in garrison environments. The beret is not worn in
the field, in training environments, or in environments where the wear of the beret is impractical, as determined by the
commander. Additionally, the beret is not worn on deployments unless authorized by the commander. Personnel being
transferred from one organization to another may continue to wear the beret and flash of the former unit until they
report for duty at the new organization.
Figure 3–4. Wear of the beret, male and female
(2) Wear. The beret is worn so that the headband (edge binding) is straight across the forehead, 1 inch above the
eyebrows. The flash is positioned over the left eye, and the excess material is draped over to the right ear, extending to
at least the top of the ear, and no lower than the middle of the ear. Personnel will cut off the ends of the adjusting
ribbon and secure the ribbon knot inside the edge binding at the back of the beret. When worn properly, the beret is
formed to the shape of the head; therefore, soldiers may not wear hairstyles that cause distortion of the beret. Paragraph
3–5c, below, addresses wear of headgear insignia. Figures 3–1 and 3–4 show wear of the beret. Soldiers wear berets as
indicated below:
(3) Black beret.
(a) Soldiers who are not assigned to units or positions authorized wear of the tan, green, or maroon berets will wear
the black beret. This includes senior and junior ROTC instructors, unless otherwise indicated below.
(b) Soldiers are issued the black beret upon assignment to their first permanent duty assignment after the completion
of initial entry training or officer/warrant officer basic courses. Cadets and officer/warrant officer candidates will not
wear the black beret. Split-option soldiers or soldiers in the simultaneous membership program will wear the black
beret only when performing duties with their units, and they will wear the patrol cap with the BDU, as described in
paragraph 3–5b below, when in a cadet or trainee status. Soldiers who have not been issued or who do not wear the
black beret will wear the patrol cap with the BDU, as indicated in paragraph 3–5b below. In those cases where beret
sustainment levels are not sufficient for turn-in and reissue of unserviceable berets, the commander can authorize the
temporary wear of the patrol cap until the beret can be replaced.
(c) The Army flash is the only flash authorized for wear on the black beret, unless authorization for another flash
was granted before the implementation of the black beret as the standard Army headgear (for example, Opposing
Forces (OPFOR) elements).
18 AR 670–1 3 February 2005