# Military Berets and Special Forces **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 13, 2004, 11:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-berets-and-special-forces/264233 "2004-09-13T11:28:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2004, 11:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-berets-and-special-forces/264233/1 "2004-09-13T11:28:05Z")
Do Rangers wear black berets? Are they the only ones to wear black berets? (I seem to remember some plan to extend the black berets to other forces a few years back.) Are Rangers considered “Special Forces”? What is the difference in the purpose of a Green Beret and a Ranger? Are Green Berets still called that? Are they more selective than Rangers? How hard is it to get into the Rangers? (This last one may be more of a matter of opinion.) ---
**Author:** ![mks57](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b9bd4f/32.png) [@mks57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mks57)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2004, 12:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-berets-and-special-forces/264233/2 "2004-09-13T12:15:35Z")
Black berets used to be exclusive to the Rangers, not anymore. The Rangers switched to a tan beret. Special Forces wore green berets and the 82nd Airborne wore maroon berets. I used to wear an OD green baseball cap. It worked for me. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2004, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-berets-and-special-forces/264233/3 "2004-09-13T13:40:23Z")
Berets I’ve seen: Army Rangers: formerly black(pre-2000), now tan Army Special Forces, aka “Green Berets”: dark green 82d Airborne: maroon Everyone else in the Army (after 2000): black (had it been up to me I would have done the opposite with the black/tan, but who am I to question the depths of wisdom in Gen. Shinseki’s mind?) light blue: UN peacekeeping dark blue: Air Force security troops in the past: orange: Sinai Peacekeeping ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2004, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-berets-and-special-forces/264233/4 "2004-09-13T15:29:25Z")
> [@Zoe](#): > > What is the difference in the purpose of a Green Beret and a Ranger? From [http://www.soc.mil](http://www.soc.mil) Special Forces - Special Forces units perform five doctrinal missions: Foreign Internal Defense, Unconventional Warfare, Special Reconnaissance, Direct Action and Counter-Terrorism. These missions make Special Forces unique in the U.S. military, because it is employed throughout the three stages of the operational continuum: peacetime, conflict and war. Rangers - The 75th Ranger Regiment, composed of three Ranger battalions, is the premier light-infantry unit of the United States Army. Headquartered at Fort Benning, Ga., the 75th Ranger Regiment’s mission is to plan and conduct special missions in support of U.S. policy and objectives… Basically, Special Forces train foreign troops, aid rebels, take part in unconvention warfare and so on. Basically the “Rambo” type secret missions you see in the movies. They operate in small “A-Teams” (yes like the A-Team) units of a dozen or so soldiers. Rangers are elite light infantry that do things like take airports, recon, and other special missions. They usually operate in large platoon, company or even battalion sized units as appropriate for their mission. ---
**Author:** ![Kilt-wearin\_man](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/82dd89/32.png) [@Kilt-wearin\_man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kilt-wearin_man)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2004, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-berets-and-special-forces/264233/5 "2004-09-13T15:57:50Z")
It should be pointed out that there is no unit or organization within the US military known as “the Green Berets”. A Green Beret is a piece of headgear. The soldier that wears it is a member of the US Army Special Forces. Calling that soldier a “Green Beret” is not an insult of any kind - it’s become an unofficial nickname - but it’s not 100% accurate, either. The Rangers are a component of Army Special Operations Command, on equal standing with Special Forces. As for how hard it is to get into the Rangers, that’s not a matter of opinion, it’s a matter of getting through the training. There’s also a list of [qualifications…](http://www.usarec.army.mil/hq/sfas/) ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2004, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-berets-and-special-forces/264233/6 "2004-09-13T18:44:31Z")
> [@](#): > > 82d Airborne: maroon Incorrect. Anyone in an Airbourne unit wears the maroon beret. There are Airbourne units that are not in the 82nd. The 173rd Airbourne BDE comes to mind. Up till about 10 years or so ago other divisions had Airbourne units within their force structure even though they were not Airbourne divisions. Not as common anymore. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2004, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-berets-and-special-forces/264233/7 "2004-09-13T19:29:33Z")
> [@Kilt-wearin' man](#): > > The Rangers are a component of Army Special Operations Command, on equal standing with Special Forces. Are they? I was under the impression that Rangers were not “Special Forces” per se like Navy SEALS or Army Special Forces but were infantry that was qualified for certain types of special operations and are rapidly deployable. ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2004, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-berets-and-special-forces/264233/8 "2004-09-14T01:18:57Z")
**msmith527** , judging from the other answers, I think that Rangers are _not_ considered “Special Forces.” But they are considered as equals. I’d better go read the links. Thanks, everybody! ---
**Author:** ![Kilt-wearin\_man](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/82dd89/32.png) [@Kilt-wearin\_man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kilt-wearin_man)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2004, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-berets-and-special-forces/264233/9 "2004-09-14T15:02:30Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > Are they? I was under the impression that Rangers were not “Special Forces” per se like Navy SEALS or Army Special Forces but were infantry that was qualified for certain types of special operations and are rapidly deployable. According to the [Special Operations Command’s website](http://www.soc.mil/), the 75th Ranger Regiment are a subordinate command under Special Operations Command, just like Special Forces Command. According to the [fact sheet:](http://www.soc.mil/75thrr/75th_home.htm) “…the 75th Ranger Regiment’s mission is to plan and conduct special missions in support of U.S. policy and objectives…” And then it goes into a lot of detail. You’re basically right about their mission, but in the organizational structure of the Army, they are under Special Operations Command. ---
**Author:** ![UncleBill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/d26b3c/32.png) [@UncleBill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBill)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2004, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-berets-and-special-forces/264233/10 "2004-09-14T17:08:12Z")
**Kilt-wearin’ man** , to be clear, this is the US Army Special Operations Command. If you move up the ladder to [US SOCOM](http://www.socom.mil/) at MacDill, this unit is over the Naval Special Warfare Command (SEALS), USA SOC like you linked to above, as well as the Air Force Special Operations Command and from what I have heard earlier, they have have absconded with some Marines lately, but they have have spit them back out to the Fleet Marine Force, I don’t know. ---
**Author:** ![Kilt-wearin\_man](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/82dd89/32.png) [@Kilt-wearin\_man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kilt-wearin_man)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2004, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-berets-and-special-forces/264233/11 "2004-09-14T17:31:33Z")
> [@UncleBill](#): > > **Kilt-wearin’ man** , to be clear, this is the US Army Special Operations Command. If you move up the ladder to [US SOCOM](http://www.socom.mil/) at MacDill, this unit is over the Naval Special Warfare Command (SEALS), USA SOC like you linked to above, as well as the Air Force Special Operations Command and from what I have heard earlier, they have have absconded with some Marines lately, but they have have spit them back out to the Fleet Marine Force, I don’t know. Yeah, I had forgotten that SOCOM had become a unified command. I am referring in my links and mad ramblings to US Army Special Operations Command, which is the organizational branch within the US Army which oversees both the Special Forces and the Rangers as well as a number of other organizations. SOCOM is up the chain of command from the Army’s Special Operations Command and none of my research extend outside the Army itself. ---
**Author:** ![wnorthr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ecccb3/32.png) [@wnorthr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wnorthr)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2004, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-berets-and-special-forces/264233/12 "2004-09-14T19:40:55Z")
Can I ask a question here? How many rangers are in the military vs special forces? An ex ranger told me there are fewer rangers but that doesn’t make sense to me. Sorry for the hijack. ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2004, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-berets-and-special-forces/264233/13 "2004-09-14T20:08:00Z")
Here is a good source of info about the Rangers- [http://www.ranger.org/](http://www.ranger.org/) And here as well- [http://www.grunts.net/army/rangers.html](http://www.grunts.net/army/rangers.html) And as far as the kind of man it takes to be a Ranger, check out the Ranger Creed in my sig. The best of the best, bar none. ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2004, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-berets-and-special-forces/264233/14 "2004-09-14T20:15:28Z")
Damn, sigs not there… Another site- [http://www.armyranger.com/](http://www.armyranger.com/) and I’ll try the sig again. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2004, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-berets-and-special-forces/264233/15 "2004-09-14T20:39:00Z")
> [@Kilt-wearin' man](#): > > According to the [Special Operations Command’s website](http://www.soc.mil/), the 75th Ranger Regiment are a subordinate command under Special Operations Command, just like Special Forces Command. According to the [fact sheet:](http://www.soc.mil/75thrr/75th_home.htm) I guess the question is what do we mean by “equal standing”. As you say, organizationally they are under the Special Operations Command along with 160th SOAR and other support units. There are also numerous Air Force, Navy and Marines special operations units [http://www.specialoperations.com/USMC/default.html](http://www.specialoperations.com/USMC/default.html) Strictly speaking, only Special Forces are Special Forces because the other special operations units are different units with different missions. I’m sure, internally, there is an understood “hierarchy” of badassness. ---
**Author:** ![UncleBill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/d26b3c/32.png) [@UncleBill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBill)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2004, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-berets-and-special-forces/264233/16 "2004-09-14T21:17:14Z")
In order of bad-ass-itude, or in decreasing order of my lack of desire to meet in a dark alley, are the following: **US Army** Delta Force Green Berets Rangers **US Navy** SEAL Team Six The other 5 SEAL Teams BUDS/UDT Special Boat Teams **US Marine Corps** Force Recon FAST Teams Recon Battalion Out of SEAL Team 6, Force Recon, and Delta, well, I am NOT getting into THAT argument over who is better. ---
**Author:** ![Clark\_K](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c77e96/32.png) [@Clark\_K](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clark_K)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2004, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-berets-and-special-forces/264233/17 "2004-09-15T05:02:22Z")
Doesn’t the Air Force have a pretty “bad-ass” unit devoted to rescuing downed pilots? I think they’re trained to fly in all conditions at basically zero altitude and then parachute or rappel down to the pilots. ---
**Author:** ![Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/cc9497/32.png) [@Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capt.Ridley_s_Shooting_Party)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2004, 9:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-berets-and-special-forces/264233/18 "2004-09-15T09:10:03Z")
Hijack: what’s the significance of the maroon beret and airbourne troops? The British parachute regiment and the US airborne regiment both seem to wear one. Is it just coincidence or what? ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2004, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-berets-and-special-forces/264233/19 "2004-09-15T17:34:30Z")
> [@Clark K](#): > > Doesn’t the Air Force have a pretty “bad-ass” unit devoted to rescuing downed pilots? I think they’re trained to fly in all conditions at basically zero altitude and then parachute or rappel down to the pilots. Yes, it’s called Para-Rescue. It is the special ops section of the Air Force, and they are indeed badasses. Para-Rescue actually tried to recruit my brother when he left the Ranger Regiment, but he wasn’t interested at the time. And **Uncle Bill** - my brother has been both a Ranger and a member of Special Forces, and Rangers still lead the way! 😉 He said that Ranger School trumped anything he’d ever gone through (as did the active duty assignments), although he is reserving judgement on SERE school until he gets there! ---
**Author:** ![Kilt-wearin\_man](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/82dd89/32.png) [@Kilt-wearin\_man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kilt-wearin_man)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2004, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-berets-and-special-forces/264233/20 "2004-09-15T17:57:10Z")
I can see how my wording may have created some confusion - sorry 'bout that. By “equal standing” I mean that Rangers and Special Forces are both stand-alone units under Army Special Operations Command - neither is subordinate to the other and both answer to the same command organization. As for the Air Force, [here’s](http://www.afsoc.af.mil/index2.shtml) the site for Air Force Special Operations Command. Not only do Pararescue Jumpers (PJ’s - total badasses) belong to Air Foce SOC, but flies AC-130 gunships, various other specially modified C-130’s for psychological operations, electronic eavesdropping and other sneaky stuff, they fly HH-53 Pave Low and HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopters - often giving Special Ops troops from other services a lift to and from their destinations… …and, of course, Air Force Special Operations Command and Air Force Space Command jointly run the Stargate project… [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-berets-and-special-forces/264233.md?page=2)