The black beret is a coloured beret, commonly worn by paramilitaries and militaries around the world, particularly armored forces such as the British Army's Royal Tank Regiment (RTR), the Royal Canadian Armoured Corps (RCAC), and Royal Australian Armoured Corps (RAAC) and the Indian Army Armoured Corps.
Notable non-armored military units to wear the black beret include the non-military police and non-special forces elements of the Irish Defence Forces, Russian Naval Infantry (and formerly Soviet) and Russian OMON units, the majority of the United States Army, and United States Air Force (USAF) Tactical Air Control Parties (TACPs).
History
The usage of black berets by militaries dates to World War I. During the war, the French Army's Chasseurs Alpins wore large black berets as a forage cap. In 1918, near the end of the war, British Army officers Hugh Elles and J. F. C. Fuller decided to outfit members of the Royal Tank Corps with black berets as the colour was least likely to show oil stains. The decision was approved by King George V on 5 March 1924, and black berets were used exclusively within the British Armed Forces as the headdress of the Royal Tank Corps during the interwar period and World War II. When uniforms were issued to the Royal Observer Corps (ROC), there was a surplus of Royal Armoured Corps black berets which were given to the ROC.
Usage by country Non-state actors
One of the most famous photographs of Che Guevara taken by Alberto Korda was of him wearing a black beret with a gold star. Fidel Castro also wore a black beret during the revolution against the Batista government of Cuba. In the 1960s several activist groups adopted the beret.
The Black Panther Party, of the United States formed in 1966, wore black berets.p.119 Ogbar, Jeffrey Ogbanna Green Black Power: Radical Politics and African American Identity 2004 JHU Press A similar Black Power organisation in Bermuda was named the Black Beret Cadre in 1969. Two men with links to the group later assassinated Governor of Bermuda Richard Sharples. Chicano activists wore the black beret in the 1960s and 70s (in homage to Che Guevara) as a symbol of militancy and organized the Black Berets por La Justicia throughout California and the Southwestern United States. Irish National Liberation Army members wore a black beret. Patriotic League of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina members typically wore black berets (among other colours) that were common among the older Bosniak male population, usually with the Ljiljani coat of arms stitched on the front of the beret. It was also common among other Bosniak paramilitary forces during the Bosnian War. Provisional Irish Republican Army members wore a black beret. ETA wore black berets over hoods in public appearances. THRUSH troops on The Man from UNCLE wore black berets. Since August 2017, the Knights of Columbus Fourth Degree members are now wearing black berets as part of their new uniform.
Argentina The Argentine Navy's Batallón de Infantería de Marina 5 (5th Marine Battalion), of Falklands War Mount Tumbledown fame (1982), wears a black beret. This was introduced by (then) Commander Manuel Tomé around 1977, and the beret was awarded on completion of a Cold Weather and Mountain Warfare Course. Today, all units of the Southern Marine Force of the Argentine Marine Corps wear black berets with unit badges.
Australia In the Australian Army, All RAAC Units (Royal Australian Armoured Corps), wear the black beret.
Austria In the Austrian Bundesheer all armored units (Armored Battalions, Mechanized Infantry Battalions, Artillery Battalions and Mechanized Headquarter Battalions), wear the black beret.
Azerbaijan
In the Azerbaijani Armed Forces armored units of underwater offence of Azerbaijani Navy wear the black beret.
Bangladesh In the Bangladesh Army, all units of the Armoured, Cavalry and Lancer Corps wear black berets.the Rapid Action Battalion of Bangladesh Police also uses black beret.
Belgium In the Belgian Army, the black beret is worn by cavalry and engineer units.
Brazil The Brazilian armour and mechanized troops also wear the black beret, as well as the special forces unit of the Military Police of Rio de Janeiro, Batalhão de Operações Policiais Especiais (BOPE).
In the Brazilian auxiliary military forces of the Polícia Militar (Military Police), specially in Minas Gerais state, officers sometimes wears black berets as official parts of patrol gear.
Canada In the Canadian Armed Forces, black berets are worn by Royal Canadian Armoured Corps soldiers and by all sailors (except military police and special operations sailors).
Chile In the Chilean Army, the black beret is worn by the paras and the special forces.
Croatia In the Croatian Army black berets are worn by military police units, 1st Mechanized Battalion and the Cadet Battalion.
Cuba Special unit of the police.'We felt free': Cubans remain defiant in face of protest crackdown, BBC, 20.08.2021
Cyprus In the Cypriot National Guard, the black beret is exclusively given to soldiers of the Armoured Forces and to Officers of the same branch after graduating from the Greek Armoured Forces officers' school. The school is considered the toughest academy of the Greek Army, bar special forces, and therefore the black beret is considered an honour for the bearer.
Czech Republic In the Czech Army, military policemen wear black berets.
Denmark In the Danish Army, the black beret was originally used by all combat regiments, but now it is worn by the Jutland Dragoons, Guard Hussars, Royal Life Guard, Schleswig Foot Regiment and Danish Artillery Regiment.
Estonia Since 2013 the professional soldiers of the Estonian Navy wear the black berets.
Finland Only members of the Armored Brigade wear black berets.Conscript training and cooperation with other authorities
France In the French Army, the black beret is worn by the 501e Régiment de Chars de Combat and by the 16e Bataillon de Chasseurs à Pied.
Germany In the German Army, an oversized black beret was introduced during the National Socialist era for tank crews, to be worn over the crash helmet; however this was dropped in favour of a black garrison cap during World War II. Today the black beret (of conventional size) is worn by the Armoured Corps and the Armoured Reconnaissance Corps.
Greece In the Greek Army, black berets are worn by the Panzer (Armored Vehicles) branch, tracing back to the tradition of the original cavalry units.
India In the Indian Army, all Cavalry and Armoured Corps, National Security Guards & Border Security Force wear black berets.
Indonesia In the Indonesian Army, black beret is worn by the members of Cavalry Corps (except cavalry battalions under Kostrad strategic reserve command which wearing dark green beret universal to all of its soldiers).
In the Indonesian Navy, members of the Submarine Corps wear black berets.
Iraq In the pre-2003 Iraqi Army, the black beret was the most commonly worn headgear and continues to be worn by both army and police personnel of the post-2003 Iraqi Army.
Ireland In the Irish Army the majority of the members of the Permanent Defence Forces, specifically the infantry, wear black berets except for certain combat support units such as MPs, Cavalry etc.
Israel In the Israel Defense Forces, soldiers serving in the Armor Corps wear black berets.
Italy In the Italian Army most units wear a black beret. Exceptions are: Paratroopers, Alpini, Army Aviation Corps (AVES), Lagunari and Bersaglieri.
Luxembourg The black beret is worn by all soldiers in the Luxembourg Army.
Lithuania The black beret is worn by Juozas Vitkus Engineer battalion soldiers in the Lithuanian Armed Forces.
Malaysia In the Malaysian Army, the members of the Royal Armor Corps wear the black berets.
Namibia In the Namibian Army, the black beret is worn by members from Artillery Brigade, Engineer Regiment, Signal Regiment, Logistic Support Battalion, Air Defence Brigade, the Namibian Air Force and Namibian Navy also wear the black beret
Nigeria In the Nigerian Air Force , the black beret is worn by Nigerian airforce regiment and Navy personnel
Netherlands In the Dutch Army, the black beret is worn by cavalry battalions.
New Zealand In the New Zealand Police, members of the Armed Offenders Squad wore the black beret.
Norway The Norwegian Army Panserbataljonen (armoured) and other cavalry units wear black berets.
Philippines In the Philippine Army, the members of the 1st Scout Ranger Regiment, Presidential Security Group and Tank Officers from the Philippine Army Light Armor Division
In the Philippine Air Force, members of the Special Operations Wing wears black berets.
In the Philippine National Police, members of the Special Action Force wears black berets.
In the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, members of the Traffic Enforcers wears black berets.
Pakistan In the Pakistan Army, the Armoured Corps wears black berets as well as special forces.
Poland In the Polish Armed Forces, the black berets are worn by armored units of Polish Army, and by Polish Navy.
Portugal In the Portuguese Army, the black beret is worn by the cavalry branch, including the armoured troops and the military police. The black beret is also worn by several Portuguese civil forces, like the Bomb disposal unit of the Public Security Police, the Prison Guard Corps and the Civil Defense.
Russia Both the Russian Naval Infantry and OMON special police wears the black beret with its dress and field uniforms, when not wearing helmets.
Serbia Members of the Serbian military police wear black berets.
Singapore The black beret is worn by the Armour formation of the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF).
Spain Traditionally in the Spanish Armed Forces black berets were used to denote paratroopers units. The custom originating in the Spanish Air Force, although it is now used also by other non-paratroopers units in the Army and the Air Force.
In the Spanish Army, the black beret is worn by the Mechanized Brigades and the Parachutist Brigade BRIPAC.
In the Spanish Air Force, the black beret is worn by the paratroopers units, the Air Deployment Support Squads EADA and SEADA, as well as by Air Force Police Units. The special operations unit EZAPAC used to wear the black beret until 1997 that was change to a Green Beret, to denote their Special Forces specialization.
Somalia
In the Somali Army, members of the Armoured Battalions and the Army's rear wear a black beret, inherited from British military tradition.
In the Somali Navy, the black beret is the standard issue headgear.
South Africa In the South African Army, members of the South African Armour Corps, the South African Intelligence Corps, Defence Intelligence Division and the Technical Service Corps wear the black beret, each with their respective corps badge.
Members of the South African Navy Maritime Reaction Squadron also wear the black beret.
South Korea In the South Korean army, black berets are worn by South Korean army special operations forces.
Sri Lanka
In the Sri Lankan Army, the Armoured Corps, Mechanized Infantry and the Special Forces wear black berets.
In the Sri Lankan Navy, the black beret is worn by the Members of the elite Special Boat Squadron.
Sweden In the Swedish Army, all armour and mechanized units wear black berets.
Switzerland In the Swiss Army, black berets are worn by Tank Branch, Pioneers, Rescue Troops, Communication and Command Troops, high command, Tank Grenadiers, Chaplains, armed forces legal service and other troops.
Turkey
In the Turkish Land Forces, the black berets are worn by armor personnel.
United States In the United States military, the beret was unofficially worn by a variety of special operations units during and following World War II. In the spring of 1951, the 10th and 11th Ranger Companies wore black berets during their training at Camp Carson, Colorado, before their deployment to Japan.
U.S. Army