Green beret


The green beret was the official headdress of the British Commandos, a special-forces unit active during World War II. It is still worn by members of the Royal Marines after passing the Commando Course, and personnel from other units of the Royal Navy, Army and RAF who serve within UK Commando Force and who have passed the All Arms Commando Course.
There are certain other military organizations that also wear the green beret because they have regimental or unit histories that have a connection with the British Commandos. These include the Australian, French and Dutch commandos. It is the norm in the armed forces of the Commonwealth Nations, where most regiments wear headdresses and cap badges which reflect regimental history and traditions.

Origins

Initially, those who joined the British Commandos kept their parent regimental headdress and cap badges. In 1941, No. 1 Commando had no fewer than 79 different cap badges and many different forms of headdress. "Thus a motley collection of caps, Tam o' Shanters, bonnets, forage caps, caps 'fore and aft', berets, peaked KD caps, etc., appeared on the Commando parades," says Captain Oakley, "the forest being a veritable RSM's nightmare!"
No. 2 Commando and No. 9 Commando faced with the same problem had adopted the Tam o' Shanter, but, as a traditional Scottish headdress, this was not considered suitable for what was a British unit. After some discussion it was agreed that if No. 1 Commando was to adopt a uniformed headdress then the beret, which had been worn by the Tank Regiment since the First World War, would meet the requirements: it had no British regional affinity, it was difficult to wear improperly, and it could be easily stowed away without damage.
Having decided on the headdress, the next question to be resolved was the colour. The shoulder insignia of No. 1 Commando had been designed by the Richmond Herald at the College of Arms. It incorporated three colours in its design of a green salamander going through fire: red, yellow and green. Green was chosen as the most suitable. A Scottish firm of tam-o-shanter makers in Irvine was chosen to design and manufacture the beret.
Once the design was agreed, Brigadier Robert Laycock was approached by No. 1 Commando to seek his permission to wear it. He had been pondering on what the commandos should use for their headdress, and welcomed the green beret as a chance to introduce it as standard for all commandos formations, with No. 1 Commando being the first to don them.
The proposal that the commandos should start wearing green beret as their official headdress was submitted to the Chief of Combined Operations and forwarded by Lord Louis Mountbatten to the Under-Secretary of State for War. Approval was granted and in October 1942 the first green berets were issued to the Royal Marines.

Australian Army

Australian Commando berets are known as being "Sherwood Green" in colour. The corps badge on the beret is a black background and a gold combat dagger with the motto "Foras Admonitio" meaning "Without Warning" across the dagger.
Note: 1st commando corps badge is a WW2 style silver dagger through a gold boomerang, with the motto “Strike Swiftly”.
The green beret is only awarded to a soldier upon becoming qualified as a Commando in either of the below regiments.
The Royal Australian Regiment also wears a "Rifle Green" Beret. The corps badge or "Skippy Badge" is a gold kangaroo and a wattle wreath with the motto "Duty First".
Consisting of two battalions within the light brigade, only the 2nd Commando Battalion inherited the green beret along with other traditions from the 4th Troop of No.10 Commando. These paracommandos are the only "green berets" that are no longer a special operations force, but are considered to be elite. However, the Belgian special forces usually only recruits from paracommandos.

Dutch commandos

The Special Forces of the Netherlands consist mainly of the Korps Commandotroepen. Their motto is "Nunc aut Nunquam" which is Latin for "Now or Never". The roots of the KCT go back to World War II. Under the name No. 2 Troop, the first Dutch commandos were trained in Achnacarry, Scotland, as part of No. 10 Commando. The unit was formed on March 22, 1942, the birthday of the present KCT.
Members of the Royal Netherlands Marine Corps also receive upon completion of the Commando Course a green beret, but with the gold anchor on a red background.

Finnish Coastal Jaegers

The Finnish Coastal Jaegers primary role is to conduct counterattacks against enemy landings in the Finnish archipelago, an environment known for small islands and skerries. Jaegers can function independently or with the support of artillery units, including light or heavy mortars. A number of Coastal Jaeger troops receive training for unconventional warfare and reconnaissance behind enemy lines.
The right to wear the green beret must be earned & can be lost as a punishment.

French Navy Commandos

The Commandos Marine, nicknamed bérets verts, are the special operations forces unit of the French Navy. The unit traces its origins back to the United Kingdom during the Second World War when Free French volunteers trained and later fought alongside British commandos. In 1946, the 1er Bataillon de Fusiliers Marins Commandos became the Commandos Marine. The unit continues to wear the same green berets as the British Commandos. But they are worn pulled to the right where berets are pulled to the left.

French Foreign Legion

The French Foreign Legion regiments also notably wear a green beret. This tradition is not linked to the UK.

Italian Navy's Special Forces

The COMSUBIN are the elite special operations unit of the Italian Navy. The Royal Italian Navy's Naval Assault Divisions is considered to be the precursor of modern Naval Special Forces. They are called baschi verdi.

Lithuanian military

Green berets are worn by soldiers of most of the Lithuanian Armed Forces with exception of the Military Police, Navy, Air Force, the Volunteer Forces, SOF and the Engineer Battalion. In 1991 the need arose to distinguish between Iron Wolf brigade and other forces wearing black berets so their commander has chosen the green beret as a mark of special forces although later it became regular mechanized infantry.

Mexican Army Special Forces Corps

The Mexican Army Special Forces nicknamed the COIFE, formerly the GAFE, are a special operations unit of the Mexican Army. The COIFE adapted the green beret as their signature headgear, known as the boina verde. The COIFE have received training from Israeli and American special forces. The COIFE have also played a key role against Mexican drug cartels during the on-going Mexican drug war. They are the Mexican Army's equivalent to the U.S. Army Special Forces.

Paraguayan Cavalry (Chaco War)

The RC 1 "Cnel Valois Rivarola" was a renowned Paraguayan Cavalry Regiment during the Chaco War. The regiment earned the nickname "Los Diablos Verdes" from the enemy forces due to their ferocity and effectiveness in combat, including numerous assaults and breakthroughs. There are claims they were "Los Primeros Boinas Verdes del Mundo", referencing their distinctive headgear and elite status. Their gallantry in battles like Mandyjupecua, where they displayed extraordinary endurance despite harsh conditions, led to their distinction. The RC 1 "Cnel Valois Rivarola" became the only unit in the Paraguayan Army to receive the "Cruz del Chaco" on the battlefield, a testament to their valor. President Eusebio Ayala and Mariscal José Félix Estigarribia personally condecorated the regiment's War Flag with the "Cruz del Chaco" in recognition of their collective gallantry, after the regimental commander, Mayor Eustacio Rojas Fernández, humbly declined the personal honor in favor of his unit.

Portuguese Paratroopers

The Portuguese Paratroopers are an elite infantry assault force, representing the bulk of the airborne forces of Portugal. They were created in 1955 as part of the Portuguese Air Force, being transferred to the Portuguese Army in 1993. Presently, most of the Paratroopers are part of the Portuguese Rapid Reaction Brigade which also includes the Commandos and the Special Operations forces.
In 1955, the Paratroopers were the first unit of the Portuguese Armed Forces to adopt a beret. Instead of the red beret, traditionally worn by most of the parachute units of the other Western countries, the then Portuguese minister of Defense Santos Costa opted for a green beret, allegedly because green was the color of the ink of the pen he used to sign his decrees. Because of that, the Portuguese Paratroopers are nicknamed Boinas Verdes.

Portuguese Special Operations (Army Rangers)

The unit members wear a moss/dry green beret and are the heir of the Special Hunters: the beret badge includes a hunting horn—a symbol of the Special Hunters; and the unit is known as Rangers because the first instructors of the Special Hunters completed the Ranger Course and adapted the characteristics of that training to the Special Operations Course. This special forces unit has operated in Bosnia and Herzegovina, East-Timor, Kosovo, Afghanistan, and Iraq.

Royal Marine Commandos

In the United Kingdom all Royal Marines who have passed the Commando Course wear the green beret. Personnel from the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force volunteering for service with 3 Commando Brigade undertake the All Arms Commando Course, completion of which allows individuals to wear the headdress. Commando-qualified Royal Marines always wear the green beret, with the Globe and Laurel cap badge and commando-qualified personnel from other armed services wear the beret, with their own cap badge, when serving with commando units unless otherwise authorised. The Special Boat Service also wear the green Commando beret but with their own cap badge consisting of a sword with two blue waved lines with the words "by strength and guile"
The Commando Badge of a Fairbairn-Sykes fighting knife on a triangular patch/badge is worn on the sleeve in perpetuity by all those who have passed the course.