"Rangers 'will never leave a fallen comrade...', unfortunately the Department of the Army has left them and their traditions in the wind.'

  - USMC NCO


The Ranger Black Beret -- In the News
Send Media Hyperlinks to: media@rangerblackberet.com

Week of October 30, 2000


  • The Patriot-Times News, a newspaper whose delivery area includes Carlisle Barracks, home to the U.S. Army War College, published a great article which gets the truth out about how this unifying effort has resulted in a divided Army. (October 30, 2000)

  • The Chicago Tribune had the Ranger Black Beret issue on the front page of their paper. Article submitted by our Airborne brothers over at Paratrooper.net. This article was selected for including in the "Early Bird Brief" (October 30, 2000)

  • The Black Beret issue is the leading article in the Harrisburg, Pennsylvania paper, The Patriot News, which does not have a website. (October 30, 2000)

  • Army Times: Article where the Chief of Staff and his public affairs office began using the press to spread disinformation. (October 30, 2000)

    "Despite the opposition to the plan, senior officials insisted that the leadership of the 75th Ranger Regiment was consulted prior to the announcement."

        Note - we have it on good authority that this
        is false. We are very disappointed that the
        CSA's staff would resort to a disinformation
        campaign in an attempt to achieve their goal.

  • The Black Beret issue was a focus for the morning drive, 101.5 (Atlanta, GA) the DJ, "Moby" (no, not Mosby) was talking about the Beret issue. (October 31, 2000)

  • Beret Backlash is the title to another article on the Black Beret by the Army Times. (October 31, 2000)

  • Savannah Morning News Editorial. (November 1, 2000)

Week of October 23, 2000


  • Bob Lonsberry: The wonderful sort of sarcasm that just nails the truth. (October 23, 2000)

  • The Washington Post - oped piece. (October 23, 2000)

  • Additional information in the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer is located in the Editorial Section, by Mary Ellen Keen, wife of the 75th Ranger Regiment Commander. (October 25, 2000)

  • Letters to the Editor in the Washington Post. (October 25, 2000)

  • Army Link News: (October 25, 2000) BDU caps stay, berets to symbolize transformation.

  • Ranger Robert Black appeared on The Bob Durgin Talk Show, AM 580 of Dame Media, Harrisburg, PA for over an hour. (October 26, 2000)

  • Another Great Day of Editorial Writing in the Ledger Enquirer. (October 26, 2000)

  • Another, more editorial oriented piece on the history of military headgear by Roy Parker, of The Fayetteville Observer. (October 26, 2000)

  • Ranger Jim Grimshaw appears on the WSAV (Channel 3 in Savannah, GA) Evening News. Interview by Michael Jordan. (October 27, 2000)

  • Army Public Affairs Wrap up

    The following information reflects significant public affairs actions in the Atlanta area and across the command for the week ending October 27, 2000.

    1. Army Transformation...

    (1) "Army considering Ranger beret change" (European Stars and Stripes, 22 Oct): The elite Airborne rangers may get headgear of a different color when the entire Army dons the Ranger's traditional black beret next June, said Sgt. Maj. of the Army Jack Tilley. Tilley talked with Command Sgt. Maj. Walter Rakow, the top NCO in the 75th Ranger Regiment, Fort Benning, about the possibility of switching the Rangers from black to an olive drab hue that would be slightly darker than the color worn by Army Special Forces troops.

    The media coverage has been predominantly negative concerning Gen. Shinseki's black beret decision. The New York Times said the symbolism of "unity, Army excellence and values" the black beret is supposed to represent has fallen flat as many soldiers called the beret little more than window dressing. USA Today joked about American GIs wearing berets of the sort worn by "such fashion icons as Monica Lewinsky, Che Guevara and French guys in black turtlenecks." "Daft" is what the Washington Times calls Gen. Shinseki's decision because it is a denigration of the of the dedication and ability it takes to earn the shoulder tab of a Ranger and to be awarded the black beret. The Army Times supports the idea by saying, "It's a terrific idea at a tumultuous time."

  • Fayetteville Observer readers continue their assault on a very bad idea that "can, and should be corrected". (Octboer 29, 2000)

Week of October 17, 2000


  • Washington Post, this is the article that broke the news about the Chief of Staff's announcement of having the entire Army switch to "a" beret. (October 17, 2000)

  • CNN Article. (October 17, 2000)

  • ABC News. (October 17, 2000)

  • Fayetteville Observer picks up the news and runs with thier first impressions - a gut reaction that was right on target.
  • Washington Post, this second article specifies the bad idea, of issuing the Ranger Black Beret to the rest of the Army, which was already blazing phone lines and e-mail across the land. (October 18, 2000)

  • Army Link News: Black beret to be Army's standard headgear. (October 18, 2000)

  • The Fayetteville Observer: Our Airborne and Special Operations Brothers agree that wearing the Beret is something that must be earned. (October 19, 2000)

  • Columbus Ledger-Enquirer: Kaffie Sledge gets to the heart of the matter. (October 21, 2000)

  • Pacific Stars and Stripes: Rangers may switch color of headgear. (October 22, 2000)