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The maroon beret has been the international symbol of elite airborne forces since its selection for use by the British Parachute Regiment in World War II. This distinctive head dress was officially introduced in 1942, at the direction of General Frederick Browning, commander of the 1st Airborne Division.^[1]. The maroon colour of the beret reportedly was chosen by his wife, the novelist Daphne Du Maurier.^[1] It was first worn by the men of the Parachute Regiment when it went into action in North Africa during November 1942.

Contents 1 British Army 2 Canadian Army 3 Finnish Army 4 Indian Air Force 5 Indian Army 6 Indian Navy 7 Iraqi Army 8 Israeli Army 9 Malaysian Army 10 Pakistan Army 11 Swedish Army 12 Royal Thai Army 13 Turkish Army 14 Dutch Army 15 United States Air Force 16 United States Army 17 Venezuelan Army 18 Footnotes 19 See also 20 References

In the British Army, most regiments wear hats or cap badges which reflect regimental battle honours and traditions.

All personnel serving with airborne units wear the maroon beret (with their own cap badge), whether they are jump-qualified or not. Only members of the Parachute Regiment are permitted to wear it no matter where they are posted. The beret is often called the "red beret" or (within the Army) the "cherry beret". The Paras refer derisively to those who do not wear the maroon beret as "craphats".

The Red Devils are the British Parachute Regiment's display team. As with the rest of the regiment, they wear the maroon beret. All volunteers, the Red Devils are regular serving paratroopers drawn from the three battalions of the Parachute Regiment.

Jump-qualified personnel in parachute units are allowed to wear the maroon. These are currently C Company, 3rd Battalion Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry; M Company, 3rd Battalion The Royal Canadian Regiment; A Company, 3rd Battalion Royal 22^e Régiment; Para Company, The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada.

The Finnish parachute ranger corps (Finnish: Laskuvarjojääkärikomppania) trains personnel in the Utti Jaeger Regiment, Utti, Finland. Jump-qualified personnel are allowed to wear the maroon beret.

The Indian Air Force special forces unit, the Garud Commando Force, wears the maroon beret.

A number of Indian Army parachute-trained special forces wear the maroon beret, including Para Commandos and Special Frontier Force.

The Indian Navy special forces unit, MARCOS, has started wearing the maroon beret.

The elite Iraqi Republican Guards wore maroon berets as well as red boots until their dissolution after the 2003 Iraq War.

The elite Israeli Defense Forces paratroopers (Tzan'chanim) wear red or maroon berets as well as red boots.

The Malaysian Army's 10 Paratrooper Brigade has worn the maroon beret since its establishment in 1994.

The Special Service Group (SSG) is an independent commando brigade of the Pakistan Army.

The Fallskärmsjägarna (or Fallskärmsjägarkåren: Parachute Ranger Corps), is a Swedish military Special Operations unit. The unit is an airborne commando unit focused on intelligence gathering and forms part of Sweden's Special Forces.

The Royal Thai Army Special Operations Force and paratroopers in the 31st Infantry Regiment (Royal Guard) wear the maroon beret.

The Turkish Army's Special Operations Force, Bordo Bereliler, translates as "The Maroon Berets".

The Dutch Army's Special Operations Force, 11 Luchtmobiele Brigade, which translates to Airmobile Brigade, wear the "The Maroon Berets" (aka the Red Beret) as a sign of their status upon completion of their training.

Air Force Pararescue Parajumpers (known as PJs) perform combat search and rescue duties.

In 1943 Frederick Browning, commander of the British First Airborne Corps, granted a battalion of the US Army's 509th Parachute Infantry Regiment honourary membership in the British Parachute Regiment and authorized them to wear British maroon berets. US Army advisers to Vietnamese airborne forces wore the Vietnamese maroon beret during the Vietnam War.^[1]

Headquarters, Department of the Army (HQDA) policy from 1973 through 1979 permitted local commanders to encourage morale-enhancing distinctions and airborne forces chose to wear the maroon international parachute beret as a mark of distinction. This permission was recinded when in 1979 the army introduced a policy of standardized headgear, but on 28 November 1980 permission was given for airborne organizations to wear the maroon beret.^[1]

The elite 42nd infantry paratrooper brigade wear red berets that have also been popularized outside of the army by supporters of President Hugo Chavez, a former lieutenant-colonel of the unit.

1. ^ ^{a b c d} Army Black Beret: A Short History of the Use of Berets in the U.S. Army

• Maroon (color)
• Beret
• Black beret
• Green beret
• Tan beret
• Pathfinders

• Army Black Beret: A Short History of the Use of Berets in the U.S. Army on the U.S. Army website.