Nowadays, the beret is associated primarily with the uniform headdress of military personnel of certain branches of the military. The most of them is the blue beret of the paratroopers. Its indispensable attribute is the fold on the right side. Why is this being done?

Sign of the Elite

The armed forces, like any other complex hierarchical structure, have their own insignia. They are used to denote junior personnel - soldiers and sergeants, middle - officers from lieutenant to major and senior - officers rank above lieutenant colonel.

In addition, insignia in the army serve to determine whether a serviceman belongs to a particular branch of the military. One of the most striking and indicative insignia is the beret. It speaks of its wearer’s belonging to the elite of the armed forces. To determine which elite branch of the military a fighter belongs to, a tradition arose of bending the beret to the right or left side.

Right and left

Army berets appeared in the armed forces of our country only in the 1960s. Originally they were crimson in color. The familiar blue beret of paratroopers was introduced into everyday use only in 1969. Until this moment, to indicate belonging to one or another branch of the military, the practice of twisting the beret to the left or right side appeared.

Special forces soldiers began to bend their berets to the left and internal troops. They now wear maroon and olive (green) headdresses respectively. In turn, the marines (black berets) and paratroopers (blue) began to push the berets to the right side.

A special case

During parades, military personnel of all branches of the military wear berets slanted to the left. Firstly, this is necessary for the unification and uniformity of the uniform of all military personnel. There is an opinion that this is done in order not to block the face. The fact is that a serviceman tilts his head to the right while walking in parade formation, so bending his beret in the same direction can cast a shadow on his face.

Others argue that the fold to the left is necessary so that the flag-shaped badge, which is attached to the right side of the beret during parades, is visible. After returning to places of permanent combat deployment, the paratroopers recapture their berets back to the right.

Combat berets

Some argue that the tilt of the headdress in elite branches of the military, including the Airborne Forces, depends on whether the wearer of the beret participated in combat operations or not. A bend on the left side supposedly means that the serviceman has been to war or participated in special operations, and if it is on the right, then he has no combat experience.

However, for the most part in the army, such a statement is considered stupid. After all, the most eloquent indicator of the presence or absence of combat experience is still medals and orders, and not the side of the headgear.

Pound test

It is worth noting that taking a beret in the airborne troops is no less a serious test than a forced march or parachute jump. The ability to correctly beat off his headdress has always served as a sign of the experience of a paratrooper, his real belonging to the elite army caste. A real paratrooper always knows how to properly return a beret.

Not everyone succeeds the first time. There are different “recipes” for how to break a beret. Experienced paratroopers advise using a sugar solution rather than water to moisten headgear. Others are experimenting with wax. After moistening the beret, it is given the desired shape.

Part of the military uniform is the beret. It is practical, beautiful, does not take up much space, and therefore is the statutory headdress of many branches of the military. This is the pride of any soldier. But it comes out in the form of a disk, which does not sit so nicely on the head. In order for it to take the desired shape, you need to beat the beret. Every soldier can do this.

In order for a military beret to fit well, it must be beaten correctly

Effective ways

How to beat off a beret so that it looks beautiful on your head?

3 simple options

Let's look at simple methods that will tell you how to shape a beret.

The easiest option is with a hammer. The headdress should be slightly wetted, ironed, and steamed. Then put it on a chair and beat it with a hammer along the edge. Then the edge will become sharp.

The second method is in the palm of your hand. Get it wet. You can use water with sugar, then the product will become hard. But with such a headdress you will have to avoid water and rain, otherwise it will lose its shape. Place it on your palm and beat it vigorously to give it the desired shape and straighten the edging.

The third one is right on the head. This method is suitable if you are tidying up a teardrop beret.

How to return the beret:

• insert the cockade;
• wet it and shake the water;
• pull it wet over your head;
• give the required shape;
• wait until it dries without removing it so that it retains its shape;
• Press down the edge with pliers to make it sharper.

To ensure the beret takes the correct shape, you can put it on your head while wet.

Complex method

You can beat off the beret in simple ways which are described above. But they may not work. Then this method is also suitable. If you do everything correctly, it will fit on your head like a glove.

• Carefully, so as not to spoil anything, we rip the lining with scissors.
• Place it in water (the hotter the better) and wait a couple of minutes for it to soak. Then we squeeze it out.
• Replace the cockade and put it on.
• We smooth it out right on the head, giving it the desired shape. The crown should be pulled to the right so that a half-disc appears. Then - the arch for the cockade. To do this, hold it with your left hand and stroke the top of the head forward. Make sure there are no holes, press harder. Its fabric is strong, it will not tear.
• As soon as it has taken the desired shape, you need to apply shaving foam to it, lubricating it thoroughly. There is no need to remove your headdress. Then you need to wait a little and rub the foam into the product. Make sure there are no streaks or white spots left.
• Without taking off your hat, walk in it until it dries (from 1.5 hours). When it dries, you can remove it from your head and leave it until completely dry.
• Put it in order, remove the pellets of foam and water. To do this, you need to shave your beret razor. When the surface is smooth, spray hairspray inside the product. The more varnish, the better.
• We insert a plastic card under the cockade, cutting it to size.

Types of berets

Berets are worn by many of the world's armed forces. Our army is no exception. Who can you see this headdress on?

• Speckled. The maroon beret is a form of encouragement for special forces and internal troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. To get it, you must prove that a person has all the qualities inherent in a professional. It is presented as a reward for courage. A maroon beret is issued after a series of tests. First, a preliminary stage is carried out, then the main tests, which include a march of at least 10 km, and performing acrobatic exercises, and hand-to-hand combat, etc.
• Blue. The blue beret is used by many branches of the military. In Russia, the blue beret is worn by airborne troops (VDV). At first it was crimson, like other airborne soldiers, but in 1968 the color was changed to blue. That's how he remains to this day.
• Green. Border troops, FSSP special forces, reconnaissance units of various branches of the military.
• Black. The black beret is the symbol of the Marine Corps. This is a compact headgear that does not interfere while moving. It's easy to put headphones on it and hide it in your pocket. Marines is an elite branch of the military, so wearing a black beret is also an honor.

There is a suture headgear and a seamless one, which is also called a droplet.

In our country, a beret can more often be found on the head of a military man than on a representative of the fair sex. Women's berets are usually made of soft wool or angora. There is no need to beat off such products. It is enough to put them on your head and slightly flatten them along the edge on one of the sides. A military beret is a different matter. It should sit proudly and strictly, indicating the seriousness of its wearer's profession. By the way, by looking at the beret you can determine which branch of the military the owner of the headdress belongs to, as well as obtain other additional information about him.

Black, maroon, blue

IN different countries the same color of the disc-like headdress indicates belonging to different branches of the military. Below are the colors that are relevant for domestic military personnel.

• Black . The black color indicates that they belong to the Marine Corps. This is the most compact of the existing berets. You can easily hide it in your pocket or put it over headphones if necessary. The Marine Corps is the elite of the Russian army. And a black beret is evidence of belonging to this elite.
• Maroon. A military maroon beret is a kind of award for a serviceman, confirming his professionalism. You can get such a headdress only after successfully passing a series of tests. Moreover, first they conduct a training exam, and only after it the military man runs a cross-country race, demonstrates his mastery of acrobatic tricks and engages in hand-to-hand combat with an opponent.
• Blue. Blue berets can most often be seen on soldiers and officers of the Airborne Forces. Especially when this branch of the military celebrates a professional holiday. Until 1968, paratroopers wore crimson headdresses. But then they were replaced by blue “discs”, the wearing of which is still relevant today.

Berets are divided into seamed and seamless. The latter are popularly called “droplets”.

How to hit a beret at home: simple methods for new recruits...

Any soldier is able to place his beret on his own so that it fits perfectly on his head. And the older and more experienced the serviceman, the more hitting methods he knows. Described below step-by-step instruction will bring the new recruit up to speed and tell you how to prepare the headgear for wearing as quickly and easily as possible.

Sugar water

Peculiarity . To implement this method smoothly, you will need to prepare a solution of water and sugar. To do this, you need to put a tablespoon of granulated sugar in a glass of warm water and mix thoroughly until completely dissolved. After the sugar solution is ready, you need to periodically dip the fingers of the hand used to beat the beret into it. The sugar water will act as a kind of hairspray and help hold the material in place.

What we do

1. We put the woolen headdress on any comfortable hand, using the palm as a stand for the beret “disc”.
2. With the fingers of the second hand, we begin to vigorously knead the surface of the beret, simultaneously forcing it to take the required shape.
3. From time to time we wet the fingers of the “beating” hand in a sugar solution so that when the fabric dries, it remains fixed.
4. We straighten the piping.
5. When wearing it, we try not to get caught in the rain with a broken beret. Otherwise, the headdress will simply lose its shape.

On the head

Peculiarity . This method will help you quickly shape a seamless beret. You will need to wet the product so that it is slightly damp, put it on your head and do not remove it until the beret is completely dry. By the way, this method can also be used by wearers of ordinary women’s wool berets if they are tired of constantly shaping their headdress when putting it on. The method is not suitable for seamed berets.

What we do

1. First of all, we insert a tin badge into the headdress - a cockade.
2. Using a spray bottle, wet the product, and then shake it thoroughly to remove all drops of water from the surface.
3. We put a damp round hat on our head.
4. We form the beret on the head as required by the charter (or following personal preferences).
5. We wear it until it is 100% dry.
6. Using pliers or pliers, press down the edge, making it as sharp as possible.

With a hammer

Peculiarity . Having an iron and a hammer at hand, you can literally shape a beret in just five minutes - be it a woman’s, a man’s, or a military one. Moreover, both a droplet and a product with a seam. The hat also needs to be wet. A spray bottle will help distribute moisture evenly over the surface of the wool “disc”. There is no need to wet it as much as the previous method requires. Simply spray it with water to prepare it for steaming.

What we do

1. We moisten the surface of the headdress.
2. We begin steaming using an iron, having previously set the appropriate ironing mode on the device.
3. After complete drying, place the beret on a chair or other stable surface on which you can easily hit with a hammer.
4. We beat it off with a hammer, moving in a circle.

You can beat the beret until it becomes hard using a regular tablespoon. But only if it is not made of aluminum.

...and difficult for demobilization

Hit it beautifully suture beret The methods described above do not always work. It all depends on the quality of the fabric and the circumstances of use of the product. If plan “A” does not work, move on to plan “B” - more complex, but at the same time more effective methods.

Shaving foam

Peculiarity . To implement this method, you will need a small “arsenal” - a bottle of shaving foam, an iron or ceramic bowl with hot water, razor, hairspray and tailor's scissors. Each stage of the algorithm described below must be implemented in practice strictly according to the instructions. If you manage to fulfill all the requirements exactly, then the beret will fit on your head like a glove - as if it was made especially for you. But mistakes can lead to damage to the headdress, so try to avoid them.

What we do

1. Using small tailor's scissors, carefully rip off the lining.
2. Dip the headdress into a vessel with hot water and leave it to soak for a few minutes.
3. We squeeze the beret thoroughly, not twisting it, but pressing the product against the terry towel.
4. We insert the cockade into the wet beret and put it on the head.
5. We begin to smooth the product and give it the required shape.
6. You need to hit the beret on the right side. To do this, the crown of the headdress must be directed to the right with your hands. As a result, the coveted half-disk will appear.
7. At the next stage, we hold the arch on which the cockade “sits”, and with the other hand we smooth the top of the head forward. This action must be performed assertively and strongly. Otherwise, the beret will not give way, and its shape will remain the same. There is no need to be afraid of damaging the fabric. It is strong enough and it is unlikely that you will be able to tear it apart with your hands.
8. After the beret has finally acquired the required shape, we take shaving foam and apply it to its surface. We do this without removing the headdress. We use a mirror for convenience.
9. We wait a few minutes, and then we begin to rub the product directly into the fabric, doing it evenly - to avoid the appearance of white stains on the woolen material.
10. We wear the beret for about an hour and a half until it dries completely.
11. Then we remove it and carefully go over its surface with a razor, thus eliminating the pellets formed from the foam.
12. Apply hairspray over the entire inner surface. The more the better, ideally a whole bottle.
13. From a piece of thin plastic we cut out a shape resembling a cockade and insert it under the metal element - into the space between the cockade and the lining.

Old newspapers

Peculiarity . If you don’t have the desire or ability to wear a wet beret on your head, resort to the method with an old newspaper. To do this, you need to crumple up the shapeless spherical elements and stuff them into the inside of the headdress. In addition to newspapers, you will also need plastic clothespins or women's hairpins that can secure the woolen fabric well.

What we do

1. Using a spray bottle, we moisten the beret by spraying water over its surface.
2. We stuff the old press inside the beret.
3. We use clothespins and hairpins to give the headdress stuffed with newspapers the required shape.
4. Leave the woolen “disc” with newspapers inside until completely dry.
5. Then we try it on and, if necessary, adjust the resulting shape by re-wetting it.

Tips for wearing an army cap

An army cap also tends to lose its “starched” appearance. Due to their intense contamination, such items have to be washed quite often. This means that every self-respecting soldier should have the skills to return to his former form. And even more so as an officer. There are two methods you can use.

1. We dry it on the ball. Taking the headdress out of the drum washing machine, it must first of all be dried properly. This can be done by wearing the product on your head. However, this is not always comfortable. Alternatively, you can place it on a ball, an upside-down 3-liter jar, or other suitable frame.
2. We use starch. Recapture army cap It won’t work, but it’s easy to starch. To do this, in a spacious vessel, mix 100 g of starch and 130 g cold water. Add another 900 g of hot water to the mixture and mix thoroughly until the powder is completely dissolved. Then we dip the headdress in the starch solution, avoiding getting it on the visor. We thoroughly soak the cap and, without squeezing the product, put it on the frame until completely dry.

Be sure to pay attention to the material used to form the visor of the cap. Products with a plastic visor can be machine washed. But the cardboard base won’t even hold up hand wash. Such a cap will have to be cleaned from dirt and dust using dry cleaning mode.

Returning to shaping the beret, do not despair if it does not suit you the first time. Remember simple thing: Manufacturers use a special pliable fabric, like plasticine, to create berets. If you can't get it into the desired shape, then most likely you are doing something wrong. Check that the algorithm is running correctly and try again.

By the way, there are several more folk ways fixing the beret disk, which were not mentioned above. For example, the use of non-woven fabric - a semi-synthetic paper-like material that is glued under the lining on the inner surface of the beret so that it holds its shape better. For the same purpose, cardboard is used, and sometimes even paraffin or candle wax, poured inside for fixation.

Now you know how to hit the beret correctly and what methods should be used for this purpose. By the way, owners of ordinary (non-military) disc-shaped headdresses can from time to time shape them in a new way - in order to slightly change the image or dilute a boring image. Molding makes it possible to obtain fundamentally new variants from the same product.

Given the practicality of the beret, its informal use by the European military dates back thousands of years. An example is the blue beret, which became a symbol of the Scottish military in the 16th and 17th centuries. As an official military headdress, the beret began to be used during the War of Succession to the Spanish Crown in 1830 by order of General Tomás de Zumalacárregui, who wanted an inexpensive way to make headdresses resistant to the vagaries of weather in the mountains, easy to care for and for use on special occasions .

Other countries followed suit with the creation of the French Alpine Chasseurs in the early 1880s. These mountain troops wore clothing that included several features that were innovative for the time. Including large berets, which have survived to this day.

Berets have features that make them very attractive to the military: they are cheap, can be made in a wide range of colors, can be rolled up and tucked into a pocket or under shoulder straps, and can be worn with headphones (this is one of the reasons why tankers adopted the beret) . The beret was found particularly useful by armored vehicle crews, and the British Tank Corps (later the Royal Tank Corps) adopted this headgear as early as 1918.

After World War 1, when the issue of official changes to uniforms was considered at high level, General Elles, who was a propagandist of berets, gave another argument - during maneuvers it is comfortable to sleep in a beret and it can be used as a balaclava. After lengthy debate within the Ministry of Defence, the black beret was officially approved by His Majesty's decree of March 5, 1924. The black beret remained the exclusive privilege of the Royal Tank Corps for quite some time. Then the practicality of this headdress was noticed by others and by 1940 all armored units in Great Britain began to wear black berets.

German tank crews in the late 1930s also adopted the beret with the addition of a padded helmet inside. Black has become a popular color for tank crew hats because it doesn't show oil stains.

The Second World War gave berets new popularity. English and American saboteurs, who were thrown behind the German lines, in particular to France, quickly appreciated the convenience of berets, especially dark colors - it was convenient to hide their hair under them, they protected their heads from the cold, the beret was used as a balaclava, etc. Some British units introduced berets as the headdress of formations and branches of the military. So, for example, it happened with the SAS - Special Aviation Service, a special purpose unit engaged in sabotage and reconnaissance behind enemy lines - they took a sand-colored beret (it symbolized the desert, where the SAS had to work hard against Rommel’s army). British paratroopers chose a crimson beret - according to legend, this color was suggested by the writer Daphne Du Maurier, the wife of General Frederick Brown, one of the heroes of the Second World War. Because of the color of the beret, the paratroopers immediately received the nickname “cherries.” Since then, the crimson beret has become an unofficial symbol of military paratroopers around the world.

The first use of berets by the US military dates back to 1943. The 509th Parachute Regiment received crimson berets from their English colleagues as a sign of recognition and respect. The use of the beret as a headdress for military personnel in the Soviet Union dates back to 1936. According to the order of NGOs of the USSR to wear berets dark blue, as part of the summer uniform, was reserved for female military personnel and students of military academies.

Berets became the default military headdress in the late 20th and early 21st centuries, just as the cocked hat, shako, cap, cap, and cap did in their respective eras. Berets are now worn by many military personnel in most countries around the world.

And now, actually, about berets in elite troops. And we will start, of course, with the Alpine rangers - the unit that introduced the fashion for wearing berets in the army. Alpine Chasseurs (Mountain Shooters) are the elite mountain infantry of the French Army. They are trained to conduct combat operations in mountainous and urban areas. They wear a wide dark blue beret.

The French Foreign Legion wears light green berets.

French Navy commandos wear the green beret.

The French Marines wear dark blue berets.

French Air Force commandos wear dark blue berets.

French paratroopers wear red berets.

German airborne troops wear maroon berets.

German special forces (KSK) wear berets of the same color, but with a different emblem.

The Vatican Swiss Guards wear a large black beret.

The Dutch Royal Marines wear dark blue berets.

The Airmobile Brigade (11 Luchtmobiele Brigade) of the Royal Netherlands Armed Forces wears maroon berets (Maroon).

The Finnish Marines wear green berets.

Italian paratroopers of the Carabinieri regiment wear red berets.

Soldiers of the special unit of the Italian Navy wear green berets.

The Portuguese Marines wear dark blue berets.

Soldiers of the British Parachute Regiment wear maroon berets.

Special Air Service (SAS) commandos have worn tan berets since World War II.

The British Royal Marines wear green berets.

The Fusiliers of Her Majesty's Gurkha Brigade wear green berets.

Canadian paratroopers wear maroon berets.

The 2nd Australian Army Commando Regiment wears green berets

American Rangers wear a beige beret (tan).

The American Green Berets (United States Army Special Forces) naturally wear green berets, which were approved for them in 1961 by President John F. Kennedy.

US Airborne troops wear maroon berets, which they received in 1943 from their British counterparts and allies.

But the United States Marine Corps (USMC) does not wear berets. In 1951, the Marine Corps introduced several types of berets, green and blue, but they were rejected by tough warriors due to the fact that they looked “too feminine.”

Marines South Korea wear green berets.

Georgian Army Special Forces wear maroon (Maroon) berets.

Serbian special forces soldiers wear black berets.

The air assault brigade of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Tajikistan wears blue berets.

Hugo Chavez wears the red beret of the Venezuelan Parachute Brigade.

Let's move on to the valiant elite troops of Russia and our Slavic brothers.

Our response to the appearance in the armies of NATO countries of units that wore berets, in particular units of the US Special Forces, whose uniform headdress is a beret Green colour, was Order of the Minister of Defense of the USSR dated November 5, 1963 No. 248. According to the order, a new field uniform is being introduced for special forces units of the USSR Marine Corps. This form was accompanied by a black beret, from cotton fabric for sailors and sergeants of conscript service and wool fabric for officers.

The cockades and stripes on the berets of the Marine Corps changed many times: replacing the red star on the berets of sailors and sergeants with a black oval-shaped emblem with a red star and a bright yellow border, and later, in 1988, by order of the USSR Minister of Defense No. 250 of March 4, the oval emblem was replaced by an asterisk bordered by a wreath. IN Russian army there were also many innovations, and now it looks like this. After the approval of a new uniform for marine units, berets also appeared in the airborne troops. In June 1967, Colonel General V.F. Margelov, then commander of the Airborne Forces, approved sketches of a new uniform for the airborne troops. The designer of the sketches was the artist A. B. Zhuk, known as the author of many books on small arms and as the author of illustrations of the SVE (Soviet Military Encyclopedia). It was A.B. Zhuk who proposed the crimson color of the beret for paratroopers. A crimson beret was at that time all over the world an attribute of belonging to landing troops and V.F. Margelov approved wearing raspberry beret Airborne troops during parades in Moscow. On right side The beret was sewn with a small blue triangular flag with the emblem of the airborne troops. On the berets of sergeants and soldiers, there was a star framed by a wreath of ears of corn on the front; on the berets of officers, instead of a star, a cockade was attached.

How to properly return a military beret

Part of the military uniform is the beret. It is practical, beautiful, does not take up much space, and therefore is the statutory headdress of many branches of the military. This is the pride of any soldier. But it comes out in the form of a disk, which does not sit so nicely on the head. In order for it to take the desired shape, you need to beat the beret. Every soldier can do this.

In order for a military beret to fit well, it must be beaten correctly

Types of berets

Berets are worn by many of the world's armed forces. Our army is no exception. Who can you see this headdress on?

• Speckled. The maroon beret is a form of encouragement for special forces and internal troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. To get it, you must prove that a person has all the qualities inherent in a professional. It is presented as a reward for courage. A maroon beret is issued after a series of tests. First, a preliminary stage is carried out, then the main tests, which include a march of at least 10 km, and performing acrobatic exercises, and hand-to-hand combat, etc.
• Blue. The blue beret is used by many branches of the military. In Russia, the blue beret is worn by airborne troops (VDV). At first it was crimson in color, like other airborne soldiers. but in 1968 the color was changed to blue. That's how he remains to this day.
• Black. The black beret is the symbol of the Marine Corps. This is a compact headgear that does not interfere while moving. It's easy to put headphones on it and hide it in your pocket. The Marine Corps is an elite branch of the military, so wearing a black beret is also an honor.

There is a suture headgear and a seamless one, which is also called a droplet.

Black military beret - elite headdress

How to hit

How to beat off a beret so that it looks beautiful on your head?

Simple ways

Let's look at simple methods that will tell you how to shape a beret.

With a hammer. You need to slightly wet it, stroke it, and steam it. Then put it on a chair and beat it with a hammer along the edge. Then the edge will become sharp.

On the palm. Get it wet. You can use water with sugar, then the product will become hard. But with such a headdress you will have to avoid water and rain, otherwise it will lose its shape. Place it on your palm and beat it vigorously to give it the desired shape and straighten the edging.

On the head. This method is suitable if you are tidying up a droplet. How to return the beret:

• insert the cockade;
• wet it and shake the water;
• Pull it directly onto your head when wet;
• give the required shape;
• wait until it dries without removing it so that it retains its shape;
• Press down the edge with pliers to make it sharper.

In order for the beret to take the correct shape, it must be put on your head while wet.

The hard way

You can beat off the beret using the simple methods described above. But they may not work. Then this method is also suitable. If you do everything correctly, it will fit on your head like a glove.

• Carefully, so as not to spoil anything, we rip the lining with scissors.
• Place it in water (the hotter the better) and wait a couple of minutes for it to soak. Then we squeeze it out.
• Replace the cockade and put it on.
• We smooth it out right on the head, giving it the desired shape. The crown should be pulled to the right so that a half-disc appears. Then - the arch for the cockade. To do this, hold it with your left hand and stroke the top of the head forward. Make sure there are no holes, press harder. Its fabric is strong, it will not tear.
• As soon as it has taken the desired shape, you need to apply shaving foam to it, lubricating it thoroughly. There is no need to remove your headdress. Then you need to wait a little and rub the foam into the product. Make sure there are no streaks or white spots left.
• Without taking off your hat, walk in it until it dries (from 1.5 hours). When it dries, you can remove it from your head and leave it until completely dry.
• Put it in order, remove the pellets of foam and water. To do this, you need to shave the beret with a razor. When the surface is smooth, spray hairspray inside the product. The more varnish, the better.
• We insert a plastic card under the cockade, cutting it to size.

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