The Army says it will not change its plans to issue all soldiers black berets, but it might have to delay the implementation. Army troops were supposed to begin wearing the new black berets on June 14, but that is under review because more than 2 million berets were set to be manufactured in China and other countries, said Gen. Eric Shinseki, the Army Chief of Staff.
Federal law requires the berets to be made in the United States.
Seeking to defuse the battle of the beret, Shinseki on Friday said the elite Rangers unit will be switching colors, trading in their traditional black berets for tan ones. The move came after Rangers were outraged by last October's decision that most Army units will begin wearing black berets. The elite Rangers have worn black berets for decades. The black beret remains the most relevant color for wear Army-wide today. What tan color represents Shinseki said the 75th Ranger Regiment requested they wear a different colored beret to set them apart and the Army approved.