page_title: Black beret
section_title: U.S. Air Force
hierarchical_section_title: Black beret / Usage by country / United States / U.S. Air Force
caption_attribution_description: English: U.S. Air Force Tactical Air Control Party Beret and Flash
context_page_description: The black beret is a type of headgear. It is commonly worn by paramilitaries and militaries around the world, particularly armored forces such as the British Army's Royal Tank Regiment, the Royal Canadian Armoured Corps, and the Royal Australian Armoured Corps. Notable non-armored military units to wear the black beret include the Russian Naval Infantry and Russian OMON units, the United States Air Force Tactical Air Control Party, Philippine National Police-Special Action Force members, and the Royal Canadian Navy. It was also worn by the United Kingdom's Royal Observer Corps with their Royal Air Force uniform, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority.
  Black berets are also worn by navies. In some navies, the naval color called black is officially "very dark blue". The Dutch Navy and Marines wear dark navy blue berets; a silver anchor for the Navy and a gold or dark brown anchor on a red background for the Marines. The Portuguese Marines and San Marco Regiment, the Marines of the Italian Navy also wear a dark blue beret. The Royal Norwegian Air Force also use a dark blue beret. Finnish Marine Infantry wear a dark blue beret with the Navy insignia..
context_section_description: In 1979, the black beret was authorized for wear by enlisted personnel in the Tactical Air Control Party. In 1984, two airmen from Pope Air Force Base, North Carolina submitted the current flash and badge design. It was approved for all TACP airmen in 1985. Tactical Air Control Party specialists (AFSC 1C4X1) are currently the only United States Air Force specialty allowed to wear the coveted black beret as part of their daily duty uniform wear.
  Tactical Air Control Party members of the United States Air Force wear black berets with a flash and badge design.
caption: U.S. Air Force's Tactical Air Control Party beret, flash, and crest
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