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All soldiers will wear a universal "flash" on their new black berets next June, but the Army says these eventually may be replaced by ones specially denoting a soldier's unit. IN THE MILITARY
Soldiers’ black
berets to include
shield with starsBy Gregg K. Kakesako
Star-BulletinThe current camouflage baseball-style cap, however, will still be used in the field.
The new flash -- to be worn on the left front of the beret -- is a semi-circular shield, 1 inches wide and 2 1/4 inches high. It will have a blue background with 13 white stars superimposed on its outer border. Officers will wear their ranks in the center of the shield.
Only special units, such as Ranger, Airborne and Special Forces, will continue to wear their current flashes.
On Oct. 17, Army Chief of Staff Gen. Eric Shinseki announced that the Army will don the black berets on the Army's 226th birthday, June 14. He said the beret will symbolize the Army's transformation to a lighter, more deployable force.
However, U.S. Rangers, who have worn the black berets since the 1970s, oppose the change, saying it should be awarded only to those soldiers who earn the privilege.
A memorial service honoring the 18 sailors and one civilian killed during the Dec. 7, 1941 Japanese attack at Kaneohe Naval Air Station will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at Marine Corps Base Hawaii in Kaneohe Bay.
Col. Michael Olson, the base's deputy commander, and Rear Adm. Michael Holmes, commander of the Pacific Fleet's Patrol and Reconnaissance Force, will lay a wreath at the Kaneohe Klipper Memorial.
