FRESH informational occasion - the recent qualification tests for the right to wear a maroon beret by servicemen of internal troops and law enforcement agencies, recently held in the vicinity of Minsk, forced the editors of Spetsnaz to pay close attention to ... headgear of soldiers and officers of various units. First of all - on berets. Where did they come from, what color does it symbolize, who has the right to wear certain berets? Let's try to figure it out with the help of experts ...

Our answer to the green berets

LET'S START with what he takes - a necessary attribute of the uniform of military personnel in many countries of the world. Often takes - a distinctive feature of representatives of special forces, a source of pride for its owners. As you know, berets and heads of military personnel of the Belarusian Armed Forces, internal troops, special police, the State Security Committee, the State Border Committee, and the Ministry of Emergency Situations adorn today.

In the Armed Forces of the USSR, berets appeared later than in the armies of other countries, - says Colonel Alexander Gruenko, Deputy Commander of the Special Operations Forces for Ideological Work. - According to some sources, the introduction of berets, in particular, in the airborne troops was a kind of response to the appearance in the army of a potential enemy of rapid reaction units wearing green berets. Apparently, the Ministry of Defense decided that the wearing of berets would not be contrary to the traditions of the Soviet Army.

The troops accepted the innovation with a bang. When drafted into the army, many young men aspired to be in the ranks of elite units, marked by a distinctive feature - a blue beret.

Marine Corps Black

HOWEVER, for the first time in the Armed Forces of the USSR, not blue berets, as many believe, but black berets appeared. In 1963, it was they who became a distinctive feature of the Soviet marines. For her, by order of the Minister of Defense, a field uniform was introduced: the soldiers wore a black beret (woolen for officers and cotton for sergeants and sailors of military service). The beret had a leatherette side, on the left side - a red flag with a golden anchor, in front - an officer's emblem of the Navy. For the first time in the new field uniform, the marines appeared at the November 1968 parade on Red Square. Then the flag "migrated" to the right side of the beret due to the fact that the stands for guests of honor and the Mausoleum were to the right of the columns when the columns passed. Later, on the berets of sergeants and sailors, the star was supplemented with a wreath of laurel leaves. The decision on these changes may have been made by the Minister of Defense, Marshal of the Soviet Union A. Grechko, or in agreement with him. At least, written orders or other orders in this regard, the researchers say, are not mentioned anywhere. Before the end of the November parades in Moscow, the marines went to the parade in berets and field uniforms with "ceremonial" changes and additions. In 1969, by order of the Minister of Defense of the USSR, an oval black emblem with a golden edging and a red star in the middle was installed as an emblem on the berets of sergeants and sailors. Subsequently, the oval emblem was replaced with a star in a wreath.

By the way, at one time tankmen also wore black berets. They relied on special uniforms established for tankers by order of the Minister of Defense in 1972.

Airborne: from crimson to blue

In the SOVIET airborne troops, a crimson-colored beret was originally supposed to be worn - it was this beret that was the symbol of the airborne troops in the armies of the majority of howling uniforms for paratroopers, including two beret options. With everyday uniforms, it was supposed to wear a khaki beret with a red star. However, this option remained on paper. Margelov decided to wear the raspberry beret as a ceremonial headdress. On the right side of the beret was a blue flag with the emblem of the Airborne Forces, and in front - a star in a wreath of ears (for soldiers and sergeants). The officers on the beret wore a cockade with the emblem of the 1955 model and the flight emblem (a star with wings). Crimson berets began to enter the troops in 1967. In the same year, at the November parade on Red Square, for the first time, paratrooper units in new uniforms and berets marched. However, literally next year, crimson berets were replaced with blue ones. The color symbolizing the sky was considered more suitable for this type of troops. In August 1968, when troops entered Czechoslovakia, Soviet paratroopers were already wearing blue berets. But by order of the Minister of Defense of the USSR, the blue beret was officially installed as a headdress for airborne units only in July 1969. A star in a wreath was attached to the front of the berets for soldiers and sergeants, and an Air Force cockade for officers. The red flag with the emblem of the Airborne Forces was worn on the left side of the berets by the military personnel of the guards units, and moved to the right side at parades in Moscow. The idea of ​​wearing flags belonged to the same Margelov. Unlike the blue flag on the crimson beret, the dimensions of which were specified in the technical specifications for manufacturing, the red flags were made independently in each part and did not have a single sample. In March 1989, in the new rules for wearing uniforms, the wearing of a flag on berets was fixed for all military personnel of the airborne troops, airborne assault units and special forces. Today, military personnel of the mobile units of the Belarusian Armed Forces still wear blue berets.

Legendary maroon

The question of the distinctive form of clothing was also raised during the formation of special forces units of the troops of the USSR Ministry of Internal Affairs. In May 1989, the head of the internal troops and the head of the main logistics department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs prepared a letter addressed to the Minister of the Interior, who decided to introduce a maroon (dark crimson) beret as a special distinction for special forces units. Unlike marines and paratroopers, a maroon beret was a sign of qualification and was awarded only after completing a special training course and passing exams. This tradition, as you know, has been preserved to this day.

green border

WHAT he takes gives the marines and paratroopers a brave and courageous look, did not go unnoticed in other branches of the military. After some time, many military personnel of the Soviet Union expressed their desire to wear berets. The border guards were no exception.

The first case of wearing a beret by the guards of the borders of the USSR dates back to 1976 - in the summer, for one month, cadets of the training border detachment in Kaliningrad and the Moscow Higher Military Command School of the Border Troops in Golitsino wore uniforms modeled after the Airborne Forces as an experiment: an open cotton tunic, a white-green vest and a green beret with a red flag on the side. However, although the border troops were part of the KGB of the USSR, all changes in uniforms had to be coordinated with the Ministry of Defense, which did not approve such an initiative and banned the wearing of a new uniform.

In 1981, camouflage uniforms were introduced in the border troops. The new "wardrobe" also included a camouflage beret with a fastened visor. In 1990, the green berets returned to the border troops. From February 1990 to September 1991, they included the only Operational Airborne Division of the KGB PV in the Soviet Union. In April 1991, the personnel of the division received green berets with the emblem of the Airborne Forces on blue flags on the side of the headgear to the standard border uniform.

After the declaration of independence of the Republic of Belarus, on January 16, 1992, the Main Directorate of the Border Troops was established under the Council of Ministers. Soon, the development of uniforms for the national border troops began. Taking into account the wishes of the military and the development trends of military uniforms of that time, a green beret was also introduced.

However, since 1995, some changes have taken place in the uniforms of our border troops, enshrined in Presidential Decree of May 15, 1996 N 174 "On military uniforms and insignia for military ranks." According to the document, only military personnel of special forces units had the right to wear light green berets in the border troops.

What do they wear in Alpha?

LESS known is the beret of the anti-terrorist special unit "Alpha" of the KGB of Belarus. It has a cornflower blue color, traditional for state security agencies. A candidate who wants to serve in Alpha goes through testing, passes numerous tests. At the next council of the officers' meeting, the fighter's units are officially enrolled in the ranks - at the same time he is given a beret. There are no hard and fast rules about when you can wear a hat and when you can’t. It all depends on the specific situation - is it a combat operation or an everyday option.

There is no institute for taking a beret in the KGB special unit. Why? Experts say this is due to the specifics of the service. Alpha accepts only experienced fighters, officers, among whom there are many masters of sports and those who took part in military operations. They no longer need to prove anything to anyone ...

The brightest - in the Ministry of Emergency Situations

IF you see a strong man in a red beret, then know that in front of you is a fighter of the Republican Special Forces Detachment of the Ministry of Emergency Situations. The ROSN berets have a utilitarian function. The headdress does not give a special status to a fighter - this is a common element of uniform. It is worth clarifying that, in general, there are two color options for the berets of employees of the “emergency” department: red and green. Red beret - for officers, commanding officers. In emergency situations, bright colors help them stand out from the crowd. And it’s easier for the fighters to notice the commander, which means it’s time to hear the command. Green berets are worn by privates and ensigns.

Prepared by Alexander GRACHEV, Nikolay KOZLOVICH, Artur STREKH.

Photo by Alexander GRACHEV, Artur STREKH, Artur PRUPAS, Alexander RUZHECHKO.

SPECIAL FORCES OCTOBER 2008

Read also

Takes a soft headdress without a visor. In the armed forces of different countries, it is used as a ceremonial headdress and a distinctive feature of some special forces units. History The prototype of the modern beret was probably a Celtic headdress. In the Middle Ages, the beret became widespread, both among the civilian population and in the army. This can be judged by book miniatures. In the late Middle Ages, there are

Takes a soft headdress without a visor. History The prototype of the modern beret was probably a Celtic headdress. In the Middle Ages, the beret became widespread, both among the civilian population and in the army. This can be judged by book miniatures. In the era of the late Middle Ages, decrees appeared on the introduction of a military uniform, where a beret appears as the main headdress. The popularity of the beret in Europe began to fall

The beret is the main headgear in the Israel Defense Forces. One of the features of the IDF, which immediately catches the eye of an outside observer, is the universal wearing of berets with full dress uniforms. Indeed, in the Israel Defense Forces, caps are worn only by military bands, military police on duty and disciplinary ensigns at ceremonial events, there are also parade caps

Surprisingly, before the outbreak of the First World War, the beret, as part of the military uniform, was not widely used. True, in the 17th century, some parts of the British army, consisting of Scottish highlanders, wore a certain prototype of it. Moreover, at that time it was considered a common element of fishermen's clothing. An Italian soldier in a crimson beret - the symbol of the paratroopers of European countries. Military takes - a symbol of the tank forces of Great Britain Most contributed to the promotion

Today we will tell from such a curious headdress as a beret, as well as about its variety, which is a military, army one. Its history began quite a long time ago, because its prototype, most likely, is the headdress of the Celts. The beret was very popular in the Middle Ages. Moreover, it was worn by both representatives of the civilian population and soldiers, book miniatures speak about this. Further, during the period of the end of the Middle Ages, decrees began to be approved,

Blue takes a headdress, takes a blue color, which is an element of a military uniform, a uniform headdress of military personnel of the armed forces of different states. It is worn by military personnel in the forces of the United Nations, the Russian Air Force, the Russian Airborne Forces of the Airborne Forces of the Armed Forces of Russia, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, the Special Forces of Kyrgyzstan, the Special Operations Forces of the Republic

Krapovy takes a uniform headdress in the Russian Federation. The highest form of distinction for military personnel of special forces units of the National Guard of Russia, earlier than the internal troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the USSR and Russia. It is assigned in the order of passing tough qualification tests and is the subject of exclusive pride of the commando. Military personnel under contract and military personnel are allowed to qualify for the right to wear a maroon beret.

The use of the beret as a headdress for military personnel in the Soviet Union dates back to 1936. According to the order of the NPO of the USSR, women soldiers and students of military academies were supposed to wear dark blue berets as part of summer uniforms. After the Second World War, women in uniform began to wear khaki berets. However, berets became more widespread in the Soviet Army much later, partly this

In many armies of the world, berets indicate that the units using them belong to the elite troops. Since they have a special mission, the elite units must have something to separate them from the rest. For example, the famous green beret is a symbol of perfection, a sign of valor and distinction in the struggle for freedom. The history of the military beret Given the practicality of the beret, informal military use in Europe goes back thousands of years. An example would be

The beret is a soft headdress without a round visor. It came into fashion during the Middle Ages, but for a long time it was considered an exclusively male headdress, since it was mainly worn by military people. Currently, berets are part of the military uniform of various troops of the Russian Armed Forces, each of which has its own characteristic coloring of berets, which can be used to determine whether an employee belongs to one or another branch of the Armed Forces.

In many armies of the world, berets indicate that the units using them belong to the elite troops. Consider their history and varieties in different types of troops. Given the practicality of the beret, the informal use of the beret by the European military goes back thousands of years. An example is the blue beret, which became the symbol of the Scottish military in the 16th and 17th centuries. As an official military headdress, the beret began to be used in

The beret is a symbol of courage and courage, its wearing is practiced in almost all armies of the world. As a rule, in any branch of the armed forces of Russia, in addition to everyday uniforms, caps and peaked caps, there are also additional accessories just in the form of berets. In some troops, everyone can get such a headdress, in other cases, they take a special thing, a relic, the right to wear which can only be obtained by passing a difficult exam. Today we will talk

It has long been known that the maroon beret is a symbol and a distinctive part of the uniform of Russian special forces units. In addition, the fighter on whom the beret is worn is an example of courage, stamina, fearlessness, poise and professionalism, it simply cannot be otherwise. Indeed, in order to be awarded the right to wear a maroon beret, it is necessary to pass a special test, the implementation of the established standards of which is a very difficult task even for an experienced and trained

Maroon beret, this is a difficult element of clothing for a special forces soldier, it is a symbol of valor and honor, the right to wear which is not awarded to many. There are only two ways to get this cherished insignia. A special beret can be earned for participation and courage in hostilities, for courage and fortitude. You can pass qualification tests for the right to wear this special headgear. History

Over time, multi-colored military berets have become not just a replacement for caps and caps, but also an indicator of a certain elitism of their owners. After all, the marines and airmen who wore them, as well as various special forces, were considered the elite and even the most revered caste in the army. Until recently, Russia was no different, where only selected and specially trained military personnel had the right to a prestigious beret. Now the situation has changed a lot. Beret

Currently, the beret is a uniform headdress in most of the world's armed forces. It represents the pride and bravery of a soldier. Young men who are serving in the Armed Forces, where the beret is introduced, dream of demobilization and fully prepare for it. The biggest problem for them is the repulsion of this wonderful headdress. That is why every soldier should be able to fight him off and help his comrades in this matter in the future. Since there are several types of berets, statutory, semi-statutory and a drop,

If for a civilian, a beret is an ordinary headdress, which, in principle, is more popular among women, then for military personnel, a beret is not just an integral part of the uniform, but a symbol. Currently, each branch of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation has its own beret. Hats differ not only in color, but also in the rule and the right to wear it. Therefore, not everyone knows how it differs, for example, in taking the GRU special forces from the headdress of the marines.

The first mention of an army headdress

The very first army berets appeared at the turn of the 17th and 18th centuries in England and Scotland. Then the warriors wear special caps that look like berets. However, the mass distribution of such a headdress began only during the First World War. The first who began to wear them were the soldiers of the tank and mechanized units of the French army.

Further, the baton for the introduction of such an element of clothing was the UK. With the advent of tanks, the question arose of what to wear to the tanker, because the helmet was very uncomfortable, and the cap was too bulky. Therefore, it was decided to introduce a black beret. The color was chosen on the basis that the tankers are constantly working and are near the equipment, and soot and oil are not visible on the black color.

The appearance of a beret in the army

During the Second World War, such hats became even more popular, especially among the Allied forces. US Special Forces soldiers noted the following conveniences of these headgear:

• First of all, they hid their hair well;
• Dark colors were not visible in the dark;
• The berets were warm enough;
• He could wear a helmet or a helmet.

Accordingly, some types and types of troops in Great Britain and the United States adopted a headdress as one of the main elements of uniforms. In the Soviet army, this element of clothing began to appear already in the early sixties, as the head attribute of the landing and special forces. Since then, the rules and wearing of such hats have not changed much.

Which one does the special forces take?

At the end of the 20th century, berets became an integral part of the daily and dress uniforms of the armies of many countries. In almost every defensive state there are elite special units that have their own unique headgear:

1. The mountain infantry detachments of the French armed forces, the Alpine Chasseurs, wear a dark blue beret of a sufficiently large diameter.
2. The elite Foreign Legion is characterized by light green robes.
3. French naval special forces are distinguished by wearing a green beret.
4. German airborne troops and reconnaissance units wear maroon berets, but with different emblems on it.
5. The Royal Netherlands Marines are distinguished by wearing dark blue uniform elements, while the paratroopers are wearing maroon headdresses.
6. British special forces SAS have been wearing beige caps since the mid-forties of the last century, and the marines are green.
7. The US Rangers are recognizable by the same color as the British Special Forces - beige.
8. US Special Forces have been wearing green berets since 1961, earning their nickname.

It can be seen that most of the NATO member countries have an identical color range of hats. As for the shape, it is round for all armies, and differs only in size.

Distribution in the Armed Forces of the USSR

In 1967, an updated uniform was adopted for the Airborne Forces. The famous Soviet artist A.B. Zhuk submitted a proposal to General V.F. Margelov to use crimson caps as an attribute of paratroopers, referring to the use of such caps in other countries of the world. The commander agreed and approved the beret. For privates and sergeants, an emblem in the form of an asterisk was intended, which was attached to the front in the center of the beret, and a blue flag was located on the right, and a cockade was provided for officers.

A year later, a blue beret was adopted for the paratroopers, as the leadership considered that it more symbolizes the color of the sky. As for the marines, black was approved for this type of troops. Tankmen also used black berets, but not as the main headgear, but during the maintenance and repair of equipment to protect their heads from dirt.

The difference between the uniform of the GRU special forces and the rest of the military branches

Special Forces developed with the Airborne Forces at the same time and due to similar specifics And the use and profile of the tasks of these troops, their uniforms were identical. The special forces soldiers wore exactly the same uniform as the paratroopers. Outwardly, it is very difficult to distinguish who is standing in front of you: a commando or an airborne officer. After all, the color, and the shape, and the cockade itself are the same. However, the GRU had one caveat.

Blue berets and the uniform of the Airborne Forces in Soviet times were mostly worn by special forces soldiers in training units or at a parade. After the training centers, the soldiers were assigned to combat units, which could be carefully disguised as other branches of the military. This was especially true for those who were sent to serve abroad.

Instead of a white and blue vest, beret and lace-up boots, the soldiers were given the usual combined arms uniform, for example, like tankers or signalmen. So you could forget about berets. This was done in order to hide the presence of the special forces from the eyes of the enemy. Thus, for the GRU, the blue beret is a ceremonial headdress and only in those cases when it is allowed to wear it.

The beret of the GRU special forces is not just a type of headdress and an integral part of the uniform, but a symbol of valor and courage, honor and nobility, the right to wear which is not given to every even the most experienced and brave warrior.

Video: how do they pass the standards for a maroon beret?

In this video, Pavel Zelennikov will show how the special forces elite receive an olive and maroon beret:

Given the practicality of the beret, the informal use of the beret by the European military goes back thousands of years. An example is the blue beret, which became the 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, commissioned by General Tomás de Zumalacárregui, who wanted to make headdresses resistant to the vagaries of mountain weather, easy to care for and used on special occasions in an inexpensive way. .

Other countries followed suit, after 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 an epaulette, they can be worn with headphones (this is one of the reasons why tankers adopted berets) . The beret was found to be especially useful for armored car 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 in the form of clothing was considered at a high level, General Elles, who was a promoter of berets, made another argument - during maneuvers it is comfortable to sleep in a beret and it can be used as a balaclava. After lengthy debate in the Ministry of Defense, 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 headgear was noticed by the rest, and by 1940 all armored units in the UK 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 popular in the headgear of tank crews as it does not show oil stains.

The Second World War gave berets a new popularity. English and American saboteurs, thrown behind German lines, in particular, to France, quickly appreciated the convenience of berets, especially dark colors - it was convenient to hide hair under them, they protected the head from the cold, the beret was used as a balaclava, etc. Some English units introduced berets as a headdress for formations and military branches. For example, it happened with the SAS - the Special Aviation Service, a special forces 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 DuMaurier, the wife of General Frederick Brown, one of the heroes of the Second World War. For the color of the beret, paratroopers immediately received the nickname "cherries". Since then, the crimson beret has become the unofficial symbol of military paratroopers around the world.

The first use of berets in the US military dates back to 1943. The 509th Airborne Regiment received crimson berets from their English colleagues as a sign of recognition and respect. The use of a beret as a headdress for military personnel in the Soviet Union dates back to 1936. According to the order of the NPO of the USSR, women soldiers and students of military academies were supposed to wear dark blue berets as part of summer uniforms.

Berets became the default military headgear at the end of the 20th and the beginning of the 21st century, just like the cocked hat, shako, cap, cap, kepi, at one time in their respective eras. Berets are now worn by many military personnel in most countries around the world.

And now, in fact, about the berets in the elite troops. And we will start, of course, with the Alpine Jaegers - the unit that introduced the fashion for wearing berets in the army. The Chasseurs Alpine (Mountain Fusiliers) are the elite mountain infantry of the French Army. They are trained to fight in mountainous terrain and in urban areas. They wear a wide dark blue beret.

The French Foreign Legion wears light green berets.

The 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 berets in maroon (Maroon).

The German Special Forces (KSK) wear berets of the same color but with a different emblem.

The Swiss Guards of the Vatican wear a large black beret.

The Royal Dutch Marines wear dark blue berets.

The Airmobile Brigade (11 Luchtmobiele Brigade) of the Armed Forces of the Kingdom of the Netherlands 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 been wearing beige berets (tan) since World War 2.

The British Royal Marines wear green berets.

Riflemen from Her Majesty's Gurkha Brigade wear green berets.

Canadian paratroopers wear berets in maroon (Maroon).

Australian Army 2nd Commando Regiment wears green berets

American Rangers wear a beige beret (tan).

The American "Green Berets" (United States Army Special Forces) naturally wear the green berets that President John F. Kennedy approved for them in 1961.

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

And in the United States Marine Corps (USMC), berets are not worn. In 1951, the Marine Corps introduced several types of berets, green and blue, but they were rejected by tough warriors because they looked "too feminine."

South Korean Marines 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 Paratrooper Brigade.

Let's move on to the valiant elite troops of Russia and our fellow Slavs.

Our response to the appearance in the armies of NATO countries of units that wore berets, in particular parts of the US SOF, whose uniform headgear is green, was the 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 uniform was supposed to be a black beret, made of cotton fabric for sailors and sergeants of military service and woolen fabric for officers.

The cockades and stripes on the berets of the marines 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 bright yellow edging, and later, in 1988, by order of the Minister of Defense of the USSR No. 250 of March 4, the oval emblem was replaced by an asterisk bordered by a wreath. There were also many innovations in the Russian army, and now it looks like this. After the approval of a new uniform for the marines, berets 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 for the SVE (Soviet Military Encyclopedia). It was A. B. Zhuk who proposed the crimson color of the beret for paratroopers. A raspberry-colored beret was at that time an attribute of belonging to the landing troops all over the world, and V.F. Margelov approved the wearing of a raspberry beret by military personnel of the Airborne Forces during parades in Moscow. On the right side of the beret was sewn a small blue triangular flag with the emblem of the airborne troops. On the berets of sergeants and soldiers in front there was a star framed by a wreath of ears, on the berets of officers, instead of an asterisk, a cockade was attached.

You will need

• Takes a drop (choose your size, look at 54-55),
• water (preferably hot)
• shaving foam or gel
• hairspray (colorless),
• disposable razor,
• scissors,
• any plastic card
• cockade.

Instruction

To begin with, we cut out the lining at with scissors, but at the same time we do not cut off the insert for the cockade. Next, immerse the beret in hot water and wait 2 minutes for it to completely soak. We take it out, squeeze it out slightly, insert the cockade exactly in the center (we are guided by the insert inside the beret), put it on the head and tighten the ropes at the back of the head, tie it.

Without removing the beret, we begin to smooth it with our hands in the right directions. We smooth the left side back, bringing the hand to the back of the head. We stroke the top of the head to the right side, create a half-disk at the right ear. We make the arch for the cockade as follows: we hold the cockade, and with the right we smooth it from the crown forward, creating an edging.
Then everything is much simpler, you just need to trim these sides and remove stains and pits. Do not be afraid to smooth it harder, the beret will not tear. Pay special attention to the arch and half-disk at the ear, make them more prominent and even (it is advisable to iron the half-disk back to the back of the head after its formation, press it well to the ear and bend the ends). It's your choice how you want the half disc to look like: covering the half disc, lightly touching it, or just hanging in the air above it.

After we have made the form, we continue to improve it. We take shaving foam and apply on the beret in large quantities. We coat everything thoroughly, each section (we don’t remove the beret !!!). Then we wait a few minutes, you can also iron the sides a little, but not much. Then we wet our hands with water and begin to rub the foam (which is on the beret) with movements from side to side, with medium pressure.
Having removed all the stains and white spots, we iron the shape a little more, smooth out the flaws and leave our creation alone. In no case do we remove the beret, we walk in it for about 1.5 hours, or even more. It is advisable to be in a warm place so that it dries on you.

When it is dry on your head, it can be put on a table or on a battery to dry completely, but in such a way that the half-disk hangs from the edge. Then a completely dry beret, we must get rid of the pellets that formed from our foam and water. We take a razor and shave in the same directions where we smoothed the creation. We shave so that the surface is smooth and without defects, everything is neat and not in a hurry.
After that, we take hairspray and spray it on the inside of the beret, that is, where we cut out the lining. Spend all the varnish, do not spare it, the more the better. All this is done in order to make the beret harder. You will feel the result after such an operation.