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From: Army Aviation Officer
Date: 18 May 2001
Time: 19:05:21
I have seen a lot of fighting and arguing about this beret. The feel of all the comments seems to be either "The CSA is crazy to think this will solve the Army's problems", or "The Rangers are mad because they like their hat". To the former, I challenge anyone to show me where the CSA said "We will issue the black beret to all soldiers and it will fix the Army's problems." The latter, I will address later.
Most people believe that first you train to be elite, then you begin to feel elite, then act elite, and at last you become elite (get your beret) and look the part (Ranger School?). I challenge that this can work in the opposite order.
Before I became an Army officer, I worked my way through school as a telemarketing manager. We used to have a thing called "Casual Friday", a day where we could do away with the normal shirt and tie routine and wear jeans and a t-shirt. We did away with it. Why? We found that customer complaints and lost orders were consistently higher on Friday.
Keeping in mind that all our business was done over the telephone, why should it have mattered what the agents were wearing? Our manner of dress should not have affected our performance, but it did. It mattered for the same reason we have standards for wear of the uniform and appearance standards. When you DRESS like a professional, you begin to FEEL like a professional, then you ACT like a professional.
While it is true that without proper training, all the headgear in the world won't solve much. However, who out there in an Army unit knows their unit and their soldiers could be better RIGHT NOW, without additional funds or training, just with a little pride and motivation? I know mine could be better. So does the CSA. This is a FIRST STEP toward a much-needed new beginning.
As for the Rangers, well, we all have our symbols gentlemen. I am an Aviator. So, how would I feel if the CSA decided to issue wings to everyone in the Army? I really wouldn't care too much. First of all, he is the CSA. He says, I do; it's that simple. Second, what makes me an Aviator is not the badge, its what I do--it's the training and the job. It doesn't matter who wears those wings, if you can't do what I do, you’re not an aviator.
Rangers have the Ranger Tab, the "Ranger Roll" in the soft cap, and now the tan beret. I wonder exactly how many neat symbols you guys need to feel good about life? I have known Rangers and I have the utmost respect for most of them. But when I think of a Ranger, none of your symbols come to mind. What comes to mind is intense training, hard work, discipline and ABOVE ALL the ability to take on adversity and triumph. Well, I have to admit that when I started seeing protests, marches and generally a bunch of whining coming from the Ranger community, I was a little disappointed. I expected the Rangers to lead the way by saluting and moving out with the orders issued by the CSA. I guess maybe I was a little mixed up in what I thought about Rangers.
So, now everyone is taking a shot at the CSA. Again, I have to differ from the prevailing attitude and ask the questions: Does anyone besides me realize that this CSA is the best chance the Army has to turn things around? Does any one besides me read the news? I see the CSA trying to head off short-notice taskings. First thing he did was fill all the combat units to 100% of manning. Then he began to fix recruiting. He wants everyone to get 1 year of notice prior to PCS. He instituted a program to avoid moving families with kids during the school year. There is now a program in place that will get every last soldier off of food stamps. The last 2 years have seen the highest military pay raises ever. There is now hardship pay to help ease the financial burden of a hardship tours.
I see people whining about the Army transformation. Was I the only one who remembers how IRRELEVANT we were during the Kosovo campaign? We need to changes ladies and gentlemen. I have bad news--the Congress and the American people are under the mistaken impression that we can fight and win wars without the Army. If we don't transform into a relevant force for the future, we will suffer to pay for newer and more airpower and cruise missiles. Then, when we realize that despite our airpower we need to move in and hold ground, the Army will be woefully unprepared and we will lose the war.
Sound ugly? It does to me too. General Shinseki does not want it to happen. He is taking us in a new direction. He's never done this before-NO ONE HAS. We are going to hit some bumps and make some mistakes, but that is typical of any new enterprise. This is a direction in which we need to go. Give the CSA a chance--he's the best hope we have for the future of the Army.