<P> Soldiers of the U.S. Army's new Security Force Assistance Brigades (SFAB) are authorized to wear the brown beret--with a brigade specific beret flash and distinctive unit insignia (DUI)--to recognize these new specialized units whose core mission is to conduct training, advising, assisting, enabling and accompanying operations with allied and partner nations . According to an official U.S. Army article, "SFAB soldiers will be on the ground with their partners - fighting side - by - side with them in all conditions, so the brown beret symbolizes dirt or mud akin to the' muddy boots' moniker given to leaders who are always out with the troops ." </P> <P> In 1943 General Frederick Browning, commander of the British First Airborne Corps, granted a battalion of the U.S. Army's 509th Parachute Infantry Regiment honorary membership in the British Parachute Regiment and authorized them to wear British - style maroon berets . During the Vietnam War, U.S. military advisers to Vietnamese airborne units often wore the Vietnamese French - style red beret . </P> <P> HQDA policy from 1973 through 1979 permitted local commanders to encourage morale - enhancing distinctions . Airborne forces chose to wear the maroon beret as a mark of distinction . This permission was rescinded in 1979 when the army Chief of Staff, GEN Bernard Rogers, required all units to adhere to the uniform regulation (AR 670 - 1). On 28 November 1980, the updated regulation authorized airborne (parachute) organizations to resume wearing the maroon beret . In the interim, airborne units wore baseball caps with silver wings and the oval flash above the rank badge with the fatigue uniform, and the overseas cap with glider and parachute patch with the dress green uniform . </P> <P> On 14 June 2001, U.S. Army Rangers assigned to the 75th Ranger Regiment were authorized to wear a distinctive tan beret to replace the black berets that had recently become the army - wide standard . The color was chosen by the members of the 75th Ranger Regiment as being similar to other elite units with similar missions worldwide, notably the British, Australian and New Zealand Special Air Service regiments . </P>

Who wears the red beret in the army