question of 1969-1970 SFQC

[JimH]

Hello all,
My question is in regard to 1969-1970 SFQC:
If a person entered SFQC during these years,finished phase 1 and then either left training or was asked to leave training would that person:
Be allowed to wear his Green Beret with a Crest only,no flash after leaving SFQC ?

Would that person be allowed to volunteer to go to Vietnam from SFQC and be allowed to wear the Green Beret with Crest,No Flash,while on leave ,and then on to Vietnam ?

Would that person not have been returned to their Home /Mother Unit and request deployment to Vietnam from there ?

I ask as I have been told that wearing the Beret and Crest,without Flash,(or candy stripe), was standard protocol,(as per REGS.), for that time when leaving or asked to leave in the middle of SFQC training .

I find it hard to believe that this would be allowed as it was always you either are Special Forces ,or you are not. If you didn't graduate SFQC you were not Special Forces,period.

Here is the picture in question:
http://army.togetherweserved.com/arm...rson&ID=264369

Thank you in advance for any help regarding this question.

Jim

The Infantry Cord wasn't authorized for wear while assigned to SF (Green Beret and SF Oval in pic)

[Trapper John]

I am from that era. We were not allowed to wear the Beret until completion of Phase I and then only with the crest (no flash). At any point during the subsequent 2 training phases we did not complete the training (voluntarily or involuntarily) we would have been re-assigned to a regular army unit. No Beret wearing after that point. The flash was awarded upon assignment to an active SF unit. Failure to complete Phase I would not result in the wearing of the Beret for any reason.

I am curious though, why do you ask? The link in your post is to a deceased veteran. What interest do you have in a deceased veteran's creds/claims, etc.? As a Vietnam War veteran myself, I am not particularly interested in discrediting a deceased Veteran for any reason. It seems to me that you are questioning the deceased Veterans claims. Am I correct? So please explain the reason for your questions?

[Ambush Master]

Originally Posted by JimH

Hello all,
My question is in regard to 1969-1970 SFQC:
If a person entered SFQC during these years,finished phase 1 and then either left training or was asked to leave training would that person:
Be allowed to wear his Green Beret with a Crest only,no flash after leaving SFQC ?

Would that person be allowed to volunteer to go to Vietnam from SFQC and be allowed to wear the Green Beret with Crest,No Flash,while on leave ,and then on to Vietnam ?

Would that person not have been returned to their Home /Mother Unit and request deployment to Vietnam from there ?

I ask as I have been told that wearing the Beret and Crest,without Flash,(or candy stripe), was standard protocol,(as per REGS.), for that time when leaving or asked to leave in the middle of SFQC training .

I find it hard to believe that this would be allowed as it was always you either are Special Forces ,or you are not. If you didn't graduate SFQC you were not Special Forces,period.

Here is the picture in question:
http://army.togetherweserved.com/arm...rson&ID=264369

Thank you in advance for any help regarding this question.

Jim

I went through the "Q" during this exact period.

#1 You could only wear the Beret/w Crest as long as you were still assigned to Training Group.

#2 When you left Training Group, if you were not a Graduate, you reverted back to the Standard Issue Airborne Headgear that the rest of the Airborne wore, you NO LONGER had any attachment to "The Beret"!!

#3 You would have been sent to where ever Mother Army needed and it may not have been an Airborne Unit!!

Any other Questions, give a shout!!
Martin

[JimH]

Hello Trapper John,
I ask because the site was posted to be looked at and read. When I saw the picture posted on Together We Served,I asked the person who posted it,another former Green Beret,why he put that picture up,as it was known that the person pictured never went past Phase one.
He said it was to show that the person pictured was a phase one graduate wearing his Green Beret Home on leave prior to being sent to Vietnam.
When I asked how he could wear it at all due to the fact that the person pictured left or was asked to leave training I was told it was per Regualtions at the time that he was allowed to wear it.

I am not trying to discredit the wearer,as he finished phase one and moved on from SFQC ,went to Vietnam ,was wounded and sent home, as a decorated Veteran.
I am just asking about wearing of the Green Beret and Crest after leaving training as being part of the Regulations at the time.

I had never heard of that and decided to ask here,where people would know the answer and not give an off handed reply they were not sure of.

I remember the candy stripes under the crest for unqualified people assigned to SF Units ,but had not heard of the crest alone as authorized head gear ,especially not when one walked away or was sent away from training.

I hope that answers your question,and I Thank You and the others for your replies, Much appreciated.

Jim

[Richard]

From the pic and what you've said about it:

• He completed Infantry BCT/AIT (blue Infantry Cord).
• He completed the BAC (Basic Parachutist Badge).
• He completed PH1 (beret w/crest - SF oval).
• He failed to complete either PH2 or PH3.
• He went home on PCS leave enroute to RVN.
• He wore his SFTG beret on PCS leave enroute to RVN.

What it means:

• He knowingly continued to wear his SFTG beret against regulations to "profile" for the ffolkes/girls/friends back home because it was so much "cooler" than a blank "overseas cap" or "service hat."
• He was wrong and knew it...but it was not uncommon, either, for soldiers to do such a thing - we called 'em "PX warriors" back then and "posers" or "wannabes" today.
• He is not being truthful about it to you.

And so it goes...

Richard

When, if ever was the INF cord authorized for wear by soldiers assigned to SFTG?

[Richard]

Originally Posted by WCH

When, if ever was the INF cord authorized for wear by soldiers assigned to SFTG?

It wasn't.

Richard

[rubberneck]

I remember reading about Echanis in SOF magazine in the early 80's. IIRC he killed himself and a couple others by trying to throw a live hand grenade out of an airplane in Nicaragua. He was also one of the people involved in the men who stare at goats thing.

Yep, he sure did. Was a "Mercenary" for a while before his death. Didn't know it was a grenade that killed him though. Thought it was an SA-7 that hit the plane?

[blue02hd]

Love the hands in the pockets and the porn stache. You old timers had no discipline,,,,,

[Dusty]

Originally Posted by rubberneck

I remember reading about Echanis in SOF magazine in the early 80's. IIRC he killed himself and a couple others by trying to throw a live hand grenade out of an airplane in Nicaragua. He was also one of the people involved in the men who stare at goats thing.

Was he a protege of Guy Savalle?

[jkirkthomas]

Love the hands in the pockets and the porn stache. You old timers had no discipline,,,,,

Us old timers all had porn staches.

[SF_BHT]

So much hate here... What did the Porn Stash do to you......

[Trapper John]

Originally Posted by blue02hd

Love the hands in the pockets and the porn stache. You old timers had no discipline,,,,,

Hey now??? Do you see any porn-staches in this pic?