Preparing and Shaping the Beret

I was a Guardsman in the British Army in the late seventies and I can confirm that the correct way to treat and shape a beret was to first give it a good shave followed by 20 mins in first boiling water and then cold ( but not the leather head band) before plonking it on your head and massaging it in to the correct shape. You then let it dry while wearing it. You might have to do this half a dozen times before getting it just right. Beret styles are a personal choice but nobody wants the Helicopter landing pad style that the Ruperts ( officers ) seemed to favour. Favourite styles ranged from the cap badge practically over the left ear in a sort of Foreign legion look to the Albert Steptoe "flat cap" look where the fold of the beret is almost at the front ( favoured by Paratroopers). Hope that helps.

Step 1 - get it wet. Step 2 - wring it out. Step 3 - be a man about it and shape it the correct way, by working the shape into it whilst it's drying on your head.

I love how these cadets are mostly helping new recruits in actual armed forces

When I was in every beret issued to me was about the same size as a seat on a bar stool. The beret had to be shrunk by immersing in hot and cold water alternately. Once it got down to a size which wasn’t a danger to air traffic it the wind took it off your head you then shaped it. Only having one beret meant that if you started shrinking and shaping just after duties in the afternoon it was almost wearable by breakfast the next day. Wearing it speeded up the drying. The string had to be finished in a neat bow, held in place with a couple of stitches through the centre of the knot.

1) Cut out the lining. 2) Shave it. 3) Dunk in hot water. 4) Dunk in cold water. 5) Dunk in hot water. 6) Dunk in cold water. 7) Dunk in hot water. 8) Dunk in cold water. 9) Ring it out. 10) Insert beret badge and shape it on your head. 11) Leave it on your head all day without touching it. 12) Carefully take it off your head before getting into your pit and leave it on a shelf with the excess hanging over the edge. 13) Don't touch it until it is completely dry.

I just folded mine to desired shape and kept it under a stack of heavy books. Turned out great after a few days.

This is a great video on what not to do. You need to shave it with disposable razors and carefully use a lighter to get fuzzy spots. Try not to shave a hole into your beret. When finished with this hold it up to a light and you should see some light coming through tiny pin sized holes. Next use warm water to soak the beret and shape it to your head. You can do this in the shower. Once you have obtained the desired shape fold the beret and place between a desk or locker to hold the shape and let it dry.

caually watching this the day before uniform inspection

The best way is to soak it in warm water and put it on your head and pull it into shape. Then take it off and put it down somewhere to dry, or if it's hot outside, keep it on untill it dries.

I was a Green Beret (Special Forces) US Army. We were issued 2 berets and when we completed all phases of training were also issued a flash which represented our Group number (I was in the fifth group). This was sewn on the beret in the appropriate spot. However, most of us removed the liner of the beret and shaped it to our head. After the flash was put on we attached the metal emblem of special forces (de oppresso liber which means to free the oppressed). When I was in Special Forces the Green Beret was the only official beret that was allowed to be worn because we had to earn it! The flash was placed on the beret directly over the left eye. Later, the Army issued other color berets, mostly black ,tan, and red. These I felt these reduced the honor I was given to be issued a Green Beret.

This popped up on my you tube seems a lot to go through. Finding a small crown beret i,e from du bora or a compton webb I think is a good idea. Hot and cold water and keep it on your head as it drys. Head bands have a habbit of shrinking and leather I found better as you could pull it a bit if it was cutting off the distal circulation of your head. Good idea with the backing plate as you can mold the beret better by grabbing the top of the plate when the beret is in situ. Does give the beret a nice shape from my point of view. No criticism here just a different approach

It looks fine. You all are just mean, let him do it however way he wants to

ive never shaped a beret, and even i can tell this is retarded 

If I ever see someone wearing a beret like this, they aren’t getting their beret back until they learn how to properly wear it

1. Don't tie the strings yet! 2. Soak the beret. 3. While the beret is wet, form it on your head. 4. Walk into a Army recruiters office and get straightened out.

Homie's beret looks like he works for the pizza joints hahaha

This is gonna come in handy, since I just joined the cadets and will be getting my uniform in the next couple of weeks

Final step make sure it does not look like a heli landing pad lmao.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH my Good LAAAAWD that is NOT how you shape a Beret.

My Granddaddy use to tell me about the men who wore the green berets told me no matter how big or bad uu are them boys in the green beret will put uu on yo aas miss his war stories ii love uu granddaddy rip Mr. Ellison 04/28/19 😔😔😔😔😔