A group of Green Berets take a group photo through a night-vision scope during military exercises in Germany in April 2026. The Green Berets are an elite commando unit that specializes in psychological warfare and working closely with local allies. (US Army National Guard photo by Sgt. 1st Class Brandon Nelson)

What Makes the ‘Green Berets’ Unique (Other Than Their Hats)

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The origins of the famous ‘green beret’ date back to World War II, when OSS commandos—among the first special forces in US history—adopted the headgear while serving in France.

The Green Berets are US Army Special Forces, with a defining mission of unconventional warfare—specifically, operating with and training resistance forces. Established during the Cold War for the purpose of infiltrating Soviet-controlled territories and assisting indigenous resistance movements to wage guerrilla warfare, the Green Berets are a small number of highly trained Americans capable of generating influence far beyond what their personnel numbers would suggest.

The Origin of the Green Berets

World War II showed all major combatants the usefulness of “special forces” teams—elite commando units equipped to do battle in unusual conditions, including behind enemy lines. The British founded a specialized “Commando” unit in 1940 for this purpose, while the US Army created the Army Rangers in 1942. The US government also set up the Office of Strategic Services (OSS), its first civilian intelligence agency, whose Special Operations Branch trained commandos in spycraft, foreign language skills, infiltration, and psychological warfare.

The emergence of the Cold War—and the need for a greater US presence all around the world—created a demand for such specialized commandos well into the future. On June 11, 1952, Colonel Aaron Bank established the 10th Special Forces Group........

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