Blue Berets in the Artillery
39 CANADIAN BRIGADE GROUP / 39E GROUPE-BRIGADE DU CANADA·THURSDAY, MAY 16, 2019
On Wednesday 15 May 2019, 5th Field Regiment (RCA) and 15th Field Regiment (RCA) have officially changed berets from Army Green to Army Blue.
In total, 16,000 new berets will be issued in a process that began in March 2019. The dark blue berets are a shade known officially as “Army Blue” and are being issued to members of The Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery (RCA), Royal Canadian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (RCEME), Royal Canadian Corps of Signals (RCCS), and Canadian Intelligence Corps (C Int C).
“We Gunners are honoured by the restoration of our distinctive blue beret and look forward to wearing it proudly alongside our RCCS, RCEME and C Int C comrades-in-arms,” said Brigadier-General (Retired) J.J. Selbie, Colonel Commandant of The Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery.
The blue beret is part of the overall initiative to reconnect the Canadian Army with its past. Numerous symbolic changes include the return to the Royal title for certain Services and Corps, the distinctive ranks, the return to the divisional system, the restoration of camp flags, pennants and the official recognition of traditional titles such as "Gunner" and "Bombardier", which had officially been abolished, but whose use was perpetuated by the Artillery itself.
In the specific case of artillery, the wearing of the distinctive beret marks a return to the golden age of artillery, the Second World War, the Korean War, as well as the identification with iconic personalities such as General Guy Simonds.
On Wednesday 15 May 2019, 5th Field Regiment (RCA) and 15th Field Regiment (RCA) have officially changed berets from Army Green to Army Blue.
In total, 16,000 new berets will be issued in a process that began in March 2019. The dark blue berets are a shade known officially as “Army Blue” and are being issued to members of The Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery (RCA), Royal Canadian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (RCEME), Royal Canadian Corps of Signals (RCCS), and Canadian Intelligence Corps (C Int C).
“We Gunners are honoured by the restoration of our distinctive blue beret and look forward to wearing it proudly alongside our RCCS, RCEME and C Int C comrades-in-arms,” said Brigadier-General (Retired) J.J. Selbie, Colonel Commandant of The Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery.
The blue beret is part of the overall initiative to reconnect the Canadian Army with its past. Numerous symbolic changes include the return to the Royal title for certain Services and Corps, the distinctive ranks, the return to the divisional system, the restoration of camp flags, pennants and the official recognition of traditional titles such as "Gunner" and "Bombardier", which had officially been abolished, but whose use was perpetuated by the Artillery itself.
In the specific case of artillery, the wearing of the distinctive beret marks a return to the golden age of artillery, the Second World War, the Korean War, as well as the identification with iconic personalities such as General Guy Simonds.
