Beckett doesn’t speak for military

Joseph W. McKinney
Published: February 20, 2008

It seems that Culpeper now has "beret gate" with the controversy over retired Command Sgt. Major Jerry Beckett's headgear. As a retired army officer, I find it off-putting that Beckett overtly displays his former military status while campaigning for Town Council. I also was not particularly impressed with Beckett's response to the sartorial criticism of retired Army Major Charles Snyder.

As Snyder explained, the army has longstanding policy  regarding the wearing of uniforms by retired soldiers. Additionally, the federal government has, as set forth in the U.S. Code, placed restrictions on the wearing of military uniforms by non-service members. There are many good reasons underlying both army regulations and the U.S. Code.

That Beckett purchased his beret from a commercial vendor is irrelevant. Perhaps he was never issued a beret by the Army.

The beret Beckett wears about town is a fairly recent addition to the Army uniform, replacing both the overseas cap and the garrison hat in 2000. If Beckett retired before 2000, he would have been issued a beret only if he were a member of an "elite" unit.

In the army, training is important. But in my experience, the army's non-commissioned officer corps is responsible for much more than teaching soldiers how to "survive in combat."

I believe that most sergeants would avow that maintaining discipline - which includes ensuring that soldiers wear their uniforms correctly - is the sergeants' business.    

Certainly, discipline is not merely an "administrative matter," as characterized by Beckett. Quite frankly, I find it strange for a senior NCO to not understand his duties.

Beckett knows the rules regarding uniforms, and yet chooses to disregard them. To me, Beckett's behavior in this matter is much like that of the illegal aliens, whom he castigates for disregarding U.S. immigration law.

Beckett neither speaks for, nor represents, the United States Army in the matters that have brought him to the attention of the public here in Culpeper. Further, people should not assume that he speaks for other former service members in the community. He certainly does not speak for me.

Joseph W. McKinney is a resident of Brandy Station.