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The beret is a symbol of achievement and recognition.
Many elite groups within other branches of military service have adopted the beret
for this same reason. No matter what the color or insignia, the beret has been the
trademark that identifies a particular group as being special and apart from the
average military soldier, sailor, or airman.
The roots of the Security Police beret are often
traced back to the 1041st Security Police Squadron (Test) and "Operation Safeside"
during 1965-67. The mission of the Air Police was changing, and this specially trained
Task Force adopted a light blue beret with a Falcon patch as their symbol. It can
only be speculated as to whether the idea came from the Army Ranger beret, since
the initial cadre of the 1041st SPS received it's initial training at the Army Ranger
School. The 1041st SPS evolved into the 82nd Combat Security Police Wing, but was
deactivated in December 1968, thus bringing an end to the light blue beret with
the falcon emblem.
Although the beret was not an authorized uniform
item for Security Police work, several local commanders authorized a dark blue beret
for their units even though the official Security Police cover remained the white
service cap. In the early 70's, Military Working Dog handlers assigned to the 6280th
SPS, Takhli RTAFB, Thailand, wore a dark blue beret with no insignia. The other
members of the unit wore fatigue caps and the "jungle bonny" style hat. Again, the
beret was distinguishing a specific group of specialized personnel. Other Units
adopted a version of the beret to distinguish their elite guards.
When Brigadier General (Major General select)
Thomas Sadler was appointed Air Force Chief of Security Police and the two symbol
AF/SP office was created in 1975, the Security Police had arrived. The General 's
task was to bring the Security Police into the mainstream of the Air Force and one
of the tools for doing that was recognition—recognition of deeds as well as members
of a distinctive and highly recognizable career field. The beret was one of the
proposed uniform changes that had been being considered. Although there was significant
opposition to the beret initially from senior colonels and MAJCOM Chiefs, the troops
loved the idea, and that's what is was all about. Several months later the uniform
board approved the proposal, and the beret was officially being worn world-wide
in 1976.
The dark blue beret of 1976 was worn with the
MAJCOM crest of the appropriate major command the unit was assigned to. It continued
this way for twenty years until the forming of the Security Forces in early 1997.
In March 1997, the 82nd CSPW was reactivated and redesigned the 820th Security Forces
Group. It provided worldwide "first in force protection" for Air Force contingencies.
The 820th SFG also adopted the heraldry of the 82nd CSPW, thus explaining the falcon's
revival as the emblem for the Security Forces, with the addition of the motto "Defensor
Fortis" on the scroll.
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