In 2021, the Army scaled back its recruiting goals, seeking to bring in 1,250 new Green Berets. It exceeded its goals that year with 1,358 new Special Forces contracts, but dropped again with 779 ...

Eventually, however, it became standard. “The Green Beret was originally designated in 1953 by Special Forces Major Herbert Brucker, a veteran of the OSS,” records note.

The name comes from the distinctive head gear used, which are of course, green berets. According to the Army Times, the group was formed in 1952 as part of the Army’s Psychological Warfare Division.