Ex-Ranger reschedules
protest march

A former Army Ranger is preparing to begin a protest march from Ft. Benning, Ga., to Washington, D.C., to highlight his disagreement with the U.S. Army's decision last year to allow all Army personnel to wear the coveted Ranger black beret.

As WorldNetDaily reported Jan. 10, former Ranger Dave Scott's planned 750-mile trek was set to begin Jan. 21. He has postponed his start date until Feb. 10, however, in an effort to better coordinate with local groups who want to help him along the way, according to the Fayetteville, N.C., Observer.

Scott, 42, is protesting a decision made by Army Chief of Staff Gen. Eric Shinseki last October that, in an effort to boost morale, all regular Army troops would be authorized to wear the Rangers' black beret beginning in June.

Scott said he had nothing against Shinseki personally, but rather his protest was aimed to draw attention to a decision he feels was made in error.

And though they're not allowed to discuss it publicly, many current Rangers -- as well as former Rangers and military veterans in all branches of service -- share Scott's displeasure over the decision.

"When we wear the black beret, it will say that we, the soldiers of the world's best army, are committed to making ourselves even better," Shinseki said in a speech to the annual convention of the Association of the United States Army last fall.

The Army chief also said the beret would be a "symbol of unity," but Scott and others believe the decision may actually have the opposite effect on unity and morale that Shinseki was attempting to achieve.

In an interview with Fayetteville Observer military reporter Jeff Newton, Scott said Shinseki's decision was symptomatic of the way the military is changing. He noted that the Army chief and the Pentagon have received lots of complaints about the decision, but so far are refusing to listen.

"E-mails can easily be deleted off the screen and ignored," Scott said. But he and "Ranger buddy" David Nielson, a 30-year-old former Ranger who saw action in Panama and Desert Storm and who will now be making the jaunt with Scott, say that by "walking across the country, we're not going to be deleted."

"This issue is an absolute disgrace to the U.S. Army Rangers," Scott said.

When he heard about Scott's planned march, "the first thing that came to mind was that he needed a 'Ranger buddy,'" Nielson said. "I believe in him and his cause."

Some have questioned whether Scott and Nielson's forced march will do much to persuade Shinseki or the Pentagon to reverse the beret decision. Defense procurement specialists say the Pentagon has likely already ordered the berets manufactured.

However, Jimmy Dean -- a spokesman for the Special Forces Association, a national group promoting issues for the special forces community -- told the newspaper that Scott's march may at least help put pressure on the Pentagon and will let the public know what's happening.

"It helps, if nothing else, to get publicity on the subject," Dean said, whose 7,500-member organization of retired special forces personnel used to wear the Army's green beret, not the black one.

"But as far as I know, Gen. Shinseki hasn't answered anybody's mail yet. And he's got thousands of letters and e-mails," he added.

Nevertheless, Scott says his mission is clear, and he vows success, noting the Rangers' tradition of adopting a "no-quit mentality."

"We can't explain how we did things," he said. "But we got it done."

Regarding the beret itself, Scott said the Rangers' can-do attitude "is all reflected in that head gear. It's a symbol."

Non-Rangers who receive the beret will not have earned it, Scott said. "You can't just take them [recruits] off the streets, put them through basic training and make them an excellent soldier. They've got to earn it." Scott says that, contrary to the Pentagon leadership's belief, simply wearing a black beret will not make Army personnel better soldiers.

Scott said he and Nielson plan to hike 25-35 miles per day. They will be wearing customized boots resoled by a business in Montana, near his home.

He believes he can make the trip on a minimal budget -- about $2,000. Currently, he is looking for a camper-type vehicle that can be driven along behind him and Nielson to carry his support crew, gear, food and other necessities.

Groups planning to assist Scott and Nielson say the pair will march from Ft. Benning to Macon, Ga., then to Columbia, S.C., and on to Richmond, Va., and Washington, D.C.

Scott can be reached by e-mail at rgrscott@hotmail.com.

Related story:

Army Ranger to protest beret decision