Aug 31 2022

Video: Why they wear that - The French Mountain Infantry beret

The French Army’s Chasseurs Alpins (‘Alpine Hunters’ in English) wear a distinctive piece of headgear: an oversized beret they call la tarte, or ‘the pie.’ 

In this piece, 1st Lieutenant Clement from the 27th Brigade Chasseurs Alpins unit explains the various uses of la tarte, from keeping your feet warm to protecting your eyes from the sun. 

Clement and his fellow mountain infantry soldiers deployed to Rena, Norway for Exercise Brilliant Jump 22, which tested the ability of the very high-readiness component of the NATO Response Force. 

Following Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine, hundreds of French troops – including the Chasseurs Alpins – have been deployed to Romania to reinforce the Alliance’s east.

Video by NATO HQ