20th Century PD white command beret
Overview[]
The white command beret was a special part of the uniform for command level officers of the Royal Manticoran Navy. Manticoran tradition was that officers currently in command of a hyper-capable starship wore a white, rather than black, beret.
It was considered bad luck for an RMN officer to replace the first white beret they were given upon receiving their first Hyper-capable command. (HH3)
In 1897 PD, Honor Harrington received her beret when she took command of HMS Hawkwing. (HH1)
Since its use was restricted to the commanders of hyper-capable ships, flag officers did not wear it. The only exception was the Captain of HMS Unconquered, a ship maintained in continuous commission for historical reasons; that Captain was selected by the Monarch from a list approved by vote of all active RMN officers. (HH11)
As a sign of respect, when visiting another hyper-capable ship, a captain did not wear the white beret, keeping it instead tucked under a shoulder epaulet. (HH1, SI2)
In a tradition borrowed from their Manticoran counterparts, commanders of hyper-capable warships in the Grayson Space Navy wore a white band on their visored uniform caps. (Companion)