The US army conducted an extensive program of surveys and interviews with junior officers to find out why so many of them were quitting the army. The most common reason was lack of communication with their superiors. Many of the departing junior officers mentioned the unpopularity of the new black beret as a prime example of this lack of communication. If senior officers had bothered to inquire of the enlisted troops and junior officers about the beret issue, a lot of trouble would have been avoided. The majority of junior officers and enlisted troops see the beret issue as silly and a waste of effort.