Posted on Dec 7, 2015
Has anyone actually seen an officer wear a cape? Is this an outdated piece of clothing? Pictures? Thoughts?
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Has anyone actually seen an officer wear a cape? Is this an outdated piece of clothing? Pictures? Thoughts?
Posted in these groups: 
Officer
Dress Uniform
Officer Dress Uniform
Posted 10 y ago
Responses: 7
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Yes. I own one. It is fantastic. I wear it as an outer garment for semi-formal events or when otherwise appropriate. While I'm happy that it is an optional item, folks should consider buying one. It is much better in certain conditions than the black trench coat. Also, it is very hard to wear the officer sabre under the black trench coat, but the sabre is easily worn under the cape. Keep the cape as an optional item!
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SSG (Join to see)
Sir,
Thanks for the response. I think you're the first person that has told me they own one. Do you wear it with blues, or asu?
Thanks for the response. I think you're the first person that has told me they own one. Do you wear it with blues, or asu?
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MAJ (Join to see)
With ASU. I'd have to look again, but I don't believe it is authorized with mess dress.
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LTC(P) (Join to see)
I have a US Army Officer's cape as well.
Per DA PHAM 670-1, Chapter 20-7, it's authorized with ASU, dress blues, mess dress, and evening mess dress.
I got married in my dress blues and officer's cape 10 years ago. It is much easier to wear a army saber with a US Army officer's cape. My cape is also lined with my first named color of my basic branch.. Infantry Blue.
Department of the Army Pamphlet 670 – 1, Chapter 20-7.
Uniform and Insignia
Guide to the Wear and Appearance of Army Uniforms and Insignia
b. Cape, blue, male (officers only).
(1) Type. The cape is an optional purchase item.
(2) Description. The blue cape will be made from an approved specification or pattern. The materials are wool and broadcloth, dark blue in Army shade 150; wool and gabardine, dark blue in Army shade 150; wool and elastique, dark blue in Army shade 150. The cape will reach to at least the midpoint of the knee, but it will be no lower than 2 inches below the knee (see fig 20 – 7). The lining of the Army blue cape is rayon, acetate, or another synthetic fabric with a satin face and wool nap back in one of the following colors:
(a) General officers. Dark blue.
(b) All other officers. The first-named color of the basic branch.
(3) How worn. Officers may wear the cape with Army white and blue dress, mess, and evening mess uniforms. Enlisted personnel are not authorized to wear the cape.
Per DA PHAM 670-1, Chapter 20-7, it's authorized with ASU, dress blues, mess dress, and evening mess dress.
I got married in my dress blues and officer's cape 10 years ago. It is much easier to wear a army saber with a US Army officer's cape. My cape is also lined with my first named color of my basic branch.. Infantry Blue.
Department of the Army Pamphlet 670 – 1, Chapter 20-7.
Uniform and Insignia
Guide to the Wear and Appearance of Army Uniforms and Insignia
b. Cape, blue, male (officers only).
(1) Type. The cape is an optional purchase item.
(2) Description. The blue cape will be made from an approved specification or pattern. The materials are wool and broadcloth, dark blue in Army shade 150; wool and gabardine, dark blue in Army shade 150; wool and elastique, dark blue in Army shade 150. The cape will reach to at least the midpoint of the knee, but it will be no lower than 2 inches below the knee (see fig 20 – 7). The lining of the Army blue cape is rayon, acetate, or another synthetic fabric with a satin face and wool nap back in one of the following colors:
(a) General officers. Dark blue.
(b) All other officers. The first-named color of the basic branch.
(3) How worn. Officers may wear the cape with Army white and blue dress, mess, and evening mess uniforms. Enlisted personnel are not authorized to wear the cape.
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LTC (Join to see)
Most officers don’t buy one because they are expensive and optional and there are few occasions for wear. I still have mine that James S.Lee made for me in 1963. The few times I had occasion to wear it, senior officers made remarks about Zorro and Batman. It looks fantastic when photographed astride a horse!
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SSG (Join to see), there was another discussion thread about capes, but I could not find it. The Army still has the Blue Cape and Frog. The lining is branch specific. This one is available from Marlow White for $399.00. Although some of the those that responded before have seen the cape worn (they're different for the Marines and the Navy), I've never seen one worn. This photo is from the Marlow White online catalog. MAJ Carl Ballinger
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This is one of those questions, that as an Air Force guy, I get jealous of the other services. Can you imagine? Zoomies with capes! Oh, and if we could get Zorro hats too! What a military it would be!
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SSG (Join to see)
Ha-ha six in one and half a dozen in the other. We have capes (for officers) and you have the 1.5 mile run.
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MSgt Alex Taylor
You know, a long time ago, the Air Force did have a cape for officers. The last reference I came across was sometime in the early/mid 60's. It disappeared after that. Even then though, what I can find also states next to nobody wore it except at white tie events.
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I bought a mess dress uniform for my wedding in 2011. My wife and I were married in November in Chicago so the weather could be iffy. I told her about the cape and she wanted me to get one. I was not going to pay $400 for one and the weather turned out to be fantastic for November.
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SSG (Join to see)
SGM Steve Wettstein, no offense intended. what unit did you retire out of? Being that your in Sango I imagine somewhere in Fort Campbell.
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SGM Steve Wettstein
SSG (Join to see) - I was OPs SGM 16th MP BDE, Fort Bragg when I retired. I retired here because of my wife's family is here. As the saying goes, happy wife happy life. I am disabled and unable to work so this seemed like a good place to get old at.
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SSG (Join to see)
SGM,
Good luck in your future endeavors. If you ever need anything I'd be happy to help any way I can.
Good luck in your future endeavors. If you ever need anything I'd be happy to help any way I can.
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They're Boat Cloaks for us. We called them horse blankets. They used to be a good deal at the on base thrift shop. Being heavy wool, you had to store them in cedar and mothballs. Every time I looked at them, I'd do the math on how many times would I actually wear it and then bought 4oz of silver bullion for $20 bucks and put it away. If I were assigned to Great Lakes or similar, I probably would have picked one up.
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