Should Army units with a solid history be allowed to wear distinctive head gear?

2018-01-06T15:03:32-05:00

We have units that wear Tri-Corner Hats, Berets, and Stetsons, and Campaign Stetsons, but we have other units that have performed Courageous Acts, with long lineage far older than many of the afore mentioned units, who do not get the same opportunity to wear distinctive headgear. Units Come to mind the Wisconsin "Iron Brigade," The 69th Irish Brigade of New York, Or the oldest units in the History if the Army...The Florida National Guard orginally Spanish Militia is older than all other Units of Any branch of service, yet nothing of significance for a unit that is older than the Guard itself.

Response by SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 6 at 2018 3:26 PM

2018-01-06T15:26:33-05:00

I don’t know about you Chief, but I honestly would wear a Tricorn in my free time.

Response by SPC Robert Coventry made Jan 6 at 2018 3:56 PM

2018-01-06T15:56:31-05:00

Like the 101st and 82nd or just Air Cav

Response by SGT Frank Pritchett made Jan 6 at 2018 4:09 PM

2018-01-06T16:09:47-05:00

I believe that no Unit should be above the next only because not all units get the same choice to excel themselves on an equal basis it is merely a fact that a distinguished unit just happened to be at apoint where history was in the making. I f all knew what taskings the Green Beret completed I think we would all be in awe of them, it is only which Unit stands out the most uch as the !st Cav and 2nd Armored Division's. I am biased because I served in both and wouldn't take nothing for my experiences.

Response by SGT John " Mac " McConnell made Jan 6 at 2018 5:46 PM

2018-01-06T17:46:52-05:00

I can agree to a certain extent. For example , Ceremonies, parades, historical events that highlight the unit. Like the Cottonbalers uniform during the war of 1812.

Response by Maj John Bell made Jan 6 at 2018 5:48 PM

2018-01-06T17:48:20-05:00

Yes it helps unify the Army because the other services are laughing at all the time the Army spends trying to decide what to wear to the dance.

Response by Al Reynolds made Jan 6 at 2018 9:47 PM

2018-01-06T21:47:48-05:00

When it comes to uniforms I am surely glad I went Navy... We had but one hat we wore over the side... No confusion there.... Two uniforms: one white, one blue. We looked sharp in either.

And I imagine it is good I was never around an army base or post.... with all those covers I would be at a wonder trying to determine what part of Disney World I was in....

Eisenhower did it... Patton did it and even MacArthur did it: modified their uniforms... But that was their vanity and they kept it in house.... MacArthur had that corncob pipe.... I'm glad he didn't make that part of a new uniform. Troops would still be confused as to wearing the pipe upside down or right side up...

(I hope you see the LOL)

Response by SSG Edward Tilton made Jan 6 at 2018 10:29 PM

2018-01-06T22:29:20-05:00

All for it

Response by SSG Edward Tilton made Jan 6 at 2018 10:33 PM

2018-01-06T22:33:55-05:00

What could go wrong

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 7 at 2018 11:04 AM

2018-01-07T11:04:11-05:00

There is a time and place for traditition and time and place for uniformity. These traditions should be allowed when they do not take away from One Army. One fight. When it becomes more about you than itbdoea mission. YOU lose my vote every time.

Response by MSgt Gerald Orvis made Jan 8 at 2018 1:47 PM

2018-01-08T13:47:33-05:00

I'm a Marine so I don't have a dog in this argument. As long as we Marines get to wear the Eagle, Globe and Anchor on our headgear, I'll be happy. But I remember at Camp Pendleton back in the 1970s when the Marine Corps was having green berets (like the UK's Royal Marines wear) wear-tested for possible adoption. The ones doing it were almost laughed off base. And most Marines realized that the Royal Marines go through many months of gruelling commando training to earn their green berets, whereas U.S. Marines, not so much. I agree that in the British Army, some units have unique headgear (bearskin busbies, Highland bonnets, cavalry helmets and breastplates, feather bonnets, shakos and the like), but that is a tradition that goes back 200 years or more. In the U.S. Army, do they want to go back to 1812 shakos? Civil War kepis? Are the taxpayers supposed to pay for that? Elite units (green berets and rangers) have berets, cavalry units like to wear spurs and 1870s campaign caps, but really, if just looking different is what it takes to build esprit de corps, what about being educated about unit history, or taking pride in the unit's colors - what is that worth? Just ask a Marine sometime.

Response by MAJ John Adams made Jan 8 at 2018 9:47 PM

2018-01-08T21:47:53-05:00

The headgear should be worn only with the dress uniform, something like the British units do. NOT with an every-day uniform, like greens or fatigues. (Showing my age there.) And units need to wear that dress uniform occasionally. Ceremony is a morale builder.

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Jan 8 at 2018 10:04 PM

2018-01-08T22:04:14-05:00

I Actually Like Old Headgear and Old Uniforms. Loved to Go see Twilight Tattoo, Washington, DC while I was MAA to COMSPAWARSYSCOM.

Response by Cpl Justin Goolsby made Jan 9 at 2018 2:19 AM

2018-01-09T02:19:00-05:00

I'm voting no we should all wear the same head gear for uniformity purposes. But that being said, if a unit has a distinctive history, I do believe that history should be honored. Whether it be as a celebratory dinner for Esprit de Corps or some kind of unit function.

Response by SSG Paul Headlee made Aug 28 at 2020 4:29 PM

2020-08-28T16:29:38-04:00

Black berets for everyone! I can't resist poking a little fun at General Shinseki every time the issue of headgear comes up. What a gaff that was.