# Chin straps worn over the face in military dress parades - why? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 7, 2011, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chin-straps-worn-over-the-face-in-military-dress-parades-why/570479 "2011-02-07T02:02:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2011, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chin-straps-worn-over-the-face-in-military-dress-parades-why/570479/1 "2011-02-07T02:02:38Z")
Just whose idea was it that [this](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/a/a8/SGuards.jpg) looked good? To me, it looks totally awkward and weird. It also looks non-uniform, since the chin strap seems to fall at a different place on each man’s face - some right over the lips, some above it, some below it. Whereas actually strapping the chin strap under the chin would ensure that every man looked identical. Why on earth do they wear their caps this way? Where did the style originate? ---
**Author:** ![carnut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnut/32/3531_2.png) [@carnut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnut)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2011, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chin-straps-worn-over-the-face-in-military-dress-parades-why/570479/2 "2011-02-07T02:28:07Z")
IMO this has never made any sense to me either - and it looks stupid. Maybe they are mouth guards designed to look like chin straps. Or it gives them something to chew on. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2011, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chin-straps-worn-over-the-face-in-military-dress-parades-why/570479/3 "2011-02-07T02:30:03Z")
Well, they have to do _something_ with the straps. ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2011, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chin-straps-worn-over-the-face-in-military-dress-parades-why/570479/4 "2011-02-07T02:36:19Z")
They’re not chin straps at all. Got everybody fooled. They’re actually gags. They must have once had a problem with chatty soldiers on parade, and this was the solution. Either that or it’s to stop them from snacking while marching. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2011, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chin-straps-worn-over-the-face-in-military-dress-parades-why/570479/5 "2011-02-07T15:03:43Z")
Pfft. You wanna cool hat, you join the Pakistan Border Guards regiment: [http://images.travelpod.com/users/fishtails04/the\_big\_trip.1186698360.pakistan-border-guard.jpg](http://images.travelpod.com/users/fishtails04/the_big_trip.1186698360.pakistan-border-guard.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2011, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chin-straps-worn-over-the-face-in-military-dress-parades-why/570479/6 "2011-02-07T15:20:28Z")
I mean, it isn’t as if there are not nicer periods/styles to choose from. Those "tarbucket"helmets must be a PIA to wear-why doen’t West Point change to civil war-type uniforms? Blue tunics and stetson hats-thats a cool look-and no white pants to get grass stains on. ---
**Author:** ![yabob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yabob/32/2821_2.png) [@yabob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yabob)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2011, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chin-straps-worn-over-the-face-in-military-dress-parades-why/570479/7 "2011-02-07T15:43:11Z")
Total WAG - if such headgear was ever actually worn in battle when hand to hand combat was common, you needed the strap to keep the thing on your head, but you didn’t want to get strangled by it if somebody grabbed the hat. Possibly a fact discovered by the soldiers, and they improvised. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2011, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chin-straps-worn-over-the-face-in-military-dress-parades-why/570479/8 "2011-02-07T17:21:50Z")
It’s not just the Yanks; the Brits in their ceremonial gear do the same. Here are the Welsh Guards: [http://www.trooping-the-colour.co.uk/gsm/mottsalute.jpg](http://www.trooping-the-colour.co.uk/gsm/mottsalute.jpg) Coldstream Guards: [The Telegraph US - Breaking news, opinion & analysis](http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/00640/news-graphics-2007-_640629a.jpg) Irish Guards: [http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/45616000/jpg/\_45616759\_mexico3pa.jpg](http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/45616000/jpg/_45616759_mexico3pa.jpg) This guard at the Elysee Palace in Paris seems to have the right idea, though: [PBase.com](http://k53.pbase.com/g1/61/669061/2/115510394.Nrf0ADZc.jpg) As do these guys: [http://cache1.asset-cache.net/xc/75566207.jpg?v=1&c=IWSAsset&k=2&d=77BFBA49EF878921A343B2C87A49D8F51B2110B475A5AA037B9E6DFB1F5C0559F916F959F7243E3E](http://cache1.asset-cache.net/xc/75566207.jpg?v=1&c=IWSAsset&k=2&d=77BFBA49EF878921A343B2C87A49D8F51B2110B475A5AA037B9E6DFB1F5C0559F916F959F7243E3E) And this guy in Stockholm: [http://www.realworldimage.com/images/photos\_med/soldier-sweden-drottningholm-palace-weapon-guard-security-royalty-work-military-cities-cultures-people-work-travel\_12911.jpg](http://www.realworldimage.com/images/photos_med/soldier-sweden-drottningholm-palace-weapon-guard-security-royalty-work-military-cities-cultures-people-work-travel_12911.jpg) Likewise in Oslo: [http://4.bp.blogspot.com/\_M5mQhY1RgcI/THKXuYwWbgI/AAAAAAAAOLk/6TlcoHPKNFY/s1600/Palace\_guard\_at\_the\_royal\_palace,\_Oslo.jpg](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_M5mQhY1RgcI/THKXuYwWbgI/AAAAAAAAOLk/6TlcoHPKNFY/s1600/Palace_guard_at_the_royal_palace,_Oslo.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2011, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chin-straps-worn-over-the-face-in-military-dress-parades-why/570479/9 "2011-02-07T17:34:11Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > Pfft. You wanna cool hat, you join the Pakistan Border Guards regiment: [http://images.travelpod.com/users/fishtails04/the\_big\_trip.1186698360.pakistan-border-guard.jpg](http://images.travelpod.com/users/fishtails04/the_big_trip.1186698360.pakistan-border-guard.jpg) Well, since they strut like roosters in their border closing ceremonies, that particular headgear is decidedly appropriate! [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/wm7Lu61RIBo/hqdefault.jpg "Wagah Border Ceremony") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wm7Lu61RIBo) 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2011, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chin-straps-worn-over-the-face-in-military-dress-parades-why/570479/10 "2011-02-07T18:22:18Z")
Military costumes rarely make sense. I was one of the last draftees, and even tho I was only going to be active for 2 years, they loaded me down with a huge duffle bag containing a wide variety of uniforms and their stupid headgear- including the round dress hat that makes you look like a bus driver and a couple of the soft cloth caps that, from the front, makes it look like you have a pointed head. I got nothing against Marines, but I have to wonder about the guy who designed their dress uniform with the gold buttons and white gloves. ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2011, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chin-straps-worn-over-the-face-in-military-dress-parades-why/570479/11 "2011-02-07T18:29:39Z")
> [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](#): > > a couple of the soft cloth caps that, from the front, makes it look like you have a pointed head. My grandpa always called that kind of cap an “overseas cap.” But I’ve read about guys calling them “cunt caps”, presumably because of the slit-like shape of the top. The round dress hat you’re talking about, I think, is called a “saucer cap.” I’m sure there’s a more official name for it too. What’s so bad about the Marines’ dress uniform? I think it looks good. Is it the combination of white and gold that you object to? ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2011, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chin-straps-worn-over-the-face-in-military-dress-parades-why/570479/12 "2011-02-07T18:39:09Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > Likewise in Oslo: [http://4.bp.blogspot.com/\_M5mQhY1RgcI/THKXuYwWbgI/AAAAAAAAOLk/6TlcoHPKNFY/s1600/Palace\_guard\_at\_the\_royal\_palace,\_Oslo.jpg](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_M5mQhY1RgcI/THKXuYwWbgI/AAAAAAAAOLk/6TlcoHPKNFY/s1600/Palace_guard_at_the_royal_palace,_Oslo.jpg) Now that is one happenin’ hat. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2011, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chin-straps-worn-over-the-face-in-military-dress-parades-why/570479/13 "2011-02-07T19:13:09Z")
Seriously, the Marines are the snazziest dressers we have in the US! ---
**Author:** ![zweisamkeit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zweisamkeit/32/4360_2.png) [@zweisamkeit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zweisamkeit)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2011, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chin-straps-worn-over-the-face-in-military-dress-parades-why/570479/14 "2011-02-07T20:05:20Z")
> [@Zsofia](#): > > Seriously, the Marines are the snazziest dressers we have in the US! The white belt SUCKS, though! ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2011, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chin-straps-worn-over-the-face-in-military-dress-parades-why/570479/15 "2011-02-07T20:06:22Z")
So does the regulation haircut and facial expression which makes them look like lobotomized kill-bots. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2011, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chin-straps-worn-over-the-face-in-military-dress-parades-why/570479/16 "2011-02-07T21:01:53Z")
> [@Zsofia](#): > > Seriously, the Marines are the snazziest dressers we have in the US! I agree. I think the Marine summer uniform, with the white pants (AND the white belts!), is the best-looking in the entire U.S. military: [http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3198/2946139910\_d6c7fb3d2a.jpg](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3198/2946139910_d6c7fb3d2a.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![shiftless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9c0ed/32.png) [@shiftless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shiftless)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2011, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chin-straps-worn-over-the-face-in-military-dress-parades-why/570479/17 "2011-02-07T21:15:07Z")
Girls like uniforms and, like other fashions, a lot of the stuff has evolved to the point that it no longer serves any purpose. Neck ties? High healed shoes? Chin straps always look stupid on an adult when worn correctly. So … functional and safety conscience. My guess is, some fop in the past worn it this way and the girls went wild - next thing you know, everybody’s doing it that way. ---
**Author:** ![carnut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnut/32/3531_2.png) [@carnut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnut)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2011, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chin-straps-worn-over-the-face-in-military-dress-parades-why/570479/18 "2011-02-07T23:17:26Z")
> [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > Well, since they strut like roosters in their border closing ceremonies, that particular headgear is decidedly appropriate! > > [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wm7Lu61RIBo&feature=related](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wm7Lu61RIBo&feature=related) > > 🙂 Now I know where Monty Python got their Department of Silly Walks skit idea. ---
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2011, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chin-straps-worn-over-the-face-in-military-dress-parades-why/570479/19 "2011-02-08T01:38:05Z")
> [@Argent\_Towers](#): > > Why on earth do they wear their caps this way? Where did the style originate? I would’ve guessed it’s because the hats are one size fits all, heads are bigger nowadays, and the chin strip won’t fit under the chin for most people, so instead of having half the people with a chin strap correctly fitted, and the other half having it wrong, everyone is instructed to have it wrong. But that’s just a totally random uneducated guess. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2011, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chin-straps-worn-over-the-face-in-military-dress-parades-why/570479/20 "2011-02-08T01:46:50Z")
The chin strap in the photo in the OP looks adjustable. So it should be possible to adjust it to actually fit under the chin. And I can’t imagine that the military would just say, “Screw it. The chin straps don’t fit. We’ll just have them wear them under their lips.” I think the military would arrange for correctly fitting straps. So I assume that this is how it’s supposed to be worn. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chin-straps-worn-over-the-face-in-military-dress-parades-why/570479.md?page=2)