# The Army's New Hats **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 16, 2001, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-armys-new-hats/58209 "2001-03-16T13:11:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Turbo\_Dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ce73a5/32.png) [@Turbo\_Dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turbo_Dog)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2001, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-armys-new-hats/58209/21 "2001-03-17T18:40:39Z")
Rue, What LNO posted IS the reason. I can’t remember the exact words used by the General, but the paraphrasing is correct. It was to improve the morale of all soldiers by letting them look like the elite Rangers. No real reason other than that. btw, Jarhead is because Marine heads look like jars (with the standard high and tight cut). Also, you can’t call us that anymore because they found out that you can actually put something in a jar 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2001, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-armys-new-hats/58209/22 "2001-03-17T19:48:29Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Poysyn \* > \*\*As a Canuck we have berets up here. Most units wear dark green, now here are the exceptions that I can think of - Military Police - Red, Armoured - Black? (not sure anymore) I do know that the UN peacekeeping berets are a baby blue. > I don’t know why you just didn’t go with the dark green. \*\* Canadian airborne troopers (they’re still around) wear maroon. Black berets are Navy. Blue is Air Force - yes, there are Air Force berets. ---
**Author:** ![Turbo\_Dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ce73a5/32.png) [@Turbo\_Dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turbo_Dog)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2001, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-armys-new-hats/58209/23 "2001-03-17T20:32:35Z")
Here is the direct quote: ``` "To symbolize The Army's commitment to transforming itself into the Objective Force, The Army will adopt the black beret for wear Army-wide. It is not about increasing recruiting; we achieved our recruiting target of 180,000 recruits last year--without a beret. It is not about retention; for the second year in a row, we exceeded our reenlistment goal by a wide margin--without a beret. It is not about morale; Soldiers are ready today to go into harm's way. It is about our excellence as Soldiers, our unity as a force, and our values as an institution." ``` Translation: The army is the army - one force, and as such, no one outfit is better than the other, and all soldiers are now equal to each other regardless of what volunteer training and special missions some units perform. The real meaning: I want the basic flunkie to feel special about himself and the army, so screw the people that did the work to earn a distinction beyond the regular grunt because they just make the other people feel inadequate and I like a happy army. ---
**Author:** ![Rodd\_Hill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/3ab097/32.png) [@Rodd\_Hill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rodd_Hill)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2001, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-armys-new-hats/58209/24 "2001-03-17T21:28:50Z")
How about something [sensible and hardwearing?](http://www.kaisersbunker.com/gkr/gkr01.htm) Good sun protection, too. ---
**Author:** ![x27](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/7993a0/32.png) [@x27](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/x27)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2001, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-armys-new-hats/58209/25 "2001-03-18T00:18:32Z")
Some fairly pointless, (but to me, very funny) trivia: Those “folded napkin” dress hats are called “cunt caps”. BDUs are “salad suits”. (The old green fatigues were “pickle suits”.) And I’ve heard that the Army is changing back to kakhi colored dress uniforms, thank God. ---
**Author:** ![Rue\_DeDay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/41988e/32.png) [@Rue\_DeDay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rue_DeDay)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2001, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-armys-new-hats/58209/26 "2001-03-18T14:48:15Z")
Turbo Dog- Yup, I missed something obvious, the right answer. Also thanks for the quote. LNO- Thanks to you too. In my defense, I was thinking “this sounds about right but, Dear God, let there be another answer. One that makes real sense.” Too bad the real world doesn’t have to make sense. Thanks to all who took the time to post. And Rodd Hill, that would be one bitchin’ hat. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2001, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-armys-new-hats/58209/27 "2001-03-18T18:10:42Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Turbo Dog \* > \*\*Even though I have no love whatsoever for the army, I too found it unsettling that they took the Ranger’s pride and distributed it so that the common dogfaces would be able to share the glory. \*\* Yeah… there ARE circumstances where merit-based elitism IS the right attitude. I’m not too hot on the new “I’m an Army of one” ad campaign either. I think I can do much, much better working jointly with an entire division, thank you very much… > [@](#): > > \*\* > I left the USMC just prior to them changing the utility uniform to something similar to the other services, where those stupid name tapes had to be put on. But at least we have a decent cover (hat). I just hope that we never go to the army “anti-chemical” sleeve roll too.\*\* Then you’ll be glad to know they’re going back to distinct utilities. I still don’t see what’s the big hoopla on _that_… > [@](#): > > \*\* > As far as our dress uniforms being ridic…ridic… (deep breath) “odd”… with the red stripe, (not piping), I think it’s hard to find a prettier uniform. And leave my sword alone cuz it looks bitchin!!! 😃 \*\* IIRC the Dress Blues and the swords are “authorized” items, but not general issue – i.e. you gotta buy them. Am I right? And I suppose what really strikes a lot of people as odd is the dress blue tunic, with all that red accenting. Another uniform I think is cool is the Navy/CG officers’ dress white tunic (w. the stand-up collars) : very “clean” lines, no excessive braiding or brass to it. (The “seagoing” services all have ceremonial dress tunics w. stand-up collars. The “landbased” services (Army and AF) just go for a fancier suit coat.) Other recent “what were they thinking?” moments in US uniform design: The 1970s: The Navy tries to phase out the enlisted personnel’s “CrackerJack” outfit (talk of retro design! ), but proposes putting everyone in polyester double-knit suits. Has to back off before the decade’s out. The 1990’s Air Force: New service dress. Sorry, flyboys, but that jacket just looks like a cheap suit. And that “winged star” cap device is underwhelming. Had the good taste to back off CAF-style cuff rank braid. Late-90s Army/AF: dropped the Brit-style “commando” pullover sweater and replaced it with a _cardigan_. Gee, that looks spiffy… Anyway, wasn’t Lord Cardigan one of the guys who got the Light Brigade massacred? jrd ---
**Author:** ![waterj2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/858c86/32.png) [@waterj2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/waterj2)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2001, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-armys-new-hats/58209/28 "2001-03-18T22:27:37Z")
[This was discussed before](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=43592), in case you want some more info. That was before the Rangers got brown berets, though. ---
**Author:** ![waterj2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/858c86/32.png) [@waterj2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/waterj2)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2001, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-armys-new-hats/58209/29 "2001-03-18T22:40:28Z")
[Link that works](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=43592) ---
**Author:** ![broccoli](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@broccoli](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/broccoli)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2001, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-armys-new-hats/58209/30 "2001-03-19T02:50:46Z")
[rant] Whoever thought up this whole ‘army of one’ crap is a sick advertising agent who has mated Martha Stewart with _Rambo_ The next batch of these commercials includes an ‘army of one’ making brekfast for a whole village, sweeping sidewalks, and folding napkins in decorative patterns. Of course i’m lying, but these commercials make me want to NOT join the Army… Lets see what we can condense from ol’ Websters… Main Entry: ar·my ('är-mE, n.) 1 a : a large organized body of armed personnel trained for war especially on land b : a unit capable of independent action and consisting usually of a headquarters, two or more corps, and auxiliary troops c often capitalized : the complete military organization of a nation for land warfare 2 : a great multitude \ 3 : a body of persons organized to advance a cause Army = More than one army of one = semi-appealing idea for people with Superman complex’s who’ve seen too many action flicks. [/rant] And I think they should’ve left the Rangers in black, and let everyone else have tan (or whatever color). ---
**Author:** ![sewalk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b3f665/32.png) [@sewalk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sewalk)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2001, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-armys-new-hats/58209/31 "2001-03-19T05:44:35Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Alessan \* > **1. Field uniforms - I believe you call them “BDUs”, yes? Let’s call them “B” uniforms** Actually, in official Army parlance, the BDU is a Class “C” uniform. Class “A” denotes slacks, shirt, tie and coat. Class “B” is the same thing minus the coat and tie (sweater and/or tie optional). In summary: Class “A” = Full Dress Uniform (May be green, blue, or white) Class “B” = Daily office wear Class “C” = Utility uniform (BDU, flight suit, mechanic’s coveralls, etc) Class “D” = Unofficial use for PT clothes in some units. As a former soldier, I’ll offer my thoughts on the matter. I was a military policeman and we supported a beret (white, like the MP version of the service cap worn with the Class A/B uniform, aka “saucer cap”) for LE duty wear as distinctive headdress to set us apart and make us more visible. At the time, we were wearing helmet liners (aka “Dick Domes”) that were uncomfortable, cumbersome, and a general pain in the ass. Finally, the powers that were allowed us to go to the BDU cap on LE duty and all was well. I also feel that in the US forces, a beret is a distinctive uniform item that denotes service in a specialized field. I really sympathize with the Rangers. ---
**Author:** ![john\_e\_wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/3da27b/32.png) [@john\_e\_wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/john_e_wagner)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2001, 6:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-armys-new-hats/58209/32 "2001-03-19T06:31:18Z")
I can understand the desire to make everyone look the same, but this is the wrong way. They should have made the bdu cap (and that floppy jungle hat), and the ever popular kevelar the only hats to wear with the salad suit. Jeesh You want to show a special unit designation? You should have to be in some sort of dress uniform. BTW those damn cunt caps really suck. I always fely like a fast food employee in my Class A’s and B’s. KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-armys-new-hats/58209.md?page=1)