USAF and 8-point covers?

[Finity01]

As seen in the weekend's pics:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v101/He219/dailypix/militarypix/fresh/more/more/even%20more/hires_061222-D-7203T-008.jpg
Why and since when did the USAF start wearing 8-point soft covers?
I always thought it was a unique peice for the USMC/USN...?

[LaoSexMachine]

When they found there was a shatload in surplus.

[Flyboy]

CENTAF was/is trying to get 8 point covers the mandatory headgear for their AOR. Earlier this year they wanted us to wear it, but they didn't have enough money for them to buy it. As far back as 2004 you could either wear the 8 point or the floppy hat in CENTAF.
The eagle, globe, and anchor is what makes our 9 points different. I have no clue why they want us to wear it also.
Personally, I like the floppy hat, but I was issued an 8 point hat for our upcoming deployment.

[el borracho]

I got issued DCUs when my AEF came up (but never deployed anywhere, go figure). Here's what our Chief told us:

When the Marines switched to MARPAT, there was a crapload of DCUs in surplus that were supposed to get sent to the Marines. All they needed was the EGA logo's put on. Since the Marines had no use for the DCUs, they got diverted to the Air Force, 8-point covers and all (basically to save DoD money). Believe me when I say that most Airmen are less than thrilled. We're not trying to emulate Marines, or encroach on their traditions. We were shuffled in a line, they handed us a seabee cover and said "here, take one."

[exarmyguard]

What about the new Air Force camo uniform? What kind of cap does that come with?

[EsoognomEhT]

rofl................

[Dan2004]

I think the ABU is worn with a (ABUPAT?) patrol cap.

Something odd though...I remember seeing what looked like an ACUPAT eight-point cover in a Super Trooper catalogue.

[Flyboy]

I got issued DCUs when my AEF came up (but never deployed anywhere, go figure). Here's what our Chief told us:

When the Marines switched to MARPAT, there was a crapload of DCUs in surplus that were supposed to get sent to the Marines. All they needed was the EGA logo's put on. Since the Marines had no use for the DCUs, they got diverted to the Air Force, 8-point covers and all (basically to save DoD money). Believe me when I say that most Airmen are less than thrilled. We're not trying to emulate Marines, or encroach on their traditions. We were shuffled in a line, they handed us a seabee cover and said "here, take one."



I told my deployment manager I don't want one, let's hope he listens to me.
Yeah, I hope I get to wear my floppy hat when I deploy. I think they are still having an issue with the headgear for the new ABUs. Either they are going to make us wear patrol caps, or squadron hats with our new unis. Our squadron hats aren't military-looking, but they are comfortable and I like them damnit!

[ICUS]

What about the new Air Force camo uniform? What kind of cap does that come with?

The USAF trial pattern "blue tiger stripe" uniform was issued with a USMC-style 8 point cover, as well as a boonie hat option. I believe the new "grey digital tiger" uniform will also be issued with these two caps.

[ShanghaiExpress]

What is the history of this hat? I have never seen any in WWII photographs.

[el borracho]

The 8-point cover for the new ABU was scrapped. So far it looks like we'll be getting a patrol cap. The CCAF might leave it up to the squadron commanders if we'll keep wearing our unit baseball caps in garrison. I hate mine, despite my overzealous first shirt's order to wear it, I still sport my BDU patrol cap. I work nights anyway, I haven't seen the guy in person in about 8 months. ;)

After we got our DCUs, some of us went to a local surplus shop and bought a DCU patrol cap just so we wouldn't have to wear the 8-point cover. It was a moot point since I never deployed anyway.

[el borracho]

I think the ABU is worn with a (ABUPAT?) patrol cap.

Something odd though...I remember seeing what looked like an ACUPAT eight-point cover in a Super Trooper catalogue.

Yeah, I've seen "ABU" items for sale already. The uniform still hasn't been finalized, yet these internet shops got all the accessories for them. :) I think they're aiming at the airsofter market with that stuff.

[bluffcove]

Trying to make a baseball cap look smart is.............. pointless!

The bloke looks like a burke!

[JTAR7242]

Never understood the aversion to the 8 point. They look professional and sharp with the uniform. The patrol cap and baseball style covers generally look pretty sloppy to me. And I know, as a Marine my view might be slightly skewed, but oh well...

[Slater]

I wore this baseball cap when stationed at Nellis AFB in the 1980's/early 1990's. Didn't leave much doubt as to what your job was. :





http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y167/pb57/HPIM0376.jpg

[Scrim]

Never understood the aversion to the 8 point. They look professional and sharp with the uniform. The patrol cap and baseball style covers generally look pretty sloppy to me. And I know, as a Marine my view might be slightly skewed, but oh well...

Well the difference is, no one in the Air Force has, (or ever will), heard of or used a "Cover Block" or a "Tru-Shape".p-)

[Flyboy]

Well the difference is, no one in the Air Force has, (or ever will), heard of or used a "Cover Block" or a "Tru-Shape".p-)


Yeah, we did that in technical school, AIT, or whatever you want to call it. Just when you get your first duty station, most squadrons have a cap that they give you.

[EsoognomEhT]

double..............

[EsoognomEhT]

Trying to make a baseball cap look smart is.............. pointless!

The bloke looks like a burke!


Seconded!!!

[bluffcove]

no I mean a real Burke!

[el borracho]

Well the difference is, no one in the Air Force has, (or ever will), heard of or used a "Cover Block" or a "Tru-Shape".p-)

Actually we have. Some Airman starch their covers up and put them on the block so often they look like a French kepi. And to JTAR7242: there's nothing wrong with an 8-point cover, as long as a Marine is wearing it. We have our traditions, you have yours. We don't have to "borrow" each others is all I was saying.

[Roaming East]

Actually we have. Some Airman starch their covers up and put them on the block so often they look like a French kepi. And to JTAR7242: there's nothing wrong with an 8-point cover, as long as a Marine is wearing it. We have our traditions, you have yours. We don't have to "borrow" each others is all I was saying.
Psht, only fresh faced, just off the bus new guys still block their hats. When i was CENTAF they gave us the 8 pointers and we liked them because they were more streamline than our regular ball cap style covers, you roll them and stuff them in your pocket when on the Flightline or office yet when you needed to wear them the stitched crease allowed it to retain proper shape pretty well

[el borracho]

Psht, only fresh faced, just off the bus new guys still block their hats.

Ha, yeah, those are the ones that I was talking about. Them and the new SrA's who think that E-4 is an NCO rank. :)

[Flyboy]

Ha, yeah, those are the ones that I was talking about. Them and the new SrA's who think that E-4 is an NCO rank. :)


Haha, so true. I have my line number for staff and all the airmen are hating me already.

[GG]

OK, Here is the REAL reason behind it. Anyone who tells you that it is because of surplus caps is VERY misinformed. The genesis of the Marine style cover in CANTAF goes back to before ODS. At the time, there was not a 6-color desert BDU style cap. The Army issued the Hat, Sun. The AF needed a cap so they used the MC style cap without the EGA. It got into the CENTAF system and was specified for issue and wear by the leadership. It became a CENTAF tradition and has been that way for over 15 years.this is nothing new. What is new is that they now insist that AF personnel rotating into theater as part of the AEF must wear their MAJCOM patch and their stupid hat.

[Slater]

I was at Al Kharj and Al Dhafra in the mid 1990's and the standard USAF headgear was the DCU floppy hat and occasionally the DCU BDU cap, both in 3-color desert camo.

[ronrod71]

I was attached to an Army EOD unit about 10 years ago. The spoke US navy talk..."all hands, Aye-Aye". Turns out that US Navy supplies most of the EOD iinstructors andtheir lingo, equipment and SOP gets infiltrated into all the services. That's a USN 8-point cap.

[GG]

OK, for further amplification.

That my friend is a USAF cap. Why? Because it is procured by the AF for issue to Airmen to be worn IAW the appropriate CENTAF instruction.

Also, I was at Ali Al Saleem in 98 and we wore DCU caps...however, sincethose days long ago in the mid 80s CENTAF took over and all forces fgoing to CENTCOM are chopped to CENTAF (we were not, we belonged to SOCCENT). Like I said before, CENTAF LOVES that goofy assed hat and they want everyone to look goofy too. Consequently, if you are AF and go to work for the AF in CENTCOM, you are gonna look goofy.

Now why did the big blue AF almost adopt that hat for everyone? Well you see almost all of the top leadership in the AF at one time or another served in CENTAF. They just don't know any better. In CENTAF you wear DCUs and don't get to float around in your flight suit. Hence, one of teh onliest times those officers ever wore a combat uniform was while assigned to CENTAF and they were the goofy hat.

[Hollis]

Probably about the only thing the Marine Corps sets a standard on gear, is Clothing. The Marine Corps cover has always been way to cool, I was wearing my old OD green one yesterday while shooting.

Now if we can get the Marine Corps to Cook like the Air Force.