BDU Cover/Headgear Rank

[JRESO]

Been MIA from CAP for a while, ran across a picture on this site showing two Officers with rank on their BDU covers. Is this allowed? Sorry if this is a ,"duh!", question.

Thanks for the info!

[MIKE]

Authorized by ICL on 20 Nov 2006.  Stated mandatory wear date was 1 May 2007.

[JohnKachenmeister]

Welcome home!

Yes. 

On the BDU cap you are authorized sew-on bright rank insignia on the ultramarine blue background.  Same as on the collar.  1/2 inch up from the visor.

On the BBDU you may wear EITHER sew-on rank or metal rank on the blue patrol cap.

No changes on the flight cap, or more accurately, no changes anymore.

[JRESO]

Thanks! Sorry about posting in ES thought I was in Uniforms. Thanks again.

[MIKE]

On the BDU cap you are   1/2 inch up from the visor.

ICL just says centered, so it would be just as correct to center the cloth officer grade insignia vertically and horizontally as per AFI 36-2903.    Blue BDU caps and cadet officer cloth grade insignia not withstanding.

[Brad]

On the BDU cap you are   1/2 inch up from the visor.

ICL just says centered, so it would be just as correct to center the cloth officer grade insignia vertically and horizontally as per AFI 36-2903.    Blue BDU caps and cadet officer cloth grade insignia not withstanding.

Quoted from the ICL, just under the reference picture

(Worn centered ½ inch above the brim)

Sorry to burst your bubble.

[MIKE]

It's still wrong.

[Brad]

Well to be quite honest, I'm with you, Captain. I think the insignia looks better centered than it does worn 1/2" up from the brim.

[Becks]

Who knows, I wear a beret 

[SJFedor]

Who knows, I wear a beret 

Don't get me started on berets.

[Short Field]

Sew-on rank on the BBDU cover also crosses a seam and makes for a tougher sewing job.

[Cecil DP]

Who knows, I wear a beret 

Don't get me started on berets.

There is only one use for the beret, and it's not for headcover!!!

[SarDragon]

Who knows, I wear a beret 

Don't get me started on berets.

There is only one use for the beret, and it's not for headcover!!!

But then you need two - one to fill, and one to cover the first one.   

[JohnKachenmeister]

The CAP letter of instruction said "1/2 inch above the visor," but did not specify if that was center-of-mass, bottom edge of the insignia, or bottom edge of the blue field.  When I put mine on, I noticed that if the bottom edge of the blue patch was resting on the reinforced sweatband, that the blue field is 1/2 inch above the visor, and the insignia itself is centered. It looks nice, and is more consistent with the AFI than that which is shown in the photo on the CAP web site.

Now that I have explained my interpretation of the regulation, I suppose the "Uniform Nazis" will come to my house in the middle of the night and drag me away.

[Fifinella]

With a wanton lack of attention to the CAP regs, I just took my BDU cap & rank to the AFB tailor shop where they sewed it on just like they do the AF ones.  <gasp>  So mine looks like everyone else's on base, except brighter. 

[JohnKachenmeister]

With a wanton lack of attention to the CAP regs, I just took my BDU cap & rank to the AFB tailor shop where they sewed it on just like they do the AF ones.  <gasp>  So mine looks like everyone else's on base, except brighter. 

Zo, Kapitan... You zink you can trifle vit der CAP Uniform Edicts?

Off to der Kamp vit you!

(Sound of European hi-lo siren fading into the dark, lifeless streets)

[Cecil DP]

With a wanton lack of attention to the CAP regs, I just took my BDU cap & rank to the AFB tailor shop where they sewed it on just like they do the AF ones.  <gasp>  So mine looks like everyone else's on base, except brighter. 

Ditto

[Fifinella]

Zo, Kapitan... You zink you can trifle vit der CAP Uniform Edicts?

Off to der Kamp vit you!

(Sound of European hi-lo siren fading into the dark, lifeless streets)

Oh, no!  I hope you didn't send me to the Klink! 

[Eclipse]

The CAP letter of instruction said "1/2 inch above the visor," but did not specify if that was center-of-mass, bottom edge of the insignia, or bottom edge of the blue field.  When I put mine on, I noticed that if the bottom edge of the blue patch was resting on the reinforced sweatband, that the blue field is 1/2 inch above the visor, and the insignia itself is centered. It looks nice, and is more consistent with the AFI than that which is shown in the photo on the CAP web site.

Now that I have explained my interpretation of the regulation, I suppose the "Uniform Nazis" will come to my house in the middle of the night and drag me away.

Except that why would this be the only time a CAP insignia is measured from the blue instead of the white?

[JohnKachenmeister]

Since if it is sewn on as is pictured, the only way anyone will see your cap rank will be if you are a midget.  The visor will hide the device.  Also, in the picture, the whole thing looks foreign.  Sort of Eastern European or Balkan in style.

[Eclipse]

Since if it is sewn on as is pictured, the only way anyone will see your cap rank will be if you are a midget.  The visor will hide the device.  Also, in the picture, the whole thing looks foreign.  Sort of Eastern European or Balkan in style.

I disagree (big surprise).

Mine are sewn 1/2 inch from the edge of the insignia, not the blue, and they look fine.

There are actually two sizes of BDU hats, a lower profile and a higher profile (I have no idea where the distinction is made as I have the same size in both styles).

The lower profile hat looks fine, the higher a bit Castro-esque, but neither is so bad as to be unacceptable.
Since most people do not suffer from the gigantism I do, the insignia is not hidden.

[Stonewall]

I'm sure some will argue that this is wrong, but here's mine.  I think it looks pretty good.

[mikeylikey]

^ Sexy! 

[LittleIronPilot]

Who knows, I wear a beret 

Don't get me started on berets.

There is only one use for the beret, and it's not for headcover!!!

Hey I EARNED by beret [darnit], well my Airborne one anyways!

[Eclipse]

I'm sure some will argue that this is wrong, but here's mine.  I think it looks pretty good.

Looks about right to me - 1/2 inch up >and< centered.

[Stonewall]

Looks about right to me - 1/2 inch up >and< centered.

You know, I didn't follow any regs for sewing it on.  I figured only common sense would prevail so I pretty much centered it up, down, right, left.

There is only one use for the beret, and it's not for headcover!!!

Hey I EARNED by beret [darnit], well my Airborne one anyways!

But I probably need to downsize the blue border and lower it a little so I can put my white/blue airborne tab above the rank...

[AlphaSigOU]

Zo, Kapitan... You zink you can trifle vit der CAP Uniform Edicts?

Off to der Kamp vit you!

(Sound of European hi-lo siren fading into the dark, lifeless streets)

Oh, no!  I hope you didn't send me to the Klink! 

14 days in ze cooler!

[Pylon]

So if we were to have the reg "altered" or "clarified" in any coming revisions, what would be the best way to write the part for positioning of the embroidered insignia on the BDU cap?  What's the best method?  Centered vertically and horizontally? 

[MIKE]

3. Officers wear the regular size cloth {snipped} grade insignia on the BDU cap. Grade
insignia will be centered vertically and horizontally. Colonel grade insignia is worn with the
eagle's beak pointed towards the wearer's right shoulder (indicates the eagle is facing forward). {snipped}
NOTE: Chaplains may wear {Add: regular size cloth} chaplains' insignia centered 1/2
inch above visor of BDU cap. {snipped}

[mikeylikey]

Grade insignia (religious insignia for chaplains) is centered on the front of the headgear left to right, and top to bottom; no other insignia is worn on the headgear.

Simple.

[Pylon]

MIKE and Mikey thanks. 

So what if the manual was rewritten using the basis of the quote MIKE pulled from the AFI, but adding the 1/8" border of ultramarine around the grade insignia requirement?   We would also further explain that there'd be no insignia worn for Senior Members without grade.

I think it'd be a lot easier to understand, to comply with, and would (likely more often than the current setup) look good.

[mikeylikey]

^ Coolness.  Your right on. 

[SAR-EMT1]

Grade insignia (religious insignia for chaplains) is centered on the front of the headgear left to right, and top to bottom; no other insignia is worn on the headgear.
SMWOG and cadet enlisted wear nothing

Simple.

bold, my own addition

[SJFedor]

Grade insignia (religious insignia for chaplains) is centered on the front of the headgear left to right, and top to bottom; no other insignia is worn on the headgear.
SMWOG and cadet enlisted wear nothing

Simple.

bold, my own addition

SMWOG and cadet enlisted NCOs wear nothing

[RogueLeader]

Grade insignia (religious insignia for chaplains) is centered on the front of the headgear left to right, and top to bottom; no other insignia is worn on the headgear.
SMWOG and cadet enlisted wear nothing

Simple.

bold, my own addition

SMWOG and cadet enlisted NCOs wear nothing

So C/ab-SrA can?

[Pylon]

Grade insignia (religious insignia for chaplains) is centered on the front of the headgear left to right, and top to bottom; no other insignia is worn on the headgear.
SMWOG and cadet enlisted wear nothing

Simple.

bold, my own addition

SMWOG and cadet enlisted NCOs wear nothing

CAPM 39-1, 1-3, defines cadets from grade C/AB to C/CMSgt as Airmen.  Since that's how the uniform manual defines them, for purposes of the uniform manual, that's the language that will be used.  Not enlisted or NCO.  Saves the debate. 

[G+10]

Grade insignia (religious insignia for chaplains) is centered on the front of the headgear left to right, and top to bottom; no other insignia is worn on the headgear.
SMWOG and cadet enlisted wear nothing

Simple.

bold, my own addition

SMWOG and cadet enlisted NCOs wear nothing

CAPM 39-1, 1-3, defines cadets from grade C/AB to C/CMSgt as Airmen.  Since that's how the uniform manual defines them, for purposes of the uniform manual, that's the language that will be used.  Not enlisted or NCO.  Saves the debate. 

May I suggest you then change it to:

SMWOG and cadet airmen wear no hat insignia

You don't want that other sound bite hanging out there... 

[Gunner C]

But I'm sure they don't want NCOs wearing anything on their hats, either (non-cadet NCOs, that is)

GC

[Hawk200]

But I'm sure they don't want NCOs wearing anything on their hats, either (non-cadet NCOs, that is)

GC

One more try them: Senior Members without grade, Senior Member NCOs, and cadet airman and NCOs do not wear rank insignia on headgear

Does that work?

[Gunner C]

But I'm sure they don't want NCOs wearing anything on their hats, either (non-cadet NCOs, that is)

GC

One more try them: Senior Members without grade, Senior Member NCOs, and cadet airman and NCOs do not wear rank insignia on headgear

Does that work?

It's all good for me . . .

[Fifinella]

But I'm sure they don't want NCOs wearing anything on their hats, either (non-cadet NCOs, that is)

GC

One more try them: Senior Members without grade, Senior Member NCOs, and cadet airman and NCOs do not wear rank insignia on headgear

Does that work?

Sounds good, Mike.

[Hawk200]

Sounds good, Mike.

Thanks, but I'm not a "Mike".

[SarDragon]

Sounds good, Mike.

Thanks, but I'm not a "Mike".

A "Headphone" maybe?

[SStradley]

Sounds good, Mike.

Thanks, but I'm not a "Mike".

No name, no signiture, just a handle ... Mike works for me.  It is better than Joe, or perhaps you are a Joesephine.

[Fifinella]

Sounds good, Mike.

Thanks, but I'm not a "Mike".

Sorry, read too fast.  Thought that summary came from Pylon.  Mea culpa.

[Hawk200]

No name, no signiture, just a handle ... Mike works for me.  It is better than Joe, or perhaps you are a Joesephine.

None of the above. But if you want a more personal name, "Hawkeye" works. Been called that off and on for about 12 years now. Then again, my cousins have been called the same, but I don't think any of them are here.