Old School Service CAP...CRUSH CAP

[Major Carrales]

From back in the days when the SERVICE CAPs (and SERVICE COATS) outnumbered the Flight caps!!!

[JohnKachenmeister]

Ah, the old days...

Breakfast for a CAP pilot was a big cup of coffee and a cigarette.

[AlphaSigOU]

The modern version of the 50-mission crush cap is usually worn only by Thunderchickens and Sierra Hotel fighter jocks or wannabes. Just wear your flight cap a size smaller (or larger?) than what you normally wear and spread out the upper portion of the flight cap, tucking it in the back. (Back in my days WIWAC there were some less than savory descriptions on wearing the flight cap that I won't repeat in this forum...)



Former USAFA Commandant Brig Gen Weida sporting the fighter jock crush. And yes, he was a T-Clone!

[Hawk200]

Just wear your flight cap a size smaller (or larger?) than what you normally wear and spread out the upper portion of the flight cap, tucking it in the back.

Doesn't even need a different size. A former squadron commander of mine wore his that way all the time. Drove me crazy. I told him that the back of his head looked like a ducks butt. I was strongly tempted to put white paint splotches under the "tail".

[mikeylikey]

From back in the days when the SERVICE CAPs (and SERVICE COATS) outnumbered the Flight caps!!!

I like that hat device.  Lets bring it back!

[Eagle400]

You're kidding, right?  There are already way too many badges in CAP that have colored enamel on them!

I say off with the head of whoever had the idea of putting colored enamel on CAP's badges! 

Of course, the NEC and BOG badges are an exception. 

[MIKE]

I like that hat device.  Lets bring it back!

Like something out of a 50s biker movie... Do you look like a young Marlon Brando?

I'd replace the service cap, flight cap and BDU cap with a beret a la RAF... and short brim boonies without the camoing tape for field wear.  Too Euro?

[Major Carrales]

I'd replace the service cap, flight cap and BDU cap with a beret a la RAF... and short brim boonies without the camoing tape for field wear.  Too Euro?

Yes, quite Euro ergo FRENCH!!!  

Anyway, berets hold a special place in the military lexicon, we don't need them.  Service caps and flight caps are quite satisfactory.

[Eagle400]

I'd replace the service cap, flight cap and BDU cap with a beret a la RAF... and short brim boonies without the camoing tape for field wear.  Too Euro?

No, too Army.   

[MIKE]

Yes, quite Euro ergo FRENCH!!!

Where do you think the flight/garrison cap came from originally?  For that matter, compare the uniforms of the two countries throughout the centuries... And even military terminology.

Anyway, berets hold a special place in the military lexicon, ...

In the US.  Different story in other NATO countries.

[Hawk200]

Anyway, berets hold a special place in the military lexicon, we don't need them.  Service caps and flight caps are quite satisfactory.

Not to mention, berets are hot, and have to be shaped again every few months. And no, you can't starch them (they'll fade).

Used to like them. Then had to wear them for the Army Guard. Lesson learned.

[Hawk200]

Anyway, berets hold a special place in the military lexicon, ...

In the US.  Different story in other NATO countries.

And we're in the US. Let's let our country's military influence our uniforms.

As for the boonie, I haven't seen anyone in the Army or its components wear one. It's either soft cap, or Kevlar in the field. They're actually pretty spendy for a mil-spec one, considering that they aren't really commonly authorized for wear.

[mikeylikey]

^^  I do believe I wore one overseas circa 2002, 2003-2004, then 2005. 

Yes.....we owe a lot to the French!  Not only our terminology but military tactics also.

[RogueLeader]

Yes.....we owe a lot to the French!  Not only our terminology but military tactics also.

What tactics We don't surrender!!! 

[LtCol White]

You're kidding, right?  There are already way too many badges in CAP that have colored enamel on them!

I say off with the head of whoever had the idea of putting colored enamel on CAP's badges! 

Of course, the NEC and BOG badges are an exception. 

I agree. Besides, it looks like it was stolen from Harry Potter. LOL

[Major Carrales]

Where do you think the flight/garrison cap came from originally?  For that matter, compare the uniforms of the two countries throughout the centuries... And even military terminology.

I can see I struck a "nerve" here. 

Military fashion for the USA has always followed European styles.  I guess we should also follow the European lead and allow hair of any length (Denmark, Netherlands),  or extremely huge service caps like European RUSSIA or maybe even, dare I say it, embrace Constitutional Monarchy, legalize DRUGS or any number of their extrememly Liberal policies...(yes,  and that "unmentionable one " too)

[ZigZag911]

Can't say I'm fond of the beret concept for CAP.

Flight cap is most practical with blues, though I've always preferred the saucer cap for appearance....but what the heck to do with it once you go inside?!?

BDU cap or ball cap for utilities.

[LtCol White]

I think our current headgear is fine the way it is.

[Hawk200]

... though I've always preferred the saucer cap for appearance....but what the heck to do with it once you go inside?!?

That's always annoyed me, too. Gets a little annoying having to hold onto it. And you'd better hope that noone else has one if you put it down somewhere. They take yours without looking inside it.

[Pylon]

I guess we should also follow the European lead and allow hair of any length (Denmark, Netherlands),  or extremely huge service caps like European RUSSIA or maybe even, dare I say it, embrace Constitutional Monarchy, legalize DRUGS or any number of their extrememly Liberal policies...(yes,  and that "unmentionable one " too)

Do you always take examples far out of context and to ridiculous extremes?