When are we going to adopt the military 8 point cover? The 8 point cover (Marine Corps and Navy SWCC style) presents a much, MUCH more military appearance then the goofy, just got back from my kid's little league game, looking baseball cap.

Plus with the requirement for all ODUs to have the material rank chevrons, it looks silly to have the metal ones on the hat. The 8 point cover provides the front panel for the fabric chevron and is also a universal cover. No more buying a hat for every unit I go to. I'm sure some people are sentimental and like getting their little unit ball cap but in my opinion, it's just not professional.

I greatly prefer the smart, squared away appearance of a proper fitting 8 point cover. The ball cap worn correctly (two fingers from the bridge of the nose) looks ridiculous and when worn comfortably, it's pulled way back like some good ol' boy or Joe Blow at a cook out.

Some say we are the military and some say otherwise. Either way, I say we should look as professional as possible.

I believe I read on an earlier post that the 8 point was considered and rejected.

Frankly I see no reason why the CG should emulate the Army or Marines. It's dumb enough that you have a sea going service blousing their pants!

I think a lot of those covers would be lost if they were worn during small boat ops in rough weather.

Coasties in PSU's wore the six color (chocolate chip) boonie hat in Saudi/Bahrain during GW I, and woodland 8-corner hats in Haiti.

The CG now authorizes the blue boonie hat with ODU's.

Has anyone researched the cost of an individual unit baseball versus a generic blue 8-corner hat?

If the 8-corner can be bought for less, it should be considered.

And DON'T EVEN THINK about just dying a current camo hat blue.

The dye just doesn't take enough, and even before washing, the camo pattern is still visible.

BTDT.

quote:

Originally posted by Ex_CG_GM:
I believe I read on an earlier post that the 8 point was considered and rejected.

Frankly I see no reason why the CG should emulate the Army or Marines. It's dumb enough that you have a sea going service blousing their pants!

I think a lot of those covers would be lost if they were worn during small boat ops in rough weather.

The Army doesn't wear the 8-point-- they wear the soft camo cover.

Who's wearing unit ballcaps during small boat ops in rough weather anyway?

The lack of uniformity with regard to unit ballcaps needs to end. Uniformity is far more important in my opinion than "emulating the Marines". I personally hate the ballcaps with the mesh back...which are currently authorized.

Shifting to a generic 8-point cover for all personnel reinforces the idea that we're all one Coast Guard, not a bunch of individual units.

My opinion-- let the Aux keep ballcaps, and all military members wear the 8-point.

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My opinion-- let the Aux keep ballcaps, and all military members wear the 8-point.

OK, but I'm keeping MY ball cap!

you think the ball cap looks sloppy? check out an 8-point that is not worn correctly! i'll stick with the ball cap, thanks.

i like the ballcaps.
havin hats from other units is awesome, and i like it personally.

a standard company to buy from would be nice cause some fade, some dont. ect ect ect.

The 8 point BLUE cover looks like crap! The ball cap is fine. If you have an issue with it looking worn out, dirty, etc. Then have it replaced, AS IT SHOULD BE, since it is a uniform item.

Don't we already use enough form the other services. I take pride in being our own service with our own missions and objectives. If we keep doing like the others, then we might as well just be places under the Navy. I saw the 8 point hats when they were testing them with the recruits. I did not think they looked that professional. If people are wearing their ball caps wrong then why is their supervisor not correcting them? That is a large problem with uniforms in general when a supervisor feels it is not his/her responsibility to correct the people under them.

Having worn CCU's for 10 years the having to wear ODU's a few times a year, I'd stick to the ball cap for ODU's, I think it's a lot more comfortable when you get a flex fit.

Anyone remember the black ball caps that were issued in the early 80s? They were a nice fit and were not one size fits all, which is the problem with todays idea of a ball cap.

I remember some of the Air Force guys back then that had those high front ball caps; pretty much used as bill boards. Look at the old style baseball caps from the 40s and 50s; sized to your head...a pretty sharp look.

For those prior service folks lamenting the CG uniform issue, just be glad you're not in the Navy. What is one of the main topics in the Navy Times? Uniform Gripes!

I wouldn't say either is great at this but I would think the ballcap would have a better chance of staying on your head while underway on a smallboat.

Don

My wife and I are prior service veterans and presently in the Coast Guard Auxiliary. The eight point cover is a long time traditional piece of maritime headgear. The Navy and Marine Corps have been wearing them in green and various camo patterns for decades. Even the Air Force is wearing them with their tri-color DCU's in Iraq. They can look sloppy when not worn properly, or darn sharp when worn as prescribed. Likewise, the blue ball cap is tradition that goes back to World War II. We wore ball caps and utilities when I was in the Navy back in the 70's; they still wear them aboard ship and in naval air squadrons. Prior to the 80's, they were either wool or cotton with green material on the bottom of the bill to reduce (perhaps) glare; luckily, the sloppy mesh back caps did not exist then.

It is a tough call. Perhaps feasability will decide. The MarPat (8-point) might not do well on the open deck of a CG fast mover. Regardless of any decision, it should be universal across the board for active, reserve and auxiliary personnel. Finally, OIC's, NCOIC's and FC's should enforce the proper wear of headgear and other uniform items as well. Anything will look sloppy if it is worn that way.

The 8-point covers were rejected. Thank God.

quote:

Who's wearing unit ballcaps during small boat ops in rough weather anyway?

Anyone who doesn't want sun glare in their eyes or their scalp fried to a crisp. It doesn't have to be rough weather either, just being ahead at crusing speed genearates 20+ kt winds. Into a head wind you're looking at 30-40 kts.

With that in perspective methinks there would be alot of "man overboard" drills with the 8 point cover...

quote:

Originally posted by aklis:
Don't we already use enough form the other services.

I agree and I liked it when we wore the working blues. Gas station attendant or no, those were some comfortable uniforms.

quote:

I saw the 8 point hats when they were testing them with the recruits. I did not think they looked that professional.

That's your mistake right there. Looking to recruits for answers. Biggest gaggle of sloppy, bumbling, still don't know how to even wear a uniform, unsure of themselves group if I ever saw one. They need to take a unit like the Color Guard or the CCs, groups who have the self confidence, pride in appearence, and know how to make a uniform look good and test it with them.

Someone previously posted that when worn improporly, the 8 point cover looks sloppy. I have to agree with that just like I have to agree that it is the supervisor's responsability to ensure his unit maintains a sharp military appearence.

As far as boat ops, I've never been stationed at a small boat unit so I can't speak about that. But on cutters, we weren't really wearing our covers anyway. Maybe the bridge crew but that's about it. It would seem to me that if the wind is that strong, it would blow any kind of hat off your head. And as far as man overboards go, if you can't look around your 47'er and see who's missing, well...

And yes Stinky32, I know that the uniform board voted against the adoption of this cover. I won't hold it against them. Everyone is prone to make a mistake now and again.

the simple answer.....

they look retarded!!! Were not the Marines, were not the Navy!!!

The 8 point cover looks rediculous!!!

Sorry!!!!

Be gald were actually going to get the untucked blouse.....you ask alot my friend!!!!

quote:

That's your mistake right there. Looking to recruits for answers. Biggest gaggle of sloppy, bumbling, still don't know how to even wear a uniform, unsure of themselves group if I ever saw one.

Serviceman, I will put my week 07 company up against any unit you have been assigned since being in the CG. Not only will they make your unit look bad in uniform they will also blow them away in CG history. Yes they look sloppy in weeks 02-04 but weeks 05-08 uniforms look better than any CG unit in the fleet and it will not even be close. Trust me I have seen both sides, three ships one small boat station and now as a CC. These kids walk around here like they can take on the world, 8 point cover or ball cap they don't care. Trust me it's not to these kids get to the fleet they begin to look sloppy, that’s just a fact.

here's an 8 point cover for ya!

(and they come in pink too...)

Here's my son wearing one at Camp Pendleton, CA.


Don