What's with this stupid military hat?

[storealex]

This "Overseas hat" or what it is called in English. Damn it's so stupid looking, plus I bet it's prone to fall off all the time. Why does everybody use them? A normal beret is much better imo.

 

[Dr. Yoshi]

Simplification of the tri-corner from the 18th and early 19th century perhaps?

 

[conquer_dude]

I dunno it's just a military cap and it probably always will be.

 

[bhsup]

A normal beret is much better imo.

In the US military, at least until the Army's asinine "army of one" campaign that targeted the self-centered youth of today (okay, not everyone, but that's the impression I get), used to restrict berets to special forces. In other words, they were earned and were a mark of prestige.

The following in the spoiler tag is not indicative of the actual military. My brother, in the military, sent me this. It's more of an opinion of the idea of giving the black beret to everyone.

Spoiler :

********************* I AM AN ARMY OF ONE ***********************
I am the 18-24 year old being targeted by this new marketing
concept, the very embodiment of "what's in it for ME." The legacy
of the politically correct years. It's ok to be immoral and a
pervert, and if anyone tries to mold me too vigorously into a
something that resembles a warrior, I'll tell my congressperson!

********************* I AM AN ARMY OF ONE ***********************
Teamwork? My chain of command consists of ME, MYSELF, and I.
I'm destined to be a dot-com millionaire. Just give me all that
college money, and take it easy on the discipline stuff. When
divisions of Chinese are racing toward my outpost like rabid
lemmings, I'll pack my Task-Force-Smith-smellin' ass back to
Milwaukee.

********************* I AM AN ARMY OF ONE ***********************
I have Carpal-Tunnel Syndrome, I'm great at Nintendo, and my
androgynous, sensitive physique can't handle 10 properly-executed
push-ups. I couldn't blast my way into an old folk's home, let
alone stand my ground in an impromptu bar room brawl. I am a
product of social engineering and hours of TV a day; my idea of a
"Survivor" is not a Medal of Honor winner who killed three
Vietnamese with his e-tool before being shot and left for dead,
but a pudgy, manipulative gay guy on an island shared with other
losers.

********************* I AM AN ARMY OF ONE ***********************
Concepts like duty, honor, and country are passe'. If it
Involves sacrifice of my individuality to become part of a team,
I'll punch out and spend the rest of my life hanging out with my
Microsoft employee slackerbuddies in Seattle, speaking in learned
tones about an unfortunate period in my life where I endured the
indignities of military service. Oh, the Patton movie? Haven't
seen it.

********************* I AM AN ARMY OF ONE ***********************
Gimme Gimme Gimme. What can I do for my country? Ha. Let me
ask that after I've feathered my nest like so many of the
non-veteran, draft-dodging, privileged Ivy Leaguers populating
Capitol Hill. Cater to me first, pander to me as an individual,
and after I don the uniform, continue to treat me with kid
gloves, and let me punch out before things get really tough-where
I might actually have to risk my life for my country, because...

********************* I AM AN ARMY OF ONE ***********************
(I would add, I AM AN ARMY OF ONE
Give me my damn black beret, its all about appearances!)

EDIT: Fat fingered the "t". targetted -> targeted.

 

[Taliesin]

Simplification of the tri-corner from the 18th and early 19th century perhaps?

I can just picture the committee meeting: "Sir, our study has found that reducing our corners-to-hat ratio by one third would improve our performance in battle by 2%." "Do it. And do it properly, sergeant! No cutting corners on my ship!" "But... sir?"

 

[Marla_Singer]

When it goes about ridiculous military hats, I guess it's very difficult to beat those :

 

[SomethingWitty]

I'm reminded of that guy in Airplane.

Guy #1: "What do you make of this?"

Guy #2: "What can I make from this? Why I can make a hat! Or a pretty brooch! Or a pterodactyl!"

 

[Abaddon]

they dont actually go into war like that though... theres sure a lot of silly ceremonial dress out there...

 

[storealex]

Well in the Danish military, berets are issued to everyone. Green for normal soldiers, black for soldiers in Guard units and bordeaux-red for Special Forces. Each unit has it's own symbol on the beret too.
The stupid overseas hat is a part of the gallauniform, and it looks so good damn ugly. Plus I wouldn't want to wear it, if it was windy...

 

[Marla_Singer]

they dont actually go into war like that though... theres sure a lot of silly ceremonial dress out there...

It would be funny if they actually would !

Actually, the redcoats protecting buckingham palace are equipped with assault rifle. It would be rather funny if they'd actually have to use them.

 

[storealex]

When it goes about ridiculous military hats, I guess it's very difficult to beat those

Hey those are cool. Not on that picture though, but that's from England so what can you expect...look at these:

 

[Marla_Singer]

Here's the French version :

It is called the "Garde Républicaine" (Republican Guard).


Here's another picture with Jacques waving at the crowd...

Well, that's not less ridiculous.

 

[storealex]

Yeah those Republican Guards dose look pretty stupid. The French used to have cool cavalry uniforms, but that one isn't among them. I believe they are the French version of the Danish Guard Hussars:

Galla:

 

[Riesstiu IV]

@Marla - Actually, that's a really cool uniform. I especially like the cavalry helmets.

@storealex - Danish Guard Hussars look like postal workers.

 

[storealex]

Actually, that's a really cool uniform. I especially like the cavalry helmets.

I don't think the colours mix. Gold, black, red and white. Erase the white and it's the German flag... What happened to the tri-colour?

 

[MobBoss]

The american enlisted term for such a cap as the OP linked is C**t Cap. You figure it out.

And I dont actually mind the black beret so much. But I did prefer the camo ballcap.

 

[Riesstiu IV]

I don't think the colours mix. Gold, black, red and white. Erase the white and it's the German flag... What happened to the tri-colour?

Yeah but they have those frilly shoulder decorations (I'm not sure what they're called).

US dress uniforms seem fairly average compared to some of the uniforms posted in this thread. Even during the 19th century, at the height of European uniform design, the US military uniforms were not too impressive.

I have a theory that the best dressed army will always lose in the end.

 

[storealex]

@storealex - Danish Guard Hussars look like postal workers.

Not Danish postal workers. They look like this:

 

[Fetus4188]

Not Danish postal workers. They look like this:

No, that's a British Redcoat, the ol' Lobsterback

 

[storealex]

I have a theory that the best dressed army will always lose in the end.

What about the worst too? Italy, France and Denmark had the ugliest uniform during WWII, and we all got our ass kicked...