GARRISON CAP

A 'garrison cap', 'wedge cap', 'flight cap', 'side cap', 'forage cap', or 'overseas cap' is a foldable cap with straight sides and a creased or hollow crown sloping to the back where it is parted.
It is a variant of the Glengarry, being distinguished by a lack of check or plaid trim, toorie, and ribbons typical of the original. It has been associated with various military forces from the World War I era to the present and various youth organizations. A convenient feature of this cap is that when the owner is indoors and no coat-hook is available on which to hang it, it can be easily stored (by folding it over the belt or, unoffically tucking it into an epaulette.)

Contents

Canada

Army

Air force

France

United Kingdom

United States

Offensive terms

Notes

External links

Canada

Main articles: Uniforms of the Canadian Forces

Army

In the Canadian army, the 'field service cap' (French: ''calot de campagne'') is defined by the Canadian Forces Dress Instructions as a "cloth folding or 'wedge cap'...Originally designed for wear during field operations and training, it may now also be worn as an undress cap with full and undress uniforms."^[1] The cap is worn as part of the Undress uniform by students of Royal Military College of Canada,^[2] and as an optional item by all ranks of Rifle regiments with Ceremonial Dress, Mess Dress, and Service Dress uniforms.^[3]
The field service cap was originally adopted Army-wide in 1939, and replaced in 1943 by a khaki beret. The Coloured Field Service Cap was a variant permitted for private purchase and worn only when off duty. These were done in the colours of the regiment or corps of the wearer.

Air force

In the Canadian air force, the blue 'wedge cap' (French: ''calot'') is authorized for wear with all orders of dress.^[4] It is properly worn "on the right side of the head, centred front and back, with the front edge of the cap 2.5 cm (1 in.) above the right eyebrow."^[5] Cap badges are worn on the left side, with the centre of
the badge 6.5 cm (2-1/2 in.) from the front of the cap centred between the flap
and the top seam.^[6] The cap worn by general officers is embellished with gold piping.^[7] Military police wear a scarlet flash in the front of their
wedge caps showing 1 cm (1/4 in.).^[8]
Prior to Unification in 1968, the Royal Canadian Air Force wore uniforms similar to those worn by the Royal Air Force, including a blue wedge cap. After 1968, the uniforms of the three services were replaced by a universal rifle-green uniform; the air force, however, was permitted to retain the wedge cap, although in rifle green instead of blue. With the advent of the Distinct Environmental Uniform, the blue wedge cap returned.

France

In France, the traditional '''bonnet de police''' replaced the kepi once the steel Adrian helmet was issued due to its ease in carrying. It is now worn by anti-riot law enforcement units, such as the Gendarmerie Mobile of the French Gendarmerie (at least when in riot control gear) and the CRS of the French National Police. Members of these units may have to change quickly from a hat to a helmet, and an easily foldable hat is thus handy.
Between 1945 and 1962 this headdress was worn by most branches of the French Army in a wide variety of colours, which normally matched those of the kepis historically worn by the particular branch or regiment. At the end of the Algerian War the ''bonnet de police'', as it was known, was replaced by the beret.

United Kingdom

In the Royal Air Force, a forage hat (or chip bag hat) is widely worn with both working dress and flying suits.

United States

In the U.S. armed forces it is known as a garrison cap, ''campaign cap'' (not to be confused with ''campaign hat'', a distinct form of headgear), ''flight cap'', ''garrison hat'', ''fore-and-aft cap'', ''envelope cap'', ''pisscutter'' or ''overseas cap'' and is worn by US navy sailors in working blues or khaki uniforms.
When first issued to U.S. "doughboys" in World War I, the hat was called the "overseas cap" as it was only worn by troops in France who were given the French type forage cap as they did not have their campaign hats. The overseas cap could be stored easily when the helmet was being worn. A blue overseas cap was adopted post war by the American Legion. The hat largely disappeared between the wars except for the Air Corps, Paratroopers and Armored Force. The hat was widely issued from 1941 on and lost its 'overseas' distinctiveness. With the replacement of the campaign hat the garrison cap was given branch of service color piping similar to what had been on the cord of the campaign hat with officers having black and gold and generals gold trim. This practice was later discontinued when individuals had to purchase a new hat if they were transferred to a different branch of the service.
Recently it has been replaced in the U.S. Army by the beret, but remains in the other U.S. Armed Forces, most notably the U.S. Air Force.

Offensive terms

The cap earned an offensive slang name ''cunt cap'' by the resemblance of the crown's crease and folds to labia (See List of U.S. Army acronyms and expressions). The U.S. Marines called the hat a ''pisscutter''.
It is also known as a "Biter" (or "Bider"), which is short for cock-biter. When the cap is pulled at either side, the front and rear corners come together as jaws.

Notes

1. ''Canadian Forces Dress Instructions,'' Chap 1, para 22
2. ''Ibid.,'' Chap 5, Annex B, para 2
3. ''Ibid.,'' Chap 6, Sect 1, para 4c
4. ''Ibid.,'' Chap 6, Sect 1, para 5
5. ''Ibid.,'' Chap 2, Sect 2, para 15d
6. ''Ibid.,'' Annex D, Appendix 1
7. ''Ibid.,'' Chap 3, Sect 2, para 9
8. ''Ibid.,'' Chap 6, Sect 1, para 5c

External links

★ Canadian Forces Dress Instructions

★ The campaign cap

★ O'Ryan's Roughnecks - Uniforms