Air Force Campaign Hat Views
Through the World War I era, the campaign hat worn by American soldiers was fairly soft. Those worn by the United States Army's General officers had a golden cord around it, whereas other Commissioned officers had a golden-and-black cord around their hat. Field Clerks, as well as their post-war successors the Warrant officers, had a silver-and-black cord, while other ranks had cords in their branch-of-service colors. The United States Marine Corps had the Eagle, Globe, and Anchor badge in black at the front of their campaign hats; its officers had an additional golden-and-scarlet cord around their hat, whereas its other ranks had none.[1]
Male United States Air Force Military Training Instructors (MTIs) wear navy blue hats with the Great Seal of the United States within a ring, in silver color, again centered on the front; this is the same insignia as worn on their combination cover. Female MTIs wear a slouch hat. Air Force MTIs who are qualified to teach new MTIs are identified by a black cord around the hat. MTIs in the top ten percent of their career field wear a light blue cord and are more likely to be referred to as Blue Ropes than MTIs. U.S. Coast Guard recruit training Company Commanders (USCG-USN counterpart to drill instructors) wear a navy blue version with a black cord; the insignia worn is the same as worn with the combination cover.
Campaign hats are still worn by U.S. park rangers of the National Park Service. Many states' fish and game wardens, and state park police wear campaign hats. Rangers of many local parks departments wear the campaign hat, such as the New York City Parks Enforcement Patrol. Since the federal troops sent to protect the resources of the first national parks were cavalry troopers, including the 9th Cavalry's Black Buffalo Soldiers, it was natural that the park system and its rangers would adopt the cavalry soldier's campaign hat as a symbol of authority.
Usage is common in the U.S. Marine Corps as the headgear when wearing service uniforms (the other option being the bulkier frame-type barracks cover ). In addition, it is the standard headgear for Marines wearing flightsuits. The Marine officer's garrison cap, unlike those of the Army or Air Force, does not have metallic piping; the only marking that distinguishes it from the enlisted cap is the placement of officer's rank insignia on the right side of the cap. Enlisted garrison caps carry no rank insignia, however all Marine garrison caps carry the Eagle, Globe, and Anchor insignia on the left side.
Air Force Campaign Hat Images
