Caps
Shop military caps that show where you served, what you do, or just keep the sun out of your eyes. This collection holds more than a hundred Rothco caps, from plain fatigue caps to embroidered low profile caps for every branch and many public safety jobs.
- Service branch caps: Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard low profile insignia caps, including vintage-wash and deluxe embroidered versions with the Eagle, Globe and Anchor, Air Force wings and Special Forces insignia.
- Veteran caps for Vietnam, Korea, Desert Storm, Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom vets, plus POW/MIA, Marine veteran and Semper Fi caps.
- Fatigue caps in the flat-top military style, including vintage and Air Corps versions, women's adjustable fits, a kids' woodland camo cap and a Gov't Spec 2-ply MultiCam Army Ranger fatigue cap.
- Public safety caps marked Police, Security, EMS, EMT, SWAT, Fire Department, Border Patrol and Narcotics, plus officially licensed NYPD adjustable caps.
- Work and street caps, including 8-point caps, a hickory stripe engineer cap, 5-panel street caps and a WWII M1941 knit watch cap with brim.
Low profile caps sit closer to the head than a tall trucker cap and fit under hoods and ear protection. Solid color and camo low profile caps without insignia are available too, if you'd rather add your own patch.
A note for service members: under DA PAM 670-1, the patrol cap is the standard garrison headgear with the Army combat uniform, and the Air Force limits ball caps to OCP tactical caps. The insignia and fatigue caps on this page are for off-duty and civilian wear. The guide below explains the patrol cap rules.
How to Choose Military Caps
Military-style caps fall into three main shapes, and each fits a different use.
Low Profile Caps
The low profile ball cap has a shallow crown and a curved bill. It is the most common shape for branch and veteran insignia caps because the front panel shows embroidery well. The shallow crown also fits better under headsets and hoods. Deluxe and vintage versions add heavier embroidery or a washed, broken-in look.
Fatigue Caps and Patrol-Style Caps
The fatigue cap has a flat top, straight sides and a short bill, the shape troops have worn in the field for generations. It packs flat in a pocket and dries fast. Women's adjustable fatigue caps have a strap at the back for a closer fit and room for a ponytail.
8-Point Caps
The 8-point cap has a stiff, eight-cornered crown and is common with police, security and corrections uniforms. It keeps its shape and gives a squared-away look on duty.
Sizing Military Caps
Adjustable caps fit most adults. For fitted fatigue and 8-point caps, measure around your head about an inch above the eyebrows and choose the matching size. Between sizes, go up; a cap that is too tight rides up and gives you a headache by noon.
Military Caps and Uniform Regulations
Army Patrol Cap Rules
Paragraph 4-10 of DA PAM 670-1 makes the patrol cap the standard headgear with the combat uniform in garrison. Key points:
- Wear the cap straight on the head so it fits snugly without bulging, with no hair showing on the forehead.
- Don't alter or roll the cap.
- Attach the nametape to the hook-and-loop pad on the back, and center subdued grade insignia on the front.
- Sewing on the nametape or insignia is optional and at your own expense.
The patrol cap is made in the uniform's OCP pattern. MultiCam and woodland caps are a different pattern, so they don't replace it with the duty uniform.
Air Force and Space Force Caps
A 2020 Air Force uniform update authorized tactical OCP caps that are all OCP or OCP with a coyote brown mesh back, with a spice brown nametape on the back and only officer rank on the front. Check the current DAFI 36-2903 for the latest version of that rule.
Wearing Insignia Caps Off Duty
Branch and veteran caps are commercial civilian items, not uniform headgear. Wear them with civilian clothes to show pride in your service or a family member's. Police, security and EMS caps suit those jobs where the employer allows them, but be careful wearing agency-marked caps if you don't work in that role.
Caps for Every Day
Caring for Embroidered Caps
Hand wash embroidered and vintage caps in cool water with mild soap, then air-dry them on a ball or a rolled towel so the crown keeps its shape. Skip the dryer, which can warp the bill and shrink cotton. A cap brush keeps dust off low profile and 8-point caps between washes.
Military Caps for Every Day
A good cap goes everywhere: to the range, the job site, the ballfield and the VFW. Pair one with a boonie hat for summer field days and a watch cap for winter.