Uniform Hats
These military uniform hats recreate the formal and traditional headgear of the U.S. services, from the beret to the round-brim campaign hat. They are popular with cadet programs, drill teams, reenactors, collectors and anyone who needs a period-correct or ceremonial look.
What you'll find in this collection:
- Berets: a G.I.-style beret, G.I. Type Inspection Ready berets with and without a flash, a beret without flash, an inspection ready beret with a USAF flash in midnight navy blue, and a wool Monty beret in the British style.
- Campaign hat: the stiff, four-dent hat associated with drill instructors and park rangers.
- Navy white sailor hat: the G.I. Type white "Dixie cup."
- G.I. Type combat caps with flaps in olive drab, with ear flaps that fold down for cold weather.
- WWII-style leather pilot helmet, the close-fitting flight cap of early aviators.
Choose a beret with a flash if your program uses a standard one, or a beret without a flash if you'll add your own.
A note for service members: under DA PAM 670-1 the black beret is a clothing bag issue item and is no longer standard headgear with the combat uniform, though commanders may prescribe it for events such as parades. The drill sergeant hat is an organizational issue item worn only by Soldiers in drill sergeant positions. These Rothco hats are commercial versions, so check with your unit before wearing one in uniform. The guide below has the details.
Choosing Military Uniform Hats
Most buyers in this category need a hat for a specific event: a JROTC or Young Marines inspection, a drill competition, a living history display, a costume, or a shadow box. Start with what the event calls for, then pick the closest match.
Berets
Berets are sized by head circumference. Measure around your head where the headband will sit, across the forehead and above the ears, and pick that size. A new beret often needs shaping before it sits right, and many cadets learn that skill early. Check each product page for how much shaping a model needs. Choose a version with a flash if your program uses a standard flash, or one without if you'll sew on a unit-specific flash.
Campaign Hat
The campaign hat has a flat, stiff brim and a crown pinched into four dents. It suits drill team leaders, reenactors of early 20th-century troops and costume use. Keep it on a hat stand or in a box so the brim stays flat.
Sailor Hat, Combat Cap and Pilot Helmet
The white sailor hat can be worn squared or rolled for costumes and Navy-themed events. Wash it gently and let it dry on a bowl to keep the round shape. The combat cap with flaps is a practical cold-weather field cap. The WWII-style leather pilot helmet is a display and costume piece for aviation reenactors and air shows.
Uniform Hats and Army Regulations
How the Beret Is Worn
Paragraph 20-4 of DA PAM 670-1 gives the standard. The headband sits straight across the forehead, 1 inch above the eyebrows. The flash goes over the left eye, and the excess fabric drapes over to the right ear, reaching at least the top of the ear and no lower than its middle. Soldiers wear the approved flash of their assigned unit.
Beret Colors and When They're Worn
DA PAM 670-1 lists black as a clothing bag issue beret and tan, green, maroon and brown as organizational berets for Ranger, Special Forces, airborne and Security Force Assistance units. Paragraph 4-10 says the black beret isn't standard headgear with the combat uniform, but commanders may prescribe it for special events like parades and changes of command. Soldiers authorized an organizational beret wear it as standard garrison headgear.
The Drill Sergeant Hat
Under paragraph 20-16, the drill sergeant hat is organizational issue for NCOs in valid drill sergeant positions, and they lose the authorization when they leave the assignment. A commercial campaign hat is not a substitute.
Buying for Uniform Wear
Young Marines, Civil Air Patrol, Sea Cadets and JROTC units each publish their own uniform guides, which may name a specific beret, cover or flash. Check your program's guide before ordering, and order early so you have time to shape and fit the hat before inspection.
These are commercial Rothco hats, not issue items. They work well for cadet and youth programs, reenactments, ceremonies where your instructor approves them, and display. For active-duty, Guard and Reserve wear, use your issued headgear, and remember that other services and individual units set their own rules.