What's the deal with the female GARRISON cover? Are female Marines authorized to wear the male garrison cover?

Sgt Melinda Enfinger — Sat, 24 Oct 2015 15:30:56 -0400

Apparently this became an issue after a picture of a female Marine wearing what appeared to be a male garrison cover was posted on social media yesterday. (10/23/15)

There is nothing that I can find that SPECIFICALLY addresses this question. The Maradmin 658/13 says this:

AGENDA ITEM A: UNIVERSAL DRESS AND SERVICE CAPS
(1) RECOMMENDATION: ADOPT THE CURRENT MALE SERVICE AND DRESS FRAME CAP AS THE UNIVERSAL CAP FOR ALL MARINES (WITH SOME MODIFICATIONS TO MAKE IT MORE COMFORTABLE BUT MAINTAIN THE SAME DISTINCTIVE APPEARANCE).
CMC DECISION: APPROVED. FEMALE MARINES ARE AUTHORIZED TO WEAR THE CURRENT MALE DRESS AND SERVICE CAPS IMMEDIATELY, BUT WILL NOT BE REQUIRED TO OWN THEM UNTIL THE MANDATORY POSSESSION DATE AS DETAILED BELOW.

It does not speak to the garrison cover... Can anyone give a reference that makes it clear? I think they issue the male version to females in bootcamp, but still can't find a reference. The uniform regs don't cover* it either.. (that was punny!)

Anyone?

Response by 1stSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 24 at 2015 3:34 PM

1stSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 24 Oct 2015 15:34:45 -0400

Those are only recommendations to the uniform board for the piss cover. Note the instruction states FRAME cap. ie Dress blues or service A. I think you all called a bucket cap.

Response by PO1 John Miller made Oct 25 at 2015 11:54 PM

PO1 John Miller — Sun, 25 Oct 2015 23:54:44 -0400

So glad I was in the Navy! With that said, I have worked with Marines and do seem to recall seeing women wearing a piss cutter. Whether it was a male or female cover I don't know. I didn't even know that the Corps had/has different versions of this cover for female and male Marines.

The black piss cutter that the Navy wears in its E-6 & below service uniform is gender neutral, as is the khaki piss cutter worn by E-7 & above.

Response by Cpl Isaac Cruz made Oct 26 at 2015 10:54 AM

Cpl Isaac Cruz — Mon, 26 Oct 2015 10:54:17 -0400

Five years ago a viability study was conducted to issue unisex covers. Not sure what the results were, but the study was featured in MCTimes.

Response by Cpl James Waycasie made Oct 27 at 2015 7:50 AM

Cpl James Waycasie — Tue, 27 Oct 2015 07:50:44 -0400

I know in my years ( 1979-1983) in service, WM's had their own version. I often wondered why we didn't wear the same. I figured it may have dealt with WM's having more hair to cover thus the need for a modified Cover for them. I can't really comment on uniform regs anymore since I don't keep up with them anymore.

Response by MSgt Stephan Hall made Oct 31 at 2015 8:59 AM

MSgt Stephan Hall — Sat, 31 Oct 2015 08:59:01 -0400

I believe mismatching the male and female uniforms to save money was a mistake, our female Marines need to keep their independent identity.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 1 at 2015 7:48 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 01 Nov 2015 19:48:15 -0500

I don't know where it lays out gender-specific mandates in the uniform order anywhere, outside of accessories and shoes. The specifics of the maradmin clearly imply that mixing male-female items requires an exception though, so if Garrison caps are not included then there's no reason to assume anything has changed with them.

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 3 at 2015 10:00 AM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 03 Nov 2015 10:00:11 -0500

I'm not sure about the garrison cover. I know when I was issued mine in boot camp it was a female cover.

Response by SSgt Al Orange made Nov 3 at 2015 5:10 PM

SSgt Al Orange — Tue, 03 Nov 2015 17:10:07 -0500

Which page was the photo posted on?

Response by Sgt Sabrina Williams made Nov 3 at 2015 7:55 PM

Sgt Sabrina Williams — Tue, 03 Nov 2015 19:55:03 -0500

I was reading something in the Marine Corps Times last year that they were supposed to be switching to the male garrison covers, but I didn't think they had switched yet.

Response by Sgt Sheldon Best made Nov 3 at 2015 11:08 PM

Sgt Sheldon Best — Tue, 03 Nov 2015 23:08:30 -0500

'ADOPT THE CURRENT MALE SERVICE AND DRESS FRAME CAP AS THE UNIVERSAL CAP FOR ALL MARINES ' The service cap is the garrison cover.....

Response by Sgt Sheldon Best made Nov 3 at 2015 11:09 PM

Sgt Sheldon Best — Tue, 03 Nov 2015 23:09:08 -0500

' ADOPT THE CURRENT MALE SERVICE AND DRESS FRAME CAP AS THE UNIVERSAL CAP FOR ALL MARINES '
The garrison cap is the service cover, to be worn with the service uniform....

Response by Cpl Pierre Aston made Nov 4 at 2015 3:33 AM

Cpl Pierre Aston — Wed, 04 Nov 2015 03:33:31 -0500

Who cares? This is one of the biggest problems with the Marine Corps today...too many NCOs walking around actively seeking other Marines to "correct" over minutiae. "Hey there "devil", Maradmin blah blah blah says your hair is to be no longer than 3 in on top. It looks like yours is 3.2 in, and feel free to stand at parade rest while I humiliate you over this trivial matter", because there definitely isn't more important matters to worry about being a member of the warrior elite.

Response by Sgt Ronnie Mack made Nov 4 at 2015 7:05 AM

Sgt Ronnie Mack — Wed, 04 Nov 2015 07:05:20 -0500

I came in the Corps on 9/11/91. At that time, female Marines aka W.M. (Woman Marines) had their own version of the male Marine Garrison cover. As far as them actually wearing a males cover. Never saw anything as to them specifically not being able to!!!!

Response by LCpl Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 4 at 2015 10:27 PM

LCpl Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 04 Nov 2015 22:27:11 -0500

I think female Marines should just convert completely.

One thing that makes Marines stand out is uniformity to the point of stupidity.

I've never understood why males and females have separate uniforms and regulations.

Women are starting to inch their way into my job, which I've said in the past I have no problem with so long as they can preform.

With equality comes sacrifice. If that happens to be by means of individuality or sepritism, so be it. One day in the future I see female Marines be madated to get fades as well.

Although honestly I'd rather it go in the other direction because I hate this haircut.

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 30 at 2015 8:00 AM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 30 Nov 2015 08:00:59 -0500

They tried to make the dress blue uniform a unisex uniform and after a pole the female marines voted against it.

Response by LCpl Kimberly Wells made Aug 9 at 2016 9:42 AM

LCpl Kimberly Wells — Tue, 09 Aug 2016 09:42:43 -0400

New plan by the President. He wants all our troops to look the same. He does not like the women standing out. In fact some WM's are wearing male dress blues. I hate it. I was exceptionaly proud to be one of the fewer and prouder, it was drilled in our head all through boot that we were special because we were Women Marines. Making women the same as the men takes away from the special tradition of being a Women Marine.

Response by Cpl Jay Ernster made Aug 9 at 2016 3:45 PM

Cpl Jay Ernster — Tue, 09 Aug 2016 15:45:55 -0400

Has the issue with what is authorized for female Marines and male Marines become muddled because of 'President' Obama's trying to change the dress code last year? Why would a female Marine want to wear the male dress cover anyway?

Response by Cpl Henry Dennis made Aug 10 at 2016 1:03 PM

Cpl Henry Dennis — Wed, 10 Aug 2016 13:03:27 -0400

Technically you can say she was "OUT OF UNIFORM" the dress code is very specific in the handbook.
Personally I would not have an issue with it but I can see the sticklers coming out the wood work to admonish such behavior.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 14 at 2016 4:14 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 14 Aug 2016 16:14:23 -0400

I obviously can't speak for the Marines, but the Air Force has the same language where women can wear the men's flight cap with service dress, blues, or flight suits, but aren't required to own or wear it. Really comes down to user preference, a lot of folks, myself included, think the closed top male flight cap looks a lot better than the open top female version.