Wherever you are stationed, do they allow the fleece cap to be worn in uniform when it is below 32 degrees? Do you agree/disagree with this?

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 14 Dec 2016 11:57:17 -0500

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 14 at 2016 11:59 AM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 14 Dec 2016 11:59:04 -0500

My Division allows us to wear them from November to March....weather depending....but still leave it up to individual command elements. And I certainly agree with it.

Response by SFC George Smith made Dec 14 at 2016 12:01 PM

SFC George Smith — Wed, 14 Dec 2016 12:01:29 -0500

after getting Frost Bite in January '76 in norway... I agree they we need them

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 14 at 2016 12:11 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 14 Dec 2016 12:11:09 -0500

This is one thing that I've never agreed with in the Army. It's 56 right now here in the wonderful state of AL and I have mine in my pocket incase it gets down to 55 and my ears get cold. No one will say anything and others will likely do the same. But AD be like "It's 50 below! It's too warm to use the things you've been issued to stay warm!" They did the same thing with the black knit cap back in the day. And also the "winter" BDU hats with the fold down flap.. you never wanted to get caught with that down. We were also issued pyle caps back then and those never came out of our duffel bags.

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Dec 14 at 2016 1:07 PM

PO1 William "Chip" Nagel — Wed, 14 Dec 2016 13:07:47 -0500

I know I was issued a "Comrade" Hat in Adak, AK and it made all the sense in the world.

Response by SSG Jessica Bautista made Dec 14 at 2016 1:56 PM

SSG Jessica Bautista — Wed, 14 Dec 2016 13:56:07 -0500

Damn the unit policies, it's a medical necessity along with the neck gaiter, gloves, jackets..

Response by SFC J Fullerton made Dec 14 at 2016 4:50 PM

SFC J Fullerton — Wed, 14 Dec 2016 16:50:44 -0500

Agree. I always believed that the current weather conditions should dictate uniform policy, not calendar dates. Unfortunately, that was rarely the case, as the Army in its infinite wisdom thought otherwise for the sake of "uniformity". Ever had to do a formation run in full sweats, hat/gloves on a 60 degree December morning? Or stand shivering in t-shirt/shorts on a frosty April morning?

Response by Jordan Gaudard made Dec 14 at 2016 6:42 PM

Jordan Gaudard — Wed, 14 Dec 2016 18:42:10 -0500

What is this 32 degrees you speak of? #Monterey

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 14 at 2016 6:59 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 14 Dec 2016 18:59:19 -0500

I'm stationed at fort riley and the current division standard "The Victory Standard" says Commanders may authorize the wear of the fleece cap below 32 degrees. The old standard, "The Bro Standard" authorized it but not outside of the Company foot print and not off post. I think the new standard is the better standard, here at Riley winds can get as fast as 50mph+ and there's usually a constant low wind 5-15mph so the chill factor takes that 15 degree weather to 0 or into the negatives. It's a type of windchill that touches your bones even in layers, so a fleece cap is necessary in my opinion.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 14 at 2016 8:38 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 14 Dec 2016 20:38:45 -0500

With exception for change of command ceremonies, other official functions or in Basic or AIT where uniformity is of exceptional importance, the way the Army treats cold weather gear is ridiculous. I'm from up North. I'm used to cold weather. However I still dress for it. But that changes with with the amount of exertion a person is putting out, whether the sun is out, whether the wind is blowing, or how acclimatized a person is. For example today I was installing metal roofing in the morning and built a small stoop in the afternoon. Fairly low level exertion, in temps that ranged from about -5 to 5 degrees, wind chill between -20 and -30. I was layered up so strong I could barely see out my sweatshirt hoods. In the same weather shoveling snow, I'll be down to two layers in minutes. If I'm shoveling snow at 32 degrees I'll wear a tshirt and winter hat. At that temp ice fishing, I'll have longjohns, carhartts, and three or four sweathshirts on. Because sitting still, I'll get cold. Long story short, there are occasions where I'll put a fleece cap on well above 32 degrees, even though I can and have handled -40. There are times when I'll wear a PC down below zero. Depends how long I'm outside, what the winds are, and how I'm otherwise dressed. I always wear my fleece under my blouse so I attract less attention. Keeps me warm, and allows me to wear the PC in temps I'd otherwise wear the fleece cap in. Now that I'm in the Air Guard, it seems that people care a lot less about stupid crap like this.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 15 at 2016 1:44 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 15 Dec 2016 13:44:48 -0500

The last base I was stationed at while active, we had to be actively participating in some form of work on the flight line in order to wear the fleece cap, regardless of work or MOS. I know I got a couple lectures on using common sense while wearing it away from the flight line while pulling CQ in snowstorms and cold weather. Then got a good stern talking to about not wearing some form of a cold weather jacket (also while on the flight line) when I was sweating in just regular ACUs. However on the flip side, in my current unit it's a negative 4856 bordering on AR15 if you aren't using appropriate cold weather gear (silks/gen III, no cotton) during certain parts of the year, and fleece caps are used more than PCs. I think it should be used with an ounce of common sense, but as CIF and supply do not issue that out anymore, that might make it slightly difficult.

Response by CW5 Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 15 at 2016 2:26 PM

CW5 Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 15 Dec 2016 14:26:15 -0500

I love how people talk 670-1 and standards when our cold weather gear is TA-50 and not mentioned in 670-1 and you're in a Kansas winter: 10 degrees and a brisk wind.
Gaiters and balaclavas for everyone!

If its cold, wear cold weather gear.

Response by SFC Siva Williams made Dec 16 at 2016 12:05 PM

SFC Siva Williams — Fri, 16 Dec 2016 12:05:30 -0500

We wore our micro fleece caps at Fort Hood but we were Air Cav and PCs are a no-go on the flight line. I used to wear my black fleece to formations before I retired. The BN CSM moved me to a staff slot and I ended up in HHC. My new CDR tried to tell me the black fleece was not authorized one morning in the back of formation (within ear shot of the juniors). I called him on it and whipped out my III Corps standards book which states that the black fleece is authorized. He started to lament about how they had been telling the juniors they couldn't wear the black fleece. I told him that black fleece was all I had and I was to close to retirement to bother getting issued a tan one. Besides the black fleece is much thicker and warmer. You know what happened next. Juniors started wearing their black fleeces. I was a trouble maker too.

Response by SSG Christopher Conklin made Dec 16 at 2016 12:59 PM

SSG Christopher Conklin — Fri, 16 Dec 2016 12:59:51 -0500

yes they should, and some black gloves

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 16 at 2016 2:53 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 16 Dec 2016 14:53:18 -0500

The beauty of being stationed in alaska. The cold weather gear is worn based off of the weather.

Response by SSG Wally Lawver made Dec 16 at 2016 3:12 PM

SSG Wally Lawver — Fri, 16 Dec 2016 15:12:37 -0500

So happy to be retired, now when its cold I put stuff on to keep warm and when its hot I wear less ...So good to be allowed to just go about life with common sense:)

Response by SSgt Bob Williams made Dec 16 at 2016 3:57 PM

SSgt Bob Williams — Fri, 16 Dec 2016 15:57:37 -0500

The Air Force used to have a policy that they would turn off the AC off and the heat on Nov 1st of every year in the barracks... In Hawaii...

Response by Maj Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 18 at 2016 5:53 PM

Maj Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 18 Dec 2016 17:53:12 -0500

In the USAF no one really questions you as long as it is actually cold enough to justify wearing a beanie. I feel like most people end up throwing them on at the same time, so no one really questions it. If the guys on the gate have em you know we are good to go!

Response by MAJ Karen Wall made Dec 18 at 2016 10:17 PM

MAJ Karen Wall — Sun, 18 Dec 2016 22:17:32 -0500

I sure the heck hope so!

Response by SSG Steve Jackson made Dec 20 at 2016 10:08 AM

SSG Steve Jackson — Tue, 20 Dec 2016 10:08:59 -0500

yes the should

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 20 at 2016 11:25 AM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 20 Dec 2016 11:25:48 -0500

Stationed in Johnson County Armory in Franklin Indiana and I bounce between there and Camp Atturbury and the fleece cap rule, army wide as far as I know, has been 32 degrees. I agree with that for the sake of the ears being protected. I also believe that it should be treated as any other cover and taken off when under cover and not paraded around as if it were a "beanie" or a fashion statement of sort.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 20 at 2016 11:25 AM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 20 Dec 2016 11:25:59 -0500

Response by LTC John Wilson made Dec 20 at 2016 2:43 PM

LTC John Wilson — Tue, 20 Dec 2016 14:43:46 -0500

While stationed in Korea, our Battalion Commander and CSM made it Battalion policy that the fleece cap may only be worn in garrison below a certain temperature and only on extended work details outdoors (I.e. the Motor Pool)...with gloves! Additionally, the Fleece jacket was to be worn UNDER the ACU jacket (which actually INCREASES the insulative properties of the fleece jacket).

This policy wasn't always "comfortable," or "convenient," but it struck a fine balance between cold weather safety and professional appearance. In my assessment, our Soldiers looked far better than the 'hobos" walking around Camp Casey...and without cold weather injuries.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 22 at 2016 1:53 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 22 Dec 2016 13:53:11 -0500

In charlottesville that was the policy, and I completely agree with it. If it is cold wear cold weather gear!