Apatrol cap, also known as afield cap orsoft cap, is a softkepi constructed similarly to abaseball cap, with a stiff, roundedvisor but featuring a flat top, worn by military personnel of some countries in the field when acombat helmet is not required.[1]
TheM1951 Field Cap, introduced with the M1951 Uniform, was a derivative of theM1943 Field Cap, part of theM1943 Uniform.[2][1][3] The M1951 cap was worn in theKorean War, where it became known as the "patrol cap" by theUS Army Rangers there.[1] It was constructed of wind-resistantolive-drab cottonpoplin, and had a flannel wool panel that folded down to cover the ears and the back of the head.[1] It was soft enough to be worn underneath anM1 helmet.[1]
During the Korean War, the cap was replaced by theRidgway Cap (named for GeneralMatthew Ridgway), a stiffened version of the M1951 made by Falcon or Louisville Cap Company and known as the "Jump-Up" or "Spring-Up" cap.[1] The hat became famous outside America after being worn byFidel Castro. The patrol cap was replaced altogether in 1962 with abaseball-like "Cap, Field (Hot Weather)"; during the Vietnam War in-country troops were issued theboonie hat from 1967.[4][5]
In 1980, the Army introduced theBattle Dress Uniform (BDU), which featured a patrol cap similar to the M1951 Field Cap, including the wool panel to cover the ears, except it was inWoodland camouflage. The BDU was replaced, starting in 2004, with theArmy Combat Uniform (ACU).
Starting on June 14, 2001, Army Chief of Staff GeneralEric Shinseki made theblack beret the standard headgear for Soldiers in the garrison environment, with the exception of Airborne, Ranger and Special Forces units, which had been authorized to wear their own unique berets since the early 1980s. On June 14, 2011, the M1951/ACU soft patrol cap became once again the primary headgear for all Soldiers as the duty uniform headgear after a 10-year hiatus in favor of the beret, according to Army Directive 2001-11.[6]
In 1981, following the introduction of theM81 Battle Dress Uniform, the patrol cap was reintroduced.[7] The patrol cap continues to be worn with theArmy Combat Uniform, introduced in 2004.[8] The materials are 50%cotton, 50%nylon blend.[7] It has been available in different variants and patterns, such as hot weather models which have eliminated the ear flaps.[7] Patrol caps are frequently modified with a "Ranger Roll", inspired by a common practice byU.S. Army Rangers in the75th Ranger Regiment, in which the sides of the cap are rolled downward, removing the rigid "flat" top; though this is against regulations.[9][10][11] Other unauthorized, but common styles of wear include the "Duckbill", the "MLB" and the "Wash and Wear".[11]
Patterns have includedUS Woodland,Six color desert camouflage (DBDU),Three color desert camouflage (DCU),Universal Camouflage Pattern (UCP), andOperational Camouflage Pattern (OCP).[7][8] The ACU patrol cap features avelcro-backed patch on the back with the soldier's name printed on it and a small internal pocket, the soldier's rank insignia is pinned on the front, as seen in the image below.
The Ridgeway Cap, a stiffened version of the M1951 Patrol Cap made famous after being worn by Fidel Castro, is a standard issue cap in theCuban Revolutionary Army, andCuban Revolutionary Air and Air Defense Force. American style patrol caps were worn by Cuban soldiers before, and during theCuban Revolution. After the Revolution, the patrol cap kept being issued to Cuban military personnel. It is most commonly seen in solid color olive drab, but Cuban patrol caps with camouflage patterns like thegrey lizard pattern have been made.[12]
The Russian army adopted the patrol cap when it adopted the woodland patternFlora camouflage and thenEMR camouflageVKBO uniforms in the early 2000s. There are two versions, a plain one worn by conscripts and a more elaborate one worn bykontrakniki and officers.
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