What is a type of military hat?

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All aspects of military uniforms are essential. Enlisted personnel and officers depend on different clothing articles to best suit certain combat situations. Hats play a vital role in protecting our troops. Here is a history of the different types of hats used by the military and how soldiers wear them today.

Boonie Hat

The boonie hat is one of the types of hats used by the military since the 1950s. Some officers found it too casual in appearance, but the boonie proved its usefulness and has become a mainstay to this day. Plenty of soldiers prefer this hat because it has a relaxed fit.

Boonies lend themselves well to warm weather in jungles and deserts alike. Snipers opt for this headgear to keep their aim accurate whenever they take a shot, as the flexible brim works perfectly in combat situations.

Patrol Cap

The patrol cap is reminiscent of baseball caps worn by civilians. It has a considerable history that dates to the early 1940s. Over the decades, this hat received many makeovers. Past versions of the patrol cap lacked the stiffness of today’s models, which some commanding officers disliked since it made for a sloppier appearance.

Some soldiers complained about the materials used in the original patrol caps. Over time, manufacturers made improvements to accommodate for weather conditions on the combat field. The version we’re familiar with today debuted in 1985 and featured the operational camouflage pattern.

Consider outfitting yourself with our signature OCP ball cap for all your tactical needs. This patrol cap works well in different environments and has an adjustable hook and loop back strap to provide a comfortable fit for enlisted personnel and officers.

Beret

Berets are more commonly associated with civilians than the military. Perhaps you picture a French artist painting the Eiffel Tower when you imagine this hat, which is fitting since it originated in the French army during the late 1800s. Our troops started wearing them in the early 1940s.

Berets function better in cold weather rather than in warm climates. Today, soldiers commonly wear it for ceremonial purposes, and patrol caps take precedence on the field. However, they continue to be a part of the military and come in varying colors.

Boonie hats, patrol caps, and berets have a fascinating past, and they continue to prove their worth today for our troops. Whether you're currently or formerly enlisted in the military, ensure you're wearing the right hat to tackle the day.

Whether you need to complete your uniform or just want to sport some military style, we'll have something to suit your needs in our collection of military uniform hats. We have berets, boonie hats, and patrol caps in a variety of colors, camouflages, and sizes. Make Harry's Army Surplus your one stop shop for military uniform headwear. Order online or shop in store today.

The Army refers to the slouch hat by its official designation; Hat khaki fur felt (KFF) - to everyone else it is a ‘Slouch Hat’. 

The word ‘slouch’ refers to the sloping brim. The brim is made from rabbit-fur felt or wool felt and is always worn with a puggaree. 

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Corporal Matthew Walshaw from 4th/3rd Royal New South Wales Regiment adjusts his slouch hat before moving off to form up at the Rocks in Sydney, NSW.

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Corporal Matthew Walshaw from 4th/3rd Royal New South Wales Regiment adjusts his slouch hat before moving off to form up at the Rocks in Sydney, NSW.

History has it that the origins of the Slouch Hat began with the Victorian Mounted Rifles; a hat of similar design had been worn in South Africa by the Cape Mounted Rifles for many years before 1885. The design of the Victorian Mounted Rifle hat originated from headgear of native police in Burma where Lieutenant-Colonel Tom Price had recognised its value. 

The Victorian hat was an ordinary bush felt hat turned up on the right side. The intention of turning up the right side of the hat was to ensure it would not be caught during the drill movement of “shoulder arms” from “order arms”. 

By 1890, State military commandants had agreed that all Australian forces, except the artillery corps, should wear a looped-up hat of uniform pattern that was turned up on the right side in Victoria and Tasmania, and on the left side in all other States to allow for different drill movements. 

The Slouch Hat became standard issue headdress in 1903 and its brim position was mostly standardised. The slouch hat became a famous symbol of the Australian fighting man during World War One and continued to be worn throughout World War Two. Its use since that time has made it a national symbol.

General Bridges, the first commander of the 1st Australian Imperial Force, was found wearing his slouch hat back to front when he was fatally wounded at Gallipoli. As a mark of respect and remembrance for Bridges, when the slouch hat is worn at Royal Military College - Duntroon, it has become traditional to wear the chinstrap buckle on the right side of the face and the brim down. 

This tradition commenced at the Royal Military College in 1932. However, when the slouch hat is worn ceremonially, for example on ANZAC Day, it is worn in accordance with the wider Army custom - brim up and chinstrap buckle on the left hand side. 

Today, Army members wear the slouch hat with the brim down to provide additional protection from the sun when not performing ceremonial duties. 

The Puggaree 

The term ‘puggaree’ originates from the Hindu word, ‘Pagri,’ meaning a turban or thin scarf of muslin. Intended for insulation, the puggaree was a traditional Indian head-wrap, adapted by the British for headdress worn in hot, sunny regions. 

During World War One (1914-1918) a plain khaki cloth band was worn and this practice continued until compulsory training was suspended in 1929. 

Following the introduction of Voluntary Training in 1930, new puggarees were issued to the Commonwealth Military Force with different coloured folds denoting Arm or Service. 

During World War Two, a flat type of band was issued. Troops who were on active service in the Middle East at the time introduced a folded puggaree as a distinguishing mark of active service. 

Later, the Army reverted to various types of plain bands, green dyed puggarees for example, for jungle warfare. However, the official puggaree at the conclusion of World War Two was still the flat band. 

The current puggaree has seven pleats, one for each state and one for the Australian Territories. It is made from light khaki coloured cotton and is worn on the slouch hat with a unit colour patch sewn on the right side. 

While the majority of the Australian Army wear the light khaki coloured puggaree, there are slight variations for members of the 1st Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment, and the Corps of Staff Cadets. 

Soldiers of the 1st Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment, wear jungle green puggaree. The dark green puggaree was introduced during the Battalion’s service in Malaya over the period 1959-61. Unable to get puggarees from Australia for an official parade; the task of producing them was given to the Battalion tailor, Mr. Mohavved Beseek. Mr Beseek used ‘bush shirts’ (common issue British field uniform at the time) to make the puggarees as he was unable to obtain the khaki material locally or from Australia. 

It is thought that the Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel W. Morrow decided that the green puggaree would be the puggaree worn by the 1st Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment, in Malaya. After the battalion’s return to Australia, the dark green puggaree was adopted for permanent use. Because the dark green puggaree is so distinctive, the battalion does not wear a colour patch. 

Royal Military College staff cadets wear a distinctive puggaree of olive drab colour. The puggaree has eight pleats, with seven representing each state and one for the Australian Territories. The eighth pleat signifies the graduation of the first international cadet through the Royal Military College who hailed from New Zealand.

The Emu Plume 

Slouch hats worn by members of the Armoured Corps are adorned with Emu plumes, a tradition that originated with the Queensland Mounted Infantry during the great shearers’ strike in Queensland in 1891. During this time, the Queensland Mounted Infantry were called out, as soldiers to aid the Civil Power. 

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Sergeant Justin Hogg, Regimental Senior Mascot Handler, and ‘Courage’ the wedge-tailed eagle, who is the 2nd Cavalry Regiment mascot, take a break during parade training at Robertson Barracks, Darwin, 2011.

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Sergeant Justin Hogg, Regimental Senior Mascot Handler, and ‘Courage’ the wedge-tailed eagle, who is the 2nd Cavalry Regiment mascot, take a break during parade training at Robertson Barracks, Darwin, 2011.

As time permitted, the soldiers would participate in a sporting activity where they would ride their horses alongside the emus, plucked the breast feathers, and placed the feathers on their hat. The Gympie Squadron was the first to wear the feathers, a fashion soon followed by the regiment. 

The Queensland government permitted the Regiment to adopt the plume as part of its uniform in recognition of its service. In 1915 then Minister for Defence Sir G. F. Pearce granted all units of the Australian Light Horse permission to wear the plume , which they refer to as ‘Kangaroo feathers’. 

Emu tufts of approved design and dimensions are now worn by all members of the Royal Australian Armoured Corps as an item of dress. All Royal Australian Armoured Corps personnel were given authority to wear Emu plumes in the slouch hat, brim up or down in 1996, this was extended to all personnel serving in the Royal Australian Armoured Corps Regiment in 2000.

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