Garrison caps are known to be handy and good for securing sight. (image: The Marine Corps)
SEOUL, Dec. 1 (Korea Bizwire) – The Korean Marine Corps plans to adopt and supply new Garrison caps to the military, replacing its current octagon caps. Officers at headquarters have been wearing them since January of last year, according to an official in the military.
Based on favorable feedback from the early-adopters, the naval force asked the Defense Acquisition Program Administration last October to conduct a technical review regarding the change in caps. As a result, the administration notified the client in the middle of November that the new caps meet the technical requirements, and can be distributed to all service members.
Garrison caps are known to be handy and good for securing sight. That is why the Korean Navy and Air Force have adopted them. The Korean army wears berets. The shape of the new cap the Marine Corps will wear is the same as the Air Force’s, but the colors are different. The Marine Corps’ cap will be khaki with no pattern, and will be distributed to officers starting next year.
Some expect that costs for caps might increase. In a comparison of the cost of the two caps from Amazon.com, the U.S. Marine Corps’ octagon cap sells for US$18.95, while a Garrison cap of the U.S. Air Force comes in at $19.99. Even though the Amazon caps are for ordinary people who want to buy military caps as a fashion statement, some Koreans are concerned that the cap change will trigger an increase in costs.
Others are worried that the Marine Corps reserves will oppose the decision, as octagon caps have represented their traditional identity. But the official said, “Garrison caps will be worn only with service uniforms, while the existing ones will be worn with combat uniforms. Until 2018, we will use both of them.”
By Veronica Huh (veronicah@koreabizwire.com)
