Patrol Cap Replaces Beret as Standard Army Headgear

The U.S. Army announced this week that the patrol cap will replace the black wool beret as the default headgear for the Army combat uniform. The wool beret will still be part of the Army's dress uniform but will no longer be worn in the field.

With the beret, soldiers had to carry two types of head gear around: the cap for physical work and the beret for walking around base. Now, they will only have to carry their caps.

The uniform change applies to 1.32 million soldiers, including 566,473 active duty troops. New soldiers had been issued two berets; now, they will be issued one.

The announced changes took place June 14.

There may be a decline in wool beret contracting for the short run, but sustainment orders would likely return within the next year.