SIGN UP FOR UPDATES FROM ALLEN.

Marines Backpedaling Over Girly Hats

Written by Michele Hickford on October 27, 2013
Manly hats (l), new girly hats (r)

Manly hats (l), new girly hats (r)

As we reported last week, despite the fact that our Marine Corps is in danger of being an unviable force, they apparently really, really need new hats. Now the Marines are backpedaling on that story - but only so they can exonerate President Obama from having any complicity.

According to an article in Stars and Stripes:

The Marine Corps also has been asked by the DoD to find a unisex option for a dress and service cover, Marines said.

So, the Marine Corps Uniform Board, which meets quarterly, decided to gather feedback in advance of its meeting next week. Active and Reserve Marines were asked to vote on whether they believe women should adopt the current male cover, with some small modifications, or for all Marines to adopt what they call the Dan Daly cap. (ed: that’s the girly one)

But feedback for the option was so overwhelmingly negative, the Marine Corps Uniform Board pulled the survey. Again, from Stars and Stripes:

In an email, Marine Corps officials said there is no truth to reports that President Obama is behind the potential change.

“The president in no way, shape or form directed the Marine Corps to change our uniform cover,” according to the Marine Corps statement. “We are looking for a new cover for our female Marines for one overriding reason: The former manufacturer went out of business. … The Marine Corps has zero intention of changing the male cover.”

Sure, they say that now.

  • Yukiko

    It’s really very simple. The Marine Corps has Military Specifications for the woman’s hats. Find another supplier and send them the Military Specifications. Their explanation sounds like something a politician came up with.

    • usaok59

      Probably the real issue is that we are all getting weary of the lies that come from our government and now our military? Boy Howdy!

  • cswin

    If the
    President or the White House had nothing to do with this then why do you have
    address his non involvement? Funny all this happens as the President is cleansing
    the Military of top Brass.

    • jb80538

      Cleansing the top brass that would uphold the constitution for handpicked “leaders ” that would disarm and fire upon our own citizens against the constitution.

    • Lucie Ke

      top brass that HE don;t like

    • dapowellii

      Yeah, because those top brass did nothing to deserve to be fired.

      • cswin

        197 in 5 years the most in American History many just a short time from retirement. This is something even Fox News is not reporting. The only facts we have as to why is what the Administration tells us. We have no MSM investigation as to what is happening, Congress has shown no real concern but that is changing as more and more officers are coming forward and telling their side of the story. Maybe some deserved being demoted and maybe a few fired but 197?? This does not include those forced to retire or forced to take degrading jobs. Since I am a Vietnam Veteran, I assume I can answer you since from reading your post you feel if you haven’t served you can’t have a legitimate opinion not in step with yours.

    • cswin

      197 in 5 years the most in American History many just a short time from retirement.This is something even Fox News is not reporting. The only facts we have as to why is what the Administration tells us. We have no MSM investigation as to what is happening, Congress has shown no real concern but that is changing as more and more officers are coming forward and telling their side of the story. Maybe some deserved being demoted and maybe a few fired but 197?? This does not include those forced to retire or forced to take degrading jobs. Since I am a Vietnam Veteran I assume I can answer you since from reading your post you feel if you haven’t served you can’t have a legitimate opinion not in step with yours.

  • Tom Miccio

    Why would the D of D even consider adopting a unisex cover ? If the original contractor went out of business ( Summer of Recovery + 3 years) why not just seek out a new manufacturer ? Some PC official at the Pentagon wants to score points with the Progressives running the show right now.

  • Lilu Kanine

    Right, because only one manufacturer can provide a Marine spec hat.

  • Bobby BLACK

    Trying to fix something that isn’t broken….typical Government Agenda

  • Lucie Ke

    he is their commander in chief. they are not to speak against him. that is the rule.

    • Joe Mamma

      Lucie Ke:
      Marines are not robots nor are they slaves to a corrupt, incosiderate, communist, progressive president. If you read the promotion warrant states Marines are to follow orders from superiors from time to time IAW rules and regulation of the USA.. We live in a republic and we’re not governed by a dictator so we have the right to dennounce or respectfullt protest any CIC directive or orders we construe as alwaful or inadequate.

      • Lucie Ke

        What i am saying is that the marines or military is NOT supposed to speak negative about the commander in chief. This is not saying that they must obey any illegal orders. they can have their opinion.

        • Joe Mamma

          Lucie.
          As a Marine I was entitled to critisize any superior as long as it was done respectfully and in the proper setting. However in the politically correct world we live in it’s very likely that there could be negative reprecautions or consequences and I have to be willing to accept them

    • Mike

      If a commander gives you an order to KILL someone who is unarmed do you do it? WHO is accountable if you do???

      I know that is the extreme and really over hats it doesn’t apply. The point is NEITHER DOES YOUR COMMENT ESPECIALLY WHEN IN THE ARTICLE IT SAYS THE CORPS TOOK A SURVEY!

      Obviously they wanted their opinions or so they say.

      And speaking out against a corrupt Commander is NECESSARY to keep your oath to DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES.

      • Lucie Ke

        the article is about clothing , nothing illegal about that, when i enlisted i was told the rule was you do not TALK negative about the commander in chief. So yes my comment has lots to do with it. This statement makes it appliable: Now the Marines are backpedaling on that story – but only so they can exonerate President Obama from having any complicity. There is nothing stated here for them to disobey.

  • Joe Pendergrast

    I wonder, did the manufacturer go out of business because of Obamacare?

  • http://www.journal14.com/ Dana

    If cover is changed, it will cost both the Marine Corps and individual Marines money that does not have to be spent.

    • Debbie Mcclure

      Dana….live the profile pic!!! Why Henry II? And you’re right money that does not need to be spent!

  • eilismaura

    as if no other manufacturer can make the same style

    who are they kidding?

  • dapowellii

    Trying to find a conspiracy where none exists…typical right-wing agenda.

    • Mike

      Shut up. What a moron. It isn’t an agenda. Can you prove the company who makes their hats went out of business?

      IF NOT SHUT UP!

      • dapowellii

        Oh, I must have accidentally commented on the site for fourth-graders who yell at each other and call others names when they say things they don’t like. I thought this was a forum for civil discourse. My mistake.

        Your infantile response notwithstanding, not one iota of this information in any way, shape, or form indicates any sort of conspiracy. The right-wing propaganda machine, however, wants you to believe it is. Besides, Gen, Lejeune wore the exact same hat as was proposed — I don’t see any of you calling him “girly.”

        • Mike

          My comment is forth grade because I don’t put up with your bullshit accusation of this being some right wing conspiracy nonsense?

          The Insults came from YOU first jackoff. But you are exempt right? You get a pass for your RIGHT WING CONSPIRACY comment right?

          So, your argument is that since the uniforms in the 1860s had smaller hats but those uniforms looked nothing like todays then there is nothing wrong with forcing all the men in the military to wear the same hats the women currently wear?

          I bet you believe “The manufacturer went out of business” line don’t you? But if BUSH was in office and they said the same thing you wouldn’t believe it. Surely you wouldn’t.

          The only point is that they want them all to wear the same hats and be UNIFORM.

          SO, why not have the women wear the larger hat and be done with it?

          Why do the men have to change with tradition?

          Why are you Liberals all for this DEMOCRATIC VOTE UNTIL IT IS NO LONGER CONENIENT FOR YOUR VIEW?

          • dapowellii

            Actually, I am not a liberal. But that isn’t even anywhere related to this.

            I have served in the military for almost 25 years, son, so I think I know a thing or two about tradition. I suffered through Clinton AND Bush, including being forced to wear a stupid black beret for ten years that no one wanted. Under Bush’s watch, mind you, some of those berets were manufactured in China. So do not attempt to lecture me about tradition until you can say you have served your country.

            I am also intelligent enough to know when I’m being lied to about liberal conspiracies. And I’m the moron? Right.

          • bart007

            Talk about taking tradition away when they took away the black beret away from Rangers gave it to everyone and forced us to wear tan berets

          • dapowellii

            And by allowing it to continue, Bush forced at least two million soldiers to buy headgear they didn’t need or want. The outrage!

          • ProudTXAmerican

            Regardless of your political views, conservative or liberal, I want to thank you for your many years of service to our country. If it were not for those that serve we would not even be able to have any type of discourse, civil or otherwise. Bless you and your family for the sacrifices you have made for us.

          • dapowellii

            But, since you are apparently so intelligent, why don’t you educate me on the seriousness of this supposed conspiracy? What wrath on our nation has Obama wrought by this travesty of decorum?

        • John Zych
          • dapowellii

            Thanks for posting that - I still don’t see what all the fuss is about. And seeing that just proves to me how ignorant are all these people who are making such a big deal over nothing. Mr. West is extremely disappointing on this one.

          • John Zych

            I’m not an Obama fan, but I can’t see him sitting around worrying about uniforms.

      • Judy

        I would call it the Donald Duck or Mickey Mouse or better yet Minnie Mouse cap that is not befitting our honorable Marines and what is more is a complete waste of our Marines’ time and please tell me is Obama getting paid for these hair-brained ideas??!!

  • Will Saunders

    So a company that had the proprietary pattern went out of business? hmm… So no other company would conform to pick up that sort of business?? Hmmmm… and… if it was only “for the Womens” then why do they have a Male dressed in it?

  • Joe Mamma

    Of course these hats are so high tech dificult and expensive to make that we can’t find anyone to make them so we’ll just force the men to wear the girly european looking hat.
    Are they serious??
    Thie is the Obama progressive think tanks forcing this on our military in order to feminize our most effective, best trained, menliest fighting foce. He said he would change our country and he is!!

    • Mike

      They want the men to wear the womens hats because the women probably argue against wearing the mens hats.
      YET they all argue for uniformity.

      LOL. It is more sexist nonsense.

      Seems to me every group that tries to gain equality really wants revenge in many ways. Which only proves to me that they aren’t against inequality. They are only really against inequality against them.

      AFFIRMATIVE ACTION! Need I say more?

  • Pete

    I don’t see the difference by sex in the damn hats. What I do see is it is a Fire Department dress uniform hat. Uniform means everyone is uniform. Everything should be gender neutral unless it is a life and safety issue such as body armor. Why change what has worked for the last few hundred years unless the Marines want to be like the Air Force and change uniforms every 10 year or combat uniforms every 4 years. Military service is very much about tradition and honoring those that came before you, your services history and much of that is based in the uniforms. Just one more sour taste for members of the service. Just goes to show the lack of politicians that have served in the military.

    • Mike

      Then WOMEN should wear the MENS HATS SINCE THEY WERE THERE FIRST.

      But I KNOW women in the Military would vote against that simply to display their opposition to anything man. As that is how this society is changing.

    • Fran

      Not so much disrespect for the military from “politicians” in general, Pete — but from the usurper, in particular!

  • John Zych
  • ceelid

    No where in the US those covers can be manufactured? Then whom would they get to manufacture the ugly covers? The DoD could have used that manufacturer to continue with the original cover for women. Sounds like hogwash excuses.

    • Karyn Santiago

      The DoD probably put the U.S. manufacturer out of business and used billions of our tax dollars to make a deal with China …..who would of no doubt been their ideal manufacturer of the new dorkie covers! “Hogwash” is being to kind!

  • John McGee

    Do you remember covering your mouth and saying BULL Shite. you don’t have too on this one.

  • Happygramm

    And this is money well spent - WHY? If this critical to our national security? That is part of our problem - we spend money so recklessly, and without regard to taxpayers. COME ON PEOPLE!

  • Stormtrooper595

    Hey, If the Uniforms aren’t Broken, DONT FIXEM!

  • http://www.liberallyconservative.com/ Don Anastas

    Another Obama “Pants on Fire” Report. Thank you Allen West.

  • Douglas Rood

    Being a Marine in Vietnam, there is no way any true Marine would EVER want that cover. It is all political and another gold coin in some politician’s pocket.

    • Chris

      Thank you for your service.

    • Ken Hartman

      We Marines wear this cover with pride. Any change to OUR uniform cannot be accomplished without the consent of the entire Brotherhood of United States Marines.

      • MimiEye

        <3

      • Judy

        Amen!!!

      • shortywest73@yahoo.com

        and A HEARTFELT THANK YOU for YOUR SERVICE!!!!!

    • shortywest73@yahoo.com

      A very Heartfelt THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE!!!!!

  • texasconservative

    So the takeaway from this story is another manufacturing company has gone out of business under this administration. But that is Bush’s fault, or the GOP, or Ted Cruz, take your pick.

  • pmsteve

    The only way this nation can be saved from progressive liberalism (socialists) is by having a strong hand at the helm. Someone who believes that the Constitution and Bill of Rights actually say what they mean and mean what they say.

    There is no room at the top for a dilettante politician who has no real-world experience at ANYTHING who thinks that the national treasury is his personal vacation fund and who is desperately trying to ruin our great nation.

  • SUEZJACK

    ANNA WINTAUR IS SO PISSED.

  • Barbara Lannan Cunningham

    Leave it alone don’t fix something that has been like this 91 years don’t try to fix some thing that’s not broken and just what the matter you all Shame on you

  • jondelinde

    Sure. Change Dress uniform in one of the most traditional and honor bound military units in the US. Not even in Socialist Denmark would that shite fly.

  • Cliff E.

    Allen how about a story on how many high ranking Officers have been canned by this administration?

    But this story is also the same story we’ve heard, “the president didn’t know/or had no imput on this” He “didn’t know” about Benghazi, fast and furious, the IRS targeting conservative groups and more recently the Fecal-Storm that is the ACA website.

    Now he has to be the biggest idiot ever elected or he thinks the American people are.

  • al_kidya
  • Buck

    If the covers were for women only, why picture males wearing them? And what does it say about the state of Mr Obama’s economic recovery when the company that manufactures the covers has gone belly up?

    • Judy

      Great observation!!!

  • Dr. David K

    That’s good news for the guys! God be thanked! The Marines are the bravest warriors we have, and for all they have ever done for us and continue to do, they deserve a break in their favor.

  • beauallen43

    Change can be good.. New presidents uniform=summer postal garb, NFL players helmets something less aggressive with just a touch of lace, last but not least, equal treatment before the law requires that both houses of congress wear the new military chapeau when in session.

    • Fed up with trash

      Actually his attire and that of most his cabinet and 3/4 of congress should be stripes because they have been lying, stealing and killing for a long time.

  • Judy

    Would the Leftist Social Engineering crew find something better to do and leave our Marines and our entire military alone? They have a job to do that is a lot more important than changing their honorable and practical Marine hats to new impractical and just plain dorkie-looking new ones where it appears as though they would not even be able to “see out”. Leave our Marines alone and leave their traditional, very stately uniforms alone as well, please!!!

  • Philip J Viavattine

    What do the other branch of Armed Forces use for a unisex cover (hat), or do they even have such a thing?

    • TiredVet

      The Navy has smaller covers for all females in the full dress uniform, and Khaki’s…working uniform uses the same cap for all…..

  • Dale Netherton

    Went out of business? With a government contract? Hmmmm.

  • Judy

    I think the kind of “change” that is needed is an absolute and complete changing of the guards of this politically correct, but oh-so-wrong Administration! Do they not have anything better to do instead of their social engineering, like getting our economy in gear instead of it being stuck-on-stupid in neutral and and even reversing our once great nation and its robust economy?

    • Fed up with trash

      You said it he is stuck on stupid because that is exactly where most of his voting population comes from…the uneducated.

    • elizabeth greeley

      Has anyone in this Administration ever served in the military? I think not!!

  • Philip J Viavattine

    How about every Marine going back to the Campaign Cover (Smokey the bear Hat).

    • flyguy

      I didn’t like the Campaign cover for general use. Fine for our DI’s, but I still prefer the Piss-cutter and the Baracks cover. Semper Fi - 1955-1963

  • melsbabysis

    Obama hates our military but he hates the Marines the most.

    • Judy

      Amen! Their honor and sacrifice are the exact opposite of what he has perpetrated on our country!

    • Tom Arline

      I agree with this 100%. The Marine Corps stands for everything that obama is against. Or is against everything that obama stands for, however you want to look at it. Leave the USMC alone obama. You know nothing about it. Let the big boys run the USMC, and they will be there the next time they are needed. Semper Fidelis….

      • Devil Dog

        That’s right mkfkr leave our Marine Corps alone. No matter what he tries to do, we will stand with reason and liberty. Every Marine knows it. Some will sell out but those will be dealt with. Don’t pick at a hornets nest said my grandmother. I learned the hard way after a couple dozen stings.

    • elizabeth greeley

      True! Remember DON’T ASK DON’T TELL! our brave men in service are being raped-it’s true, you just don’t hear our media reporting this. It doesn’t fit the agenda that this Administration is advocating. WHY?? I have my opinion on this as I am sure most of you do as well!

  • Leon Chattah

    The Marines are not a Broadway show to be ‘actualized’! Leave their uniform alone, Mr. President!

  • thombstone

    wonder what obama insider was to get THAT contract?

  • Michael Rhodes Autry

    he also doesn’t have generals fired that don’t cower

  • http://www.facebook.com/johnabraham.anderson John Abraham Anderson

    Let’s hope when Obama decides to do a military coup of this country, the marines take a stand against him for the American people.

    • joshuasweet

      from the looks of it he has removed several generals, with out confrontation or question as to why. does that make a coup out of his firings?

  • akatom3565

    Cap looks like it belongs to the french foreign legion!

    • Michael Craft

      Exactly what I thought when I saw it.

  • Paul

    if the manufacture of female covers went out of business, then why is this a discussion??? why even remotely look at putting males in dam daly covers? hmm i smell a turd lie somewhere.

  • take-a-number

    With the truth NEVER being spoken in politics these days who knows, but since obama seems to be attempting to bring America down to world standards it is so easy to believe.

    The government keeps you in the dark and feeds you manure in
    20 years they will tell you just how stupid you are.

  • Viktoria Hawk

    totally wrong!!! obama not have served in any military doesn’t understand jack about the purpose of any part of the uniforms. He doesn’t even salute correctly!!
    Oh please lets get him out !!!!!

    • elizabeth greeley

      He doesn’t salute correctly because he’s too effeminate!

  • Retired Marine

    That is the single most disgusting POS I have ever seen. What GD moron came up with a cover from namby-pamby land? I would resign before I wore some excrement like that. Damn thing wouldn’t look good on girl scouts, and certainly doesn’t work in the Corps.

    • Fed up with trash

      Looks more like something a Nazi army would wear

  • Richard StJohn

    Mr. West, is this really worthy of your attention? The Marines will remain one of the worlds premier fighting forces regardless of what cover they wear. The loss of top officers is of far greater concern. But they’re Marines they’ll improvise.

    • OrionElectra

      Morale and recruiting capability are two important factors in maintaining the “world’s premier fighting force.” Uniform appearance greatly affects these factors, so yes.. this IS a significant concern along with your correct observation of mysterious dismissals of top officers. These aren’t “temporary setbacks from the Whitehouse” either. There is something very sinister in the grand scheme from this administration.

      • Richard StJohn

        I don’t discount morale for a second. The above article said there is no chance of the male cover being changed. As for females looking girly I believe that goes with the territory. In any case I acknowledge the importance of the issue for the reasons you state. I also agree with you that there is something very sinister about the present administration. I saw a very troubling statistic the other day. In the 100 years prior to Obama taking office the number of Executive Orders by all Presidents combined is 121. Obama has issued 923.

        • MV

          Wrong information. Total number of Presidential Executive orders is around 13,600+. There is a Government web site that lists all executive orders (per Administration) - and disposition (still valid, cancelled, superseded or …) Check here: http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/executive-orders/disposition.html

          But - while some Executive Orders might be reasonable and within the scope of the Constitution, some others push the envelope…or are just bad - and would be ruled un-Constitutional if we had a judicial system that was worthy of the name. (Note that this would exclude any court with John Roberts on the bench..)

          • Richard StJohn

            Thank you, checking it out directly.

        • jims_blog

          That statistic should “SCARE” the pants off “ALL PATRIOTS”!!!!

    • Scott Masewicz

      The military funding has been cut significantly the last few years. Soldiers going out late and coming back from patrol no longer get served Midnight chow. They stopped allowing businesses oversees to set up shop on post for soldiers. These might seem unnecessary to you, but things like this help keep morale high. And now we’re wasting money on new hats because the DOD wants the marines to be more unisex? The DOD needs to get their priorities straight.

  • Michael Smith

    I think your missing the point Richard; forces within the current political climate are trying to wussify the military. The liberals think the military is just here as a social experiment.

  • Lee Hartley

    Seems to me that Mr. O could exchange his girly pants for some “Big Boy Pants” and leave the REAL men alone.

    • elizabeth greeley

      That’s sooo funny and oooh sooo true!! Please leave the Macho Marines alone Mr. Obama. Do not emasculate them there are way too many effeminate men already!!

      • John G. Gault

        They are called Damnocraps!!! And they sure as hell don’t even try to join the Marines. Semper Fi!!

  • Renee Kissell

    NO new hat- find a new manuf. to make the same ones…

    • Patrick Oxford

      A new manufacturer would have to set up a whole lot of machinery to make the old women’s cover. It might be cost prohibitive. They could adopt one of the other services female cover and just change the colors of the cloth. It shouldn’t even slow them down.

  • Lou Davis

    But wait, I thought the Air Force was going to get Dora the Explorerer bike helmets for their pilots, so they would look like Barry riding his girl’s Schwinn?

  • tiredofcriminals

    Bull crap on Obama and his issues - and he has PLENTY of them.

  • Jacquie

    Regardless of the design they’ll probably use a foreign manufacturer.

  • KenFedUpWithPC
  • Deborah

    They are ridiculous

  • Virginia Coyne

    They’re fine just as they are who cares what Obama thinks

  • dtpowers

    Two issues here:
    1. Little BS programs in our military often arise because of the stupid system for advancement in the upper ranks. Can’t just advance because you did your job well, you have to spearhead some new initiative. So what to do when all the real problems are hard? New uniforms! Oh, and don’t worry about the cost. The service members will pay for them. Their Clothing Allowance will cover it (mine never did).

    2. While we are complaining about the sissyfying of the military, can we please stop degrading women to do so? There are some tough a$$ed women in our forces and they don’t deserve a bunch of disrespect, especially if you never wore the uniform. Here’s an experiment: just LOOK like you mean harm to one of my kids and see what my effeminate, girly, black belt wife does to your sorry a$$. Just let me sell tickets first.

  • monsita45459

    As mush as I would love to see BHusseinO with egg all over his face over this flop, I’m afraid he dodged the bullet on this one. The Marines are not covering for him. He’s have to issue another executive order with his poison pen to get the uniform changed. Here’s the best summary I’ve found for this whole fiasco: http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2013/10/26/the-marines-shoot-down-that-story-about-new-girly-hats-and-obamas-pushing-for-the-change/

  • Juanita Outlaw-Bedford

    Ahhh how they have seen the light.

  • Darla Rodriguez

    According to my Marine…there was a vote held asking two questions. One was on the hats (cover) and the new cover got a hands down. There was a vote…by Marines, against the new hat design. Want to stay with the old design. End of story.

  • Ben Nunes

    I might be in favor of this hat change if the President, as Commander in Chief, would put one on to show how professional they would look, but then, alas, he might look like Mike Dukakis with the tank helmet and give people a good laugh.

  • Rek

    “The former manufacturer went out of business.” Should we be surprised in this economy? Maybe the new business, if they went through with this project, would have ties to the Obama Administration? Wouldn’t put it pass them.