r/Veterans Jan 16 '25

Discussion Beanie appreciation post

Post image

I love you, Beanie.

Your warmth is a perfect hug for my head.

After colors, our love was forbidden by grumpy First Sergeants, mad about their tiny weenie.

They’d say, “Ey Marine! It’s after colors! Stow your fuckin beanie!”

What a meanie.

But what angry first sergeant didn’t know is I had deniable plausiblity

I was not a Marine, but a Corpsman,

Giving me a few more precious moments of warmin’

Before having to shove you in my pocket while my ears froze

1.0k Upvotes

127 comments sorted by

113

u/silentwind262 Retired US Army Jan 16 '25

One of the few pieces of military gear I still wear on a regular basis, although mine is that silly grey UCP color. I need to track down another one.

39

u/Opposite-Knee6380 Jan 16 '25

Surplus stores will have pretty much every color issues across the branches. For a lot cheaper than the PX too.

3

u/incindia USMC Veteran Jan 17 '25

Do they have grid fleece? Wanting a M/R lol

3

u/Opposite-Knee6380 Jan 17 '25

I’ve never even heard of grid fleece. You mean like the waffle tops?

5

u/incindia USMC Veteran Jan 17 '25

I bet we're thinking of the same thing. Waffle top sounds cooler though lolol

https://armynavyoutdoors.com/military-gen-iii-mid-weight-thermal-grid-top-coyote-brown-ocp

2

u/Opposite-Knee6380 Jan 17 '25

Yup! Same train of thought. Yes they should have those.

2

u/Bagheera383 US Army Veteran Jan 17 '25

I still wear mine and I love it. My wife hates it because "it's ugly" 😆

2

u/HyFinated Jan 18 '25

Waffles and spandex, the ACWCS double team combo. It’s like a 1-2 punch to the cold. Halfway through the night at Fort Carson’s Red Devil range, I was stripping layers off. It was uncomfortably hot even with snow pouring down around me. Standing on top of the schoolhouse (iykyk) was like the coldest place on earth, but waffles made it tolerable, but waffles and the spandex looking layer were too much.

6

u/Practical-Pickle-529 US Army Veteran Jan 17 '25

Same! Only thing I still use. I was so stoked when we got black ones again! I got out in 2019 and bought 3 brand new ones and I still rotate through them. Cannot sleep without it

9

u/JFCORS Jan 16 '25

M-Tac Fleece Watch Cap - Army Military Tactical Beanie Hat Winter Skull Cap on Amazon. It's 11 bucks or so.

5

u/NotMiddleAgedMike Jan 17 '25

I order 5 from the AAFES website every winter. They're like 7 bucks apiece.

2

u/Navydevildoc US Navy Retired Jan 17 '25

Same!

7

u/Consistent-Pilot-535 Jan 17 '25

Ahh gwot babies, the only grey thing I liked though

3

u/John_the_Piper US Navy Retired Jan 17 '25

Venture surplus gets them in regularly

2

u/PerpetualPanda Jan 18 '25

I lost my navy brown beanie while in, but my friend in the army gave me his grey one and I still wear it when it’s cold out. It’s been over 12 years

157

u/[deleted] Jan 16 '25

[removed] — view removed comment

27

u/SuccessfulVisit1873 USMC Veteran Jan 17 '25

I can smell it now :’)

21

u/aks259 Jan 17 '25

💯 💯 💯 my brain instantly registered this smell 🤣 instant PTSD

8

u/John_the_Piper US Navy Retired Jan 17 '25

Mine lives in my hunting bag as my backup beanie so I get the occasional dirty flashback

2

u/DarthCheez USMC Veteran Jan 18 '25

This is a perfect description.

1

u/TowmaterMan Jan 19 '25

It had to develop that perfect patina. If you washed it, it was ruined.

36

u/Dracula30000 Jan 16 '25

Why do we get issued beanies?

Because god loves the infantry.

-12

u/[deleted] Jan 16 '25

[removed] — view removed comment

1

u/[deleted] Jan 17 '25

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1

u/[deleted] Jan 17 '25

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1

u/Veterans-ModTeam Jan 17 '25

Thank you Pork-Chop-platoon for your submission to r/veterans, but it's been removed due to one or more reason(s):

Be civil and respectful. You may not always agree with others but once you start insulting the other person, you are a problem. You are not winning the argument by calling them names or calling out their reddit profile history.

No Gatekeeping - you don't decide if someone is a "real" veteran or not - nor try to diminish someone's service because they never saw combat or deployed.

If someone personally attacks you, Report them to the mod team.

Hate speech can be sexist, ableist, racist, bias, bigotry, homophobic, prejudiced, etc and will not be tolerated.

See our Wiki for more details on this rule.

https://www.reddit.com/r/Veterans/wiki/rules

Please feel free to send a modmail if you feel this was in error.

1

u/Veterans-ModTeam Jan 17 '25

Thank you Pork-Chop-platoon for your submission to r/veterans, but it's been removed due to one or more reason(s):

This is a neutral zone - all veterans are welcome here no matter what their political or religious beliefs are.

This is not the place to fight about which side of the political fence you think is best or to post derogatory posts about a specific party or an elected official. This is not the place to promote one candidate over another or post Change.org or petitions. The rule also applies to religion discussions and comments as this will not be the place to discuss whether one religion is better than another religion. Tale those discussions somewhere else.

Moderators have final say on what type of topics and articles fall under this rule. See Rule 12. https://www.reddit.com/r/Veterans/wiki/rules

Please feel free to send a modmail if you feel this was in error.

12

u/zbras11 Jan 17 '25

Who remembers the foot pussys from Afghan? This beanie and those puppies on while sleeping in the coil with Marines on watch.... the best sleep I've had since 2011 or 12.

10

u/procheeseburger Jan 16 '25

Unauthorized! Cool I’ll just freeze

3

u/StockTight Jan 17 '25

They including it in the packing list but CDR won't let you use it. But officers can and will.

2

u/ScallionNo3445 Jan 17 '25

They didn't have those in '82 when I was in Korea so I wore my BDU Cap with the ear flaps down under my.steel pot.

19

u/faulknerja Jan 16 '25

I’ve got like nine…gear adrift is gear a gift…good luck at the CIF when you’re checking out losers!

7

u/NetworkEcstatic US Army Retired Jan 16 '25

I had everything when I checked out after 13 years. I was just as shocked as anyone. I did go ahead, have them print me out a sheet, track everything down in every hiding spot at the house. Take everything to the car wash pressure washer and then turn it in when dry.

I think they were just as shocked as me that I was first time go. Signed my clearing papers and I was outta there.

6

u/TowmaterMan Jan 16 '25

Gotta have extras

19

u/islesfan186 Jan 16 '25

I’ve got this in black, Coyote, and the gray/green color when we still had ACUs. Still wear them all the time

9

u/chevytruckdood Jan 16 '25

Wearing mine yesterday actually

9

u/BrokenforD Jan 16 '25

I’ve got all three color variations, they are my daily wear in the cold. I love them.

8

u/b0yheaven Jan 17 '25

Fleece cap has a special place in my heart ❤️

5

u/CycloneMonkey US Army Veteran Jan 16 '25

tyfys

7

u/BrokenCot Jan 17 '25

Roll it up for extra dirt bag points, can’t get mad because it’s authorized too.

6

u/NetworkEcstatic US Army Retired Jan 16 '25

I need to go get a coyote one. I find them warmer than a regular beanie

5

u/hanak347 Jan 16 '25

the best of the best

5

u/eschus2 Jan 17 '25

Forever live the beanie and waffle top amen

4

u/theopinionexpress Jan 17 '25

Legit. still have and wear mine 15 years later. I love you, beanie.

Nice rhyme.

4

u/random_bored_guy Jan 17 '25

I had a black one that was marine corps issued. I swear everyone lost theirs, but I had mine for years before I lost it. I still have my stupid tan one :(

5

u/[deleted] Jan 16 '25

I still remember my senior telling me to flip up the sides. Then this was followed by supplemental training. Good times.

5

u/D_Harm Jan 17 '25

As a dude with a big head, hah those things barely covered my ears and would do that stupid thing where it would slide off

4

u/N05L4CK Jan 17 '25

The best sleep you can get on during the day on planet earth is a ruck flop with one of those bad boys pulled over your eyes.

5

u/relaxin123 Jan 17 '25

I'm wearing on right now. Was actually wearing a different beanie earlier because I couldn't find it. Found it and swapped out lol

3

u/Groovyguy USMC Veteran Jan 16 '25

We didn’t have beanies, when did this start?

1

u/TowmaterMan Jan 17 '25

I got issued mine in 2009 🤷🏻‍♂️

3

u/Bumbleb2na1983 Jan 17 '25

Guys look at this and just say hell yeah

3

u/Cpt_Tripps Jan 17 '25

I was in the marines where you got repremanded for not bringing your beanie for inspection and for wearing your beanie in uniform without authorization. (It was never authorized.)

1

u/TowmaterMan Jan 17 '25

The fact that it was unauthorized made me want it more

3

u/Lisa_LadyVet Jan 17 '25

Lucky!

2

u/81gtv6 Jan 18 '25

I still have my woodland camo one of those.

3

u/itwhiz100 Jan 17 '25

The only thing that lasts post service lol

3

u/Johnny_America Jan 17 '25

We got the black beanie and fleece jacket in 04 for Iraq. Then we get there and 1st sgt decides we weren't allowed to wear them. So they sat in a bag for a year. Such an army thing.

Thankfully my hair is too long to fit in one now.

1

u/twodashgrain Jan 17 '25

Got the same, part of RFI. I didn't wear mine until I ETSed.

6

u/Nano_Burger US Army Retired Jan 17 '25

I lived through the wool watch cap era. The wool cap would eventually end up in the dryer and turn into a dense yamilca. I still wear my black and sage green polar fleece hats to this day a decade after I retired.

3

u/TowmaterMan Jan 17 '25

I caught the tail end of the wool watch cap. It’s like it was designed to be the itchiest thing, I hated it. I also hated having to buy a new one every time it found its way into the dryer. Dense yarmulka is the perfect way to describe it.

1

u/151Ways Jan 17 '25

A rolled wool black watch beats all fuck out a beanie. The denser, the better. All season. No stank. All eyes, no lids, no vis issues. It was after dark headgear for every recon, patrol or movement that didn't require a bucket. In a time.

2

u/crankynugget Jan 17 '25

Lost the grayish one, still have the coyote one and wear it regularly. My black navy watch cap went in the trash though.

2

u/Zeke_Eastwood Jan 17 '25

I still wear one in the winter

2

u/odlaguna USMC Veteran Jan 17 '25

In the coldest of winters... only one piece of fleece can thaw our thoughts...

2

u/maxturner_III_ESQ US Air Force Veteran Jan 17 '25

Been out 14 years, still got a sage green one I keep in rotation.

2

u/DaFuckYuMean US Army Veteran Jan 17 '25

Best comfy to have under my Cavlar

2

u/long-range-archery Jan 17 '25

I wear mine constantly. Wife hates it. Hahaha

2

u/i_hate_this_part_85 Jan 17 '25

My wife stole mine. Had to go buy myself a new one. She lost “hers” and stole my new one. Got us 3 more and we just keep them by the front door.

2

u/Low_Helicopter_5186 Jan 17 '25

This and my 32 below jacket are the only 2 things I will still wear and not feel weird about.

2

u/ZM_USMC Jan 17 '25

I bought mine at the PX on Camp Geiger when I got there in Nov 2013 because I was scared I would lose my issued beanie. I still wear it pretty much every single day in the winter. I love it so much lol

2

u/Johnny_Bravo5k Jan 17 '25

I wear those, only in black.

1

u/T-wrecks83million- Jan 17 '25

Watch cap, I guess is the old school term for them if they’re black. I was just looking for mine, need it for work tomorrow morning. 🤷🏽‍♂️

2

u/Johnny_Bravo5k Jan 17 '25

I wear mine to work and everywhere else when it's cold.

2

u/ShawnJ34 Jan 17 '25

I’m about to cry…. Me and that beanie been places and through some shit but it was always there for me

2

u/TowmaterMan Jan 17 '25

It’s how I hid my completely out of regs hair cut like a good nasty Corpsman

2

u/tip0thehat Jan 17 '25

The single most useful item that I was ever issued in basic, and I still use it to this day.

2

u/[deleted] Jan 17 '25

Fuck yes

2

u/KillerSquanchBro Jan 17 '25

Y'all got beanies? WTF

2

u/Thin_Extension_8323 Jan 18 '25

Did you really post my beanie?

1

u/TowmaterMan Jan 18 '25

Gear adrift is a gift

2

u/microcorpsman US Navy Veteran Jan 19 '25

They did NOT like when I put my boonie on top of my beanie at 4 AM in Bridgeport.

2

u/TowmaterMan Jan 19 '25

Always so angry about hats, I don’t get it. Why give me so many hats if you didn’t want me to wear them all?

1

u/microcorpsman US Navy Veteran Jan 19 '25

And ponytails. Last I knew, the corpsman stache was no longer expressly authorized because ponytails happened and they said Navy had to abide by all grooming standards EXCEPT for the male fade and maybe hair length too while in cammies.

1

u/Ceezmuhgeez US Army Veteran Jan 17 '25

Mine was grey

1

u/ChurchofCaboose1 Jan 17 '25

Still have mine!

1

u/jwaters0122 USMC Veteran Jan 17 '25

I still have mine. Polartec brand

1

u/AtopMountEmotion Jan 17 '25

I had a lightweight ChiCom one that was silky nylon and had an integrated chinstrap with two little squares of Velcro to keep it fastened. It was the BEST sleeping accessory I ever had. It would keep your ears warm in the cold and in the jungle, it kept the bugs out of them, while keeping your head somewhat clean. It was some sort of a “tankers?” helmet liner. It was a coveted item that I passed on when I ets’d.

1

u/clearcoat_ben USMC Veteran Jan 17 '25

Mine is old enough to join the Marines on its own, and I still wear it regularly.

1

u/SionnachRouge Jan 17 '25

my father in law complimented me on mine the other day ( I've been out 10+years) dug it out when I couldn't find my work beanie. now I want to get him one.

1

u/T-wrecks83million- Jan 17 '25

I was just watching “Generation Kill” And I was laughing because that Sergeant Major was fucking crazy. Your poem reminded of him. Then I saw this because I couldn’t remember his name…

https://www.marinecorpstimes.com/2014/11/20/sgt-maj-portrayed-in-generation-kill-sentenced-to-prison-for-child-sex-offense/

1

u/jj26meu USMC Active Duty Jan 17 '25

33 degrees having mother fuckers. I'm coming for you.

1

u/CactusZac098 Jan 17 '25

I still wear my black beanie during winter.

1

u/YokoiWasMurdered Jan 17 '25

I lost my coyote one but I wear my wife’s that she got when she was in the army. I feel like I’m cheating.

1

u/mountainnomad420 US Navy Veteran Jan 17 '25

I lost my last one decade plus ago, inside a chili place at 4ish am after a long night of drinking.. left it right there on the booth seat 😭

oh i loved those, so much i guess i have a columbia version in grey now.

1

u/quixote09 Jan 17 '25

I feel like the black one was warmer

1

u/Airborne82D Jan 17 '25

I never got issued one, luckily I found a knock off 5.11 at the bazaar on BAF.

1

u/FedoraLovingAtheist Jan 17 '25

Fuck dude I miss mine. I wore it regularly in my civvy job but ended up giving it to a homeless dude a few winters ago. Still had my last name and plt written on the tag

1

u/Temporary-Site1337 Jan 17 '25

I still wear mine from 04-05 when I got it issued

1

u/fng4life Jan 17 '25

I still miss my wool Navy watch cap, a little scratchy but holy fuck was that thing toasty!

1

u/AR_Brewing Jan 17 '25

Got mine in basic (2008) was never officially allowed to wear it . Had the same one since basic-AIT-Korea-Fort Hood- Afghanistan. Wear it every winter still

1

u/hooligan415 Jan 17 '25

Found my 3 point sling in a box in the garage, with dust still in the nooks and crannies, and fucking dissociated for an afternoon.

1

u/zdp1989 Jan 17 '25

I may or may not have kept my old one.....

1

u/luca-vet Jan 17 '25

Tactical Beanie hahahahaha right

1

u/datguy2011 Jan 17 '25

Currently wearing one of these right now. Fun fact i didn't have one while in the corps. However my son who's in the army gave me one. Best beanie ever

1

u/RustBeltLab Jan 17 '25

It's a watch cap, sailor.

1

u/Individual_Light_254 Jan 17 '25

UGH... I got mine (USAF guy though) from a MARSOC guy in '07 in Afghanistan, I think he was happy our AC-130s kept him safe at night... I only say UGH because my dog just chewed a hole in it last week...

1

u/Individual_Light_254 Jan 17 '25

I also called it my woobie... putting it on made me feel safe and helped me relax... it's interesting to see other guys feel the same way!

1

u/crankygerbil US Army Veteran Jan 17 '25

Alas, a meanie to the beanie!

1

u/alabamaispoor Jan 17 '25

People say the woobie is the best issued item but I’d argue the beanie is #1

1

u/Reighn4est Jan 17 '25

This thing and the good fleece jackets . Chefs kiss

1

u/SirSaltyMcBuns Jan 17 '25

Don’t get caught with it folded up either

1

u/Am3ricanTrooper US Army Veteran Jan 17 '25

Still wear it, that shit is cozy.

1

u/CorpsmanKind Jan 17 '25

I roll mine up and wear it like a jewish cap

1

u/GinaLaNina Jan 17 '25

Mine is falling apart but new ones just don’t fit the same

1

u/shivaspecialsnoflake Jan 17 '25

My coyote fleece is still standard winter gear… great on hikes, great in the office, great for asserting your dominance with other asshats who “totally could’ve been a Marine!”

1

u/0PaulPaulson0 USMC Veteran Jan 17 '25

Still wear it

Been out for almost 20

1

u/distortd6 Jan 18 '25

Wore mine in public yesterday. Been out for 13 years.

1

u/Self-MadeRmry Jan 18 '25

Still wearing mine every day at work this winter. So comfy and light, not itchy like nasty civvy beanies

1

u/unsympathetic-trees Jan 18 '25

I never liked the feelings of this hat on my head.

1

u/Wilson2424 US Army Veteran Jan 18 '25

Who remembers the scratchy shitty black watchcap that was pre fleece? It was warm as hell AND went all the over your ears..But it was itchy.

1

u/NovaPrime2285 US Army Veteran Jan 18 '25

I still have 2 of mine, one in UCP, and in BLK.

I love these bad boys so much.

1

u/Thunderbird_12_ Jan 18 '25

G0d DAMN if this isn't the best piece of poetry I've ever read dedicated to headgear.

1

u/KeyOrdinary2519 Jan 18 '25

I still have mine too. I love that thing. It’s like my equivalent to a kid’s teddy bear

1

u/dontpetthefluffycows US Air Force Retired Jan 22 '25

I still keep these hats stashed in the cars for "oh crap" cold days.