Proposed Marines Uniform Change Derided as “Girly”

Far left: current male cover. Center left: possible alternation. Center right: current female cover. Far right: 'Dan Daly cap' (Courtesy USMC)

Crank up the defibrillator: the New York Post is having coronary over what it says is "Obama's plan" to sissify the United States Marines. "A change to the Marine Corps' uniform hats could take the hard-nosed Leathernecks from the Halls of Montezuma to the shops of Christopher Street," gasps the tabloid in what it calls an "exclusive" article headlined "Obama Wants Marines to Wear 'Girly' Hats." Christopher Street is a snarky reference to the historical and symbolic center of gay life in New York City. The Post goes on to claim that, "officials are on the verge of swapping out the Marines' iconic caps…with a new version that some have derided as so "girly" that they would make the French blush." Hats aside, from the derisive tone and language, clearly someone doesn't think that either gays or women are tough enough to serve, not to mention the insult to our Commander in Chief and the French.

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What the Post does get right is that the Uniform Board is currently seeking feedback from both active duty members and reservists on whether or not to adopt a universal cover (that's a "hat" to us civilians). A Marines' spokesperson told Yahoo Shine that the Corps periodically reviews uniforms and recommends changes. The options would be either a slightly modified version of the current male cover or a topper with a smaller crown-dubbed the "Dan Daly cap" after a World War I hero, Sergeant Major Daniel Joseph Daly-which is more similar to the cover currently worn by women. Daly, who twice won the military's highest award for bravery, the Medal of Honor, famously led the charge on German troops in the 1918 Battle of Belleau Woods with the cry, "Come on, you sons of bitches, do you want to live forever?" Voting ends on Friday and the Uniform Board will convene on October 29 to consider the results. Toward the bottom of the Post article they do acknowledge that, "As of now, the new covers are only in the proposal stage."

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According to the Marine Corps Times, "the movement to make female uniforms more similar to those worn by men comes as the Defense Department begins to open more roles in combat units to women." However, similar doesn't mean "the same." While female soldiers don't want to dress like Pan Am stewardesses circa 1968, gender-specific uniforms can improve the fit and practicality of garb created for one of the most rigorous jobs on the planet. The reality is that, generally speaking, men and women have different physiques. In an editorial for Time, former Naval officer Darlene M. Iskra wrote, "I have no qualms about female sailors wearing the cracker-jack [classic Navy] uniform, but let's not forget that women have bumps and curves in places where males do not. Tailor the jumper tops to accommodate the female body. It's not being exhibitionist…it's being realistic. When someone feels good and looks good, they will act accordingly." When it comes to body armor and combat uniforms, the need for a comfortable, safe fit is even more crucial. In 2010, the Army debuted a combat uniform alternative cut for women's bodies. However, the outward appearance is the same, which is appropriate because the combat uniform is designed around function, not fashion. It can also be worn by men who have slighter builds.

In civilian life, once women in the boardroom gained confidence and status, they stopped dressing like carbon copies of their male colleagues (but with sensible pumps and floppy bows). While the glass ceiling in the military may be even thicker and the need to appear commanding and competent even more important than in many other vocations, having a unisex dress uniform (which would include the hypothetical Marine cover) isn't automatically a boon for women. "Male officer uniforms make them look handsome and dashing…female uniforms should be flattering as well," wrote Iskra. "Women should look like women and feel good when wearing them, and that in turn helps them feel and act more professional."

What makes sense is letting the soldiers speak for themselves about whether or not to adopt a more unisex appearance and for which jobs-which is what the Uniform Board appears to be doing in the case of the cover options. This seems particularly important for the Marines who, as a sergeant who preferred not to use his name told Yahoo Shine appearance is deeply important. "Tradition is more than just a word to the Marine Corps. It's honestly what separates us from the other branches of military. Tradition ties directly to appearance, how an individual Marine looks in or out of their uniforms." Another Marine, former staff sergeant Andre Cato, agreed, "It seems absurd to change the cover. As far as tradition goes, we go way back and it's a very big value." He added, "Females are perfectly happy with their uniform, as are males. It would be like trying to fix something that's not broken."

And in the unlikely situation that the Uniform Board does decide to change to a unisex cover? Although one Marine told Yahoo Shine that he despised the look of the "Dan Daly cover" and that the legend "would be rolling in is grave," let's recall Daly himself for a minute. His so-called "girly" cover didn't diminish his bravery or bluster one bit.

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