Parade Caps

Go Army!

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This may sound like a dumb question to some of you, but I've always been curious about it. How is it determined what cap you wear during parades? Looking through various grad week pictures I see that there are some hats that have big feathers on top of the cap, and others that don't. How is it decided which cap you will get to wear?
Thanks for the help.
Go Army! :smile:
 
This may sound like a dumb question to some of you, but I've always been curious about it. How is it determined what cap you wear during parades? Looking through various grad week pictures I see that there are some hats that have big feathers on top of the cap, and others that don't. How is it decided which cap you will get to wear?
Thanks for the help.
Go Army! :smile:

Plumes (the feathers) are for Firsties only, as they are cadet officers. Everyone else wears the black pom on their hat, the slang name of which I will not post on here. The cadet First Sergeant MAY wear a plume...I can't recall right now. I think the Sergeants Major may wear plumes too. Regardless, it has to do with rank and title, and is not arbitrary.
 
I actually noticed today that it isn't always the same. We practiced for two parades today and on the Superintendent's farewell only key leaders (platoon leaders, company commanders, etc) wore plumes and on the graduation parade practice all Firsties wore plumes. There is always a reason, but I guess it varies. Usually not all Firsties wear them but due to the nature of the graduation parade that is probably why they do then while on normal ones only key leaders do (the First Sergeant being one of them).
 
I actually noticed today that it isn't always the same. We practiced for two parades today and on the Superintendent's farewell only key leaders (platoon leaders, company commanders, etc) wore plumes and on the graduation parade practice all Firsties wore plumes. There is always a reason, but I guess it varies. Usually not all Firsties wear them but due to the nature of the graduation parade that is probably why they do then while on normal ones only key leaders do (the First Sergeant being one of them).

Maybe times have changed. When I was a cadet, all Firsties wore them. The rear rank of saber-bearers wore plumes, as well as the CO and PLs.
 
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