[REF] Garrison Cap Arm of Service Piping

Following on from Sam's question in the General Forum, I though this short post would be useful.

Enlisted Men's Garrison Cap Arm of Service Piping

Blue - Infantry
Green piped White - Armored Force
Red - Field & Coast Artillery
Yellow - Cavalry
Orange piped Black - Tank Destroyer
Red piped White - Corps of Engineers
Maroon piped White - Medical Department
Black - Chaplain Corps (this is a hangover of WW1, and not official)
Orange piped White - Signal Corps
Red piped Yellow - Ordnance Department
Buff - Quartermaster Corps
Purple piped Yellow - Chemical Warfare Service
Yellow piped Green - Military Police
Red piped Orange - Transportation Corps
Green piped Buff - Women's Army Corps
Light Blue piped Yellow - Finance Department
Blue piped Red - Adjutant General's Department
Green - Detached Enlisted Men's List
Purple - National Guard Bureau
Blue piped Orange - Army Air Forces

Officers' Garrison Cap Piping:

Gold - General Officers
Gold piped Black - Officers
Black piped Silver - Warrant Officers

EM would wear the piping of their personal unit, and not that of the generic organization unit. For example, a Medic on detached service with the First Infantry Division would still wear a Garrison Cap piped with the piping of the Medical Department, since his unit is the 1st Medical Battalion. In addition, a member of the 1st Military Police Platoon (organic once again to the 1st Inf. Div.) would also wear the piping of the Military Police (yellow piped green).

Commissioned personnel under the rank of Brigadier General would wear black piped gold piping, regardless of their Arm of Service. Commissioned personnel above the rank of Brigadier General would wear gold piping.

I hope that the above is of some use for future impressions!

Thanks,
Ben.

Cheers Ben that's really helpfull!

Now I know why I just stuck to Infantry lol

Sam

It does get a bit confusing. I should have also indicated that the Collar Insignia worn on the Class A Jacket should match the piping on the Garrison Cap, whereas the SSI should be that of the organic unit!

Cheers,
Ben.

Here are a few more. I will try and prepare an illustration to better show the styles and colours used in the piping, as well as the respective collar insignia:

Dark Blue piped Scarlet (white until 1944) - Adjutant General's Department
Dark Blue piped Light Blue - Inspector General's Department
Dark Blue piped White (light blue until March 1944) - Judge Advocate General's Department
Golden Yellow piped Purple - Military Intelligence Reserve
Dark Blue - Militia Bureau
Scarlet piped Silver Grey - Permanent Department Professors of the US Military Academy (USMA)
Brown piped Yellow - Specialist Reserve

Cheers,
Ben.

Where to get piping?

A.C.E. van T. wrote:Where to get piping?

My guess would be ebay! I think Ben may know a couple of places.

What branch of service are you after?

Sam

Like Sam says, it depends what branch you're looking for. Sometimes it's easier to find the actual Garrison Cap than the piping itself. If you let me know the branch you're looking for, I'll see what I can do. I only miss 3 from the list above in my collection now!

Cheers,
Ben.

No,I just need the know where to get it.
Over here you only can get a wrong color of light blue

Well, since you've mentioned blue I assume that you're looking for Infantry piping. I think I have source for original blue piping, but will confirm later!

Cheers,
Ben.

I have a Khaki Enlisted Man's Garrison Cap I believe is Medical Department with Maroon and White pipping as shown below:



I would appreciate any confirmation or correction or any additional information.

Sincerely,
DC
custompilotwings-info@yahoo.com

Yep, that's Medical Department piping, DC!

Cheers,
Ben.

BenM wrote:
Enlisted Men's Garrison Cap Arm of Service Piping

Green piped Yellow - Armored Force

Ben - may want to change this to "Green piped White" - the Green & Yellow for Armored is apparently a mistake from a wartime civilian publication that is often repeated in modern books and websites (olivedrab.com for one...). The correct colours for Armor are definitely Green & White.

Cheers,
Glen.

Hmm, thanks for that Glen. Will update accordingly.

Cheers,
Ben.