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The utility cover, also known as the utility cap and eight-pointed cover, is the United States Marine Corps cap, worn with their utility uniform. It is an eight-pointed hat, with a visor similar to a baseball cap. It is worn "blocked", that is, creased and peaked, for a sharper appearance. It is also worn by the U.S. Navy units such as Seabees and Beachmasters. It is also worn with the newer Navy Working Uniform as well as the Woodland BDU and Desert DCU uniform. It is also under consideration by the United States Coast Guard's uniform board, and has been publicly wear-tested by former Commandant Adm. Robert J. Papp, Jr.
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History
The utility cover was first issued in World War II, with the Herringbone Twill utility uniform issued in 1943. It was based on a US Army field cap design and a railroad engineer cap. World War II Marines nicknamed it the raider cap from its use by the Marine Raiders. It was made from herringbone twill until 1959, when the material changed to cotton sateen.
It is currently issued in desert and woodland MARPAT camouflage patterns, though older versions came in M81 woodland, six-color desert, three-color desert camouflage patterns and olive drab. All versions except those worn with the Navy Working Uniform, or those worn by Navy Seabees and Beachmasters, have the Marine Corps' Eagle, Globe, and Anchor insignia on the front above the bill, the Navy versions having the wearer's rank insignia instead.
Proper wear
During recruit training, Marine and Navy recruits are instructed in the proper method of wearing the utility cover. The proper manner to wear the utility cover is with the bill facing forward on the wearer's head and with the cover being aligned with the head (not 'leaning' to one side) and worn so as to appear horizontal from the side, not at an angle as a baseball cap is sometimes worn.