Campaign cover: chin strap
The campaign cover leather strap can be worn in several different ways:
Across the back of the head
The practice of fixing the leather strap of a campaign cover under – or at the point of – the chin stems from shared traditions among some Northeastern state police agencies. Regulations often specify that the strap on the front of the winter felt hat should extend across the point of the chin, but in practice often sits higher (under the lip) due to fit, movement, or custom.
Front chin straps or guards on headgear have deep roots in European military history, such as Napoleonic-era cavalry (where face guards helped protect against sword slashes) or British ceremonial units such as the Beefeaters, whose tall hats feature prominent chain or strap elements across the face area for both decoration and function.
The 'lip strap' refers to the distinctive way some state police agencies - most famously the Pennsylvania State Police - position the front leather chin strap of their winter felt campaign hat high on the face, typically resting across or just below the lower lip rather than fully under the chin.
Early US mounted police and cavalry influenced state trooper uniforms. The strap's placement evolved from a functional 'chin strap' to a higher position over time, blending practicality with tradition. Some accounts trace the high wear to early 20th Century troopers finding a strict under-chin fit uncomfortable and adjusting it. While regulations emphasize the "point of the chin," the lip position persists as custom, sometimes jokingly called a way to ‘grab it with their teeth in high wind’.
Similar high-strap traditions appear in a few other Northeastern agencies such as the New Jersey State Police and Massachusetts State Police, which share campaign hat roots from cavalry/military influences.
Officers may wear the strap in this fashion for safety purposes: if an officer is in a struggle, a strap under the chin could be used to choke them or wrench their head. Wearing it across the lip or behind the head allows the hat to fall off safely if it is pulled in a struggle.
Pennsylvania State Police regulations (and similar ones in other agencies) state that the strap on the winter felt campaign hat should be worn 'extending across the point of the chin'. In reality, due to the hat's weight, fit, jaw movement, and longstanding custom, it often rides up to sit higher—creating the iconic 'lip strap' appearance.
Other agencies such as the Connecticut State Police use similar campaign hats but are less consistently noted for the exact ' lip' positioning. British-style influences (for example, old police helmets with straps between lip and chin for safety) may have indirectly shaped these US traditions.
If someone grabs the hat during a confrontation (a common concern for officers), a low chin strap could become a strangulation hazard. A high 'lip' position, on the other hand, allows the heavy felt hat to dislodge easily instead of choking the wearer.
Some troopers claim the high lip position also helps anchor the heavy hat without being overly restrictive.
Drill instructors wear their straw campaign covers high on the head with the brim parallel to the ground or slightly tilted. This is standard for US services using the campaign cover (USMC, Army drill sergeants, some Air Force/Coast Guard instructors).
Wearing the strap around the rear of the head is a practical way to secure the campaign cover worn in the distinctive, forward-tilted "drill instructor" style, common in the US military.
The front brim often rests near or just above the eyebrows, and the back sits higher, which creates a commanding, authoritative look. A strap under the chin would be awkward or loose in this position, while routing it behind the head (across the nape or back of the skull) anchors the hat downward and forward against the forehead.
The rear strap (often a leather or cord "'back strap'"') helps keep the heavy felt hat from blowing off in wind or during movement. It works with forehead contact points for stability.
Older photos sometimes show straps under the chin, but the modern DI style standardized the rear position for the tilted wear. It's largely tradition and regulation now - part of the uniform's iconic look that signals authority in training environments.
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