Cuban Caps.

[Al-muell]

...this cap.

It is a souvenir for tourists - one of the few models, but from my observations it is exactly the same on the outside as soft "patrol caps" worn by Cuban soldiers. It is possible that indeed they make caps for the army and add patches with flag/red star/Che on them and sell them to tourists. This one has even the adjustment device same as army caps, however, most sellers offer them with Velcro adjustment, which I haven't seen on military caps.

[Riker87]

Major's cap.
Apart from the photographs of Cuban generals, this is the only cap of this type I have seen with rank insignia - a single star that was probably made of velvet/velour oslt. and is glued or "ironed" to this cap. The cap indeed belonged to a retired major, but my Spanish was insufficient to determine whether wearing insignia on those caps is or was ever obligatory. It seems that they don't have much of a regard for uniform regulations in Cuba.

These caps seem to be everyday service caps, but I have seen a photograph of Cuban soldiers practising for a parade in China and they had the same caps.

It is a bit dirty, as the previous owner continued to wear it with civilian clothes, lately with a self-made "Yo soy Fidel" badge pinned in front.

Haven't seen them for sale, but this one cost me 5cuc (~5USD), same as...

This cap is for the combat uniform because it is olive green and it has black star. Your model is from the early 90s. You can see it by the black sweatband.
You can see my cap in actually form. It has the typical embroidered insignias.

Another parts of my collection you will find on my site cuba-militaria.

[Al-muell]

Hi,
Thank You for the input. And for a great site too - It is really good to find a good source of knowledge on Cuban militaria!

[pride]

In this photo both style of caps are worn, so both seem to be within the dress regulations, at least at the time the photo was taken.

Eddie

Cuban made lizard cap used in Angola by cubans and FAPLA

[pride]

Old tanker beret

[pride]

Avispas Negras (SF) boonie

http://camopedia.org/index.php?title=Cuba

[pride]

Brigada Especial Nacional MININT beret

[pride]

Old and new field cap

[pride]

Brigada de Desembarco Aéreo (BDA) old beret

[pride]

Avispas Negras (SF) beret from the 80s and 90s. From 2012 they've adopted green berets