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When is the boonie cap authorized for wear? If it's over 100°? I can't find anything in the AR. AT is in California and will be over 100° the entire time. Wanted to know if it's authorized. Help?
Uniforms
DA Pam 670-1
Army Regulations
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 85
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Commander ultimately has say-so, but his/her CSM should make logical & reasoned recommendation. Couple comments further down outline the specific regulatory guidance straight out of the reg. I was one of those Soldiers that often wondered why we couldn't wear the boonie. Once I made CSM, it was one of the first authorizations I suggested to my BC. His response..."Make it happen SMAJ!!"...and I did. My troopers couldn't believe they could dig their boonies out of the bottom of their duffle and wear 'em. NTC summer sun wasn't quite as bad that rotation.
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CW4 Brian Haas
A CSM making a logical and reasoned recommendation...absolutely no disrespect meant, but I didn’t see that happen too often. I’m sure there are cases here and there. I had to fight for my guys on the flight line to be able to wear the cooler flight issued tops, because our CSM thought they should be changed into right before going flying and changed out of upon landing. Yes...AT the aircraft. Too many stupid instances like this.
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SFC Walter Lovett
Nice, a CSM who makes a recommendation that absolutely makes perfect since and is accepted by his CO. That is a great Command Team! Taking care of troops!
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COL (Join to see)
I started wearing mine today- hanging in Djibouti. I don't want the tops of my ears to get burnt and last year they took out a chunk of skin off the side of my nose that had cancer. So, it was issued, I'm the ARFOR Commander, wear them if you got them! I will say, I'm the only sr officer wearing it so whatever.
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When the commander says so, and it meets the conditions of wear in DA PAM 670-1
d. The sun (boonie) hat. The sun hat is worn with the combat uniform in field environments when the advanced combat helmet is not worn, on work details, or in other environments where wearing the patrol cap is impractical, as determined by the commander. Personnel wear the sun hat straight on the head so that the web band creates a straight line around the head, parallel to the ground. The sun hat will fit comfortably around the largest part of the head without distortion or excessive gaps. The sun hat is worn so that no hair is visible on the forehead beneath the hat. The draw string on the sun hat can be worn under the chin, around the back of the head and neck, or tucked inside. The draw string will not be worn over the top of the sun hat. The sun hat will not be worn rolled, formed, shaped, blocked, or
with an upturned brim. Sewn-on or pinned-on rank is worn on the sun hat.
d. The sun (boonie) hat. The sun hat is worn with the combat uniform in field environments when the advanced combat helmet is not worn, on work details, or in other environments where wearing the patrol cap is impractical, as determined by the commander. Personnel wear the sun hat straight on the head so that the web band creates a straight line around the head, parallel to the ground. The sun hat will fit comfortably around the largest part of the head without distortion or excessive gaps. The sun hat is worn so that no hair is visible on the forehead beneath the hat. The draw string on the sun hat can be worn under the chin, around the back of the head and neck, or tucked inside. The draw string will not be worn over the top of the sun hat. The sun hat will not be worn rolled, formed, shaped, blocked, or
with an upturned brim. Sewn-on or pinned-on rank is worn on the sun hat.
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SPC (Join to see)
This is why I hate AR 670-1.
2-5.f
"Commanders will not require individuals to purchase optional uniform items. Likewise, they will not restrict or dis-
courage them from wearing optional uniform items authorized by this regulation, except in those instances where uni-
formity is required, such as parades or formations."
There's one policy saying they determine when they can be worn, but another that says they're not allowed to make that determination.
2-5.f
"Commanders will not require individuals to purchase optional uniform items. Likewise, they will not restrict or dis-
courage them from wearing optional uniform items authorized by this regulation, except in those instances where uni-
formity is required, such as parades or formations."
There's one policy saying they determine when they can be worn, but another that says they're not allowed to make that determination.
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SSG Elyzabeth Cromer
SPC (Join to see) It is the Army, there is always going to be some flex in the rules because otherwise you will have "some" soldiers who decide that they are only going to wear a specific article. Back in the days of the beret ( which was the most impractical head cover for daily wear ever) there was a 1LT who worked with us who decide they were cold and was wearing the fleece cap until almost Memorial Day. The policy had been authorized based on weather. The State CSM changed it to 01 November to 31 March, unless in the field.
Berets for everyday wear, most definitely created a sense of unity, (supposedly their purpose) pretty much everyone hated them. Sun and rain in your eyes. You needed two hands to put it on properly, so you had to stop at the door way as you were leaving, put down what you were carrying to put it on and adjust it. Office rank and and unit brigade insignia both shinned in the sun and the rank on the uniform was subdued, so as an enlisted person walking toward someone you didn't recognize on a sunny day, you were squinting and trying to guess whether to salute. Glad to see that experiment end. Another tax dollar funded boondoggle.
Berets for everyday wear, most definitely created a sense of unity, (supposedly their purpose) pretty much everyone hated them. Sun and rain in your eyes. You needed two hands to put it on properly, so you had to stop at the door way as you were leaving, put down what you were carrying to put it on and adjust it. Office rank and and unit brigade insignia both shinned in the sun and the rank on the uniform was subdued, so as an enlisted person walking toward someone you didn't recognize on a sunny day, you were squinting and trying to guess whether to salute. Glad to see that experiment end. Another tax dollar funded boondoggle.
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Since everyone else seemed to state the actual regs, I'll weigh in and say I think it should be worn in all field environments when you're not wearing your helmet. It does a better job at keeping sunburns at bay. And that's worth it to me.
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MSgt George Cater
That's for damn sure. I have 2 scars on the back of my head from basil cell cancers caused by not being able to shade my head during 20+ years of duty in the sun, mostly in the tropics or desert.
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SPC Darren Coffenberry
SSG (Join to see) - I wore the crap out of mine though in the back of deuce and a halfs on the road....and in training when it was cold as heck.
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MSG Mel Trout
SSG (Join to see) - Basic Training: Ft Leonard Wood, MO Feb 1972. Only headgear authorized. Still carry one in the car for winter emergencies.
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It is an eminently practical part of the field uniform. It shades the eyes and neck from the hot sun more effectively than the patrol cap. You can fold it up and stuff it in a pocket. Troops love it, and wear it at every opportunity. Therefore most senior officers and NCOs hate it. Could we, for God’s sake, let the soldiers win one for a change? Make it authorized wear with field uniforms whenever helmets are not worn. Period.
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As I am the proud holder of a DD214 and Blue ID card, I wear my boonie hat WTF I want to! :)
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Sgt Mike Steele
Yes it does, I wore one daily in Vietnam, on and off post/base all over III & lV Corp....USAF Forward Air Control crew chief, except when flying in back seat of Birddog. Still wear one on range and yard.....still have the one i wore in Vietnam
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Sgt Ronald Harris
Sgt Mike Steele - I wore one all the time in 'nam, even though I was on duty mostly at night. I got another a few years ago when I moved to Arkansas, especially when mowing.
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I love a Boonie hat - mostly because it pisses REMF CSM and senior officers off. I authorized and provided them for my engineering units where the Kevlar or safety helmet wasn’t required. It’s a far superior piece of kit to a PC if you’re in the sun all day. I wore one every day of the three years I spent stomping around SWA.
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