Why is the boonie cap so demonized in the army?

Undisciplined vietnam soldiers? CSM who say this have no idea what the real army is. We fought and died like every soldier has for our great country. We did this with the same respect and discipline as any. Problem we dealt with those who commanded did not care or know what we were fighting for. We carried out their orders knowing it did nothing but feathers in their cap and rank on their sholders. The boonies bonnet has been around from the start of our country. Look at any painting or picture and you will find a US shoulder wearing one.. Sorry for the rant. The hat was issued, it was used by those that needed it.

SSG Harry Herres - he said he thought, he has no idea

With all Due respect SSG Harry Herres; do you not notice the quotation marks before and after the word undisciplined? Normal grammatical practice is to use those to indicate Sarcasm. I am very confident that MAJ Kevin Mason meant no disrespect to our brothers who served in the Vietnam Era. I, myself, am not offended by his remark.

It's hard to look disciplined when you're soaked constantly from the rain and it's so humid that you can't tell the difference between whether you're wet so much from the rain or sweat with the heat. Just wet all the time! Vietnam was a place where you had a tan in three days and I wore dark glasses and had what they called the raccoon effect after that for years thereafter. Looking disciplined or being dressed in readiness to fight are two different things. One is unpractical and the other is practical under combat situations. Looking good and dressed to fight are two entirely different things. The enemy saw pretty good seeing they trained for head shots and that's why so many troops were killed. You didn't wear rank insignias on your hats or shirt collars because they shot for the most seniors first. You don't eat anything that is spiced, use deodorant or any scented soap because they can smell it a long ways away including in your your breath or sweat. Everything stinks about Vietnam including the dress but that's our undisciplined history and who has a right to comment on that who didn't experience that? Is it regulation to use two rifle slings so you can carry your rifle over your shoulder at waste level with your finger on the trigger so you will be ready to swing it to shoot at any time? Every war and time is different. You do what you must do at your own time.

I can totally understand that. Living in NW LA, we share weather with Texas and it gets VERY hot and VERY humid.

(Join to see) that would a worthwhile uniform change.

dudes can wear religious beards and look like duck dynasty but I can't put my hands in my pockets because it "looks unprofessional"....

Easy fix. Find the religion where putting your hands in your pocket is an essential element of the faith. Then apply for a waiver to policy in regards to not being able to put your hands in your pocket because it “looks unprofessional”

Can not put your hands in your "Hand Warming Pockets".
This was actually in an older version of AR 670 -1. It referred to the pockets in the PT uniform jacket as "hand warming pockets".

You ain't heard nothing yet! When I finished Builder School at NAVSCON in Port Hueneme, CA, I was sent from there to NMCB-1 in Davisville, RI in February. From have your sweater off by noon to blizzardly cold and snowey. When I got there, they didn't have any field jackets to issue me and from the barracks to where I mustered to my station was about 3 miles. One day I decided to wear my black sweater under my utility greens (it only showed at my neckline). A young LTJG at my duty station stopped me and chewed me out and said I couldn't do that even after I told him there were no field jackets or liners to be issued to me in spite of the fact that every civilian had one on. So here I am, a young BUCN E-3, having to brave the snow storms without a coat and man it was cold. I knew nothing about requesting a Captain's mast!

Same in 04-05

My unit, when sent to Saudi Arabia, didn't issue out DCU PC's. Some of the POGs bought them, but since they ere not issued, they could not make us wear them.

Not to start a separate gripe, but I never understood why news reports so often show officers and men outside wearing no cover at all! BITD (back in the day) anyone caught outside without a cover on would be seriously reprimanded. In garrison, it may be a picky uniform point, but it reinforces a standard that sun protection is like foot protection. It's a health issue.

CPT David Donovan - They remind me of a bus drivers uniform.

Don't knock the Beret. There are those who earned the right to wear them. Now days if you complete basic you get one. That to me is B>S.

IMO, what you earn for completing basic is the name, "soldier." No one should have to "earn" a part of the basic uniform. If berets are handed out only after completing basic training, that's just a psychological ploy, perhaps even to make them seem acceptable. Berets shouldn't be a part of American uniforms and with the new pinks and greens, thankfully, they aren't--at least as I understand it. I think even the beloved green berets, marks of distinction, are not the best idea. Why isn't an SF tab good enough, like Ranger tabs. Or a badge like an airborne or air assault badge? I guess I just think headgear ought to be uniform across the service.

Well said Captain....agree...wish I was still in to don those pink and green uni's Hoooah!!

On a serious note, some just don't know.

If it's below 40° we should wear it. However, is up to that CDR to make the decision.

SFC Kelly Fuerhoff brain farted LOL! However, I feel the same way about both.

Well Now ya gotta remember , There's the Right Way an There's a Wrong Way an then There's The Army Way . " Parade Rest "

Great story. You mentioned the boonie hat once, anyway.

LOL had to give the diggers some props, they were a terrible example getting our guys all wanting the hats. The diggers and Kiwi's were crazy lads. When coming under fire our guys typically got cover, called in Arty and Air while they just ran like maniacs towards the fire and flanking positions.