Why is the boonie cap so demonized in the army?

Another Army hat question. Presidential Candidate Vermin Supreme wants to save your clothing allowance. He proposes you wear boots on your heads
-Thanks for the laugh, signed The Marines.

I wore mine all the time on my first deployment in 03. Loved it as a e3/e4. It was different and something we couldn't wear at home. Plus the DCU uniform pattern was awesome and I believe the DCU pattern boonie cap looked better than the ACU boonie cap. On my second deployment I wore my patrol cap by choice because I felt it looked more official and proper. I worked in a detention facility in Baghdad and wanted the detainees to see me as a serious soldier who went by the book, not a goof in a weird hat.

In my opinion it looks unprofessional compared to other types of headgear. One of my battalion CSM decided that the fleece was a no-go, even though other battalions were authorized to wear it. Reason being, he thought it looked unprofessional, and I agree with him. Perhaps the boonie would be more appropriate when function is more necessary as opposed to appearance. Example: Being down range and your concern is more focused on staying alive and keeping the sun off your face and neck.

I am not presently on active duty (retired from the army in July 88 after a 28 year career) so I cannot comment on what is authorized to wear by today's 670-1. However, I do know the "boonie hat" that originated with the Vietnam War. For those of you too young to have had the pleasure of serving in that jungle paradise, I will let you in on a little secret; AR 670-1 was pretty much ignored except by the REMFs whose function was to look pretty, lie to the press and make sure the PX was well stocked with the items necessary for REMF lifestyle. The boonie hat was part of that PX requirement. The boonie, although never actually legal for wear was ignored because it was practical and had that John Wayne look that impressed the folks back home. It became a habit that just stuck after we ended the fun in Vietnam and it followed the troops as they left and were dispersed to other duty stations around the world. As a soldier who always wore the steel pot instead of the boonie, I always thought it should have been outlawed from the getgo because many young soldiers would still be alive today if they had been forced to keep that pot on their heads at all times except when sleeping behind a safe perimeter. John Wayne belongs in the movies, not in our army,

I can offer no reasonable explanation as I am not and have never been in the Army. However, I have a related anecdote that some may enjoy. I was a Surface Warfare Officer in the US Navy serving aboard ship 1974 -1977. We operated throughout Asia and the Pacific, often in tropical locales.

My CO mentioned several times that he would really like all of the officers on our ship, to wear what was called "Tropical Uniform Golf." This uniform consisted of khaki shorts, khaki knee socks, black shoes, khaki short sleeve shirt, and a "Tropical Pith Helmet, Khaki." All of the above was readily available from a variety of sources except the pith helmet. Pith helmets were not available through the Navy exchange, nor were they available to the Navy in the naval supply system.

During a port call in Guam, I noticed that all of the US Marines wore tropical pith helmets when on guard duty. I went searching for the Master Gunnery Sergeant and worked out a bit of a comshaw trade with him in exchange for a case of "Tropical Pith Helmets, Water Damaged." My men and I performed some electrical work in the Marine barracks, my men got extra liberty, and I got the helmets, which I immediately issued to all of the officers of our ship. I wish I had a photo as we looked like we were right out of McHale's Navy.

It has to be a block of instruction at USASMA, it’s not the BN/BDE Precommand Course.

When I was a kid, when my dad was stationed at Clark AFB, the boonie hat was referred to as the "go to hell hat." Also we had the same problem with the boonie hat in the sandbox. I have since noticed that the military has once again banned the boonie hat and gone back to the ball cap.

We were authorized by our unit, 1st BDE 82nd Airborne to wear it downrange. I remember a 3rd BDE NCO tried to get on one of my guys in the Stan, I had to step in and let him know that's how 1st BDE rolls! Lol! Seriously idk why more units aren't allowed to wear it especially in hot weather environments. As long as everyone is the same who cares? It blocks out the sun all around, it feels lighter and cooler, looks better in my opinion as well. I say for downrange and training it's far superior! So as long as everyone in your unit is the same then why not?

That's another good question. But if I were to ask it, I would also have to ask "why are you going to issues troops equipment and not allow them to use it?" Units in the 82nd Airborne Division are infamous for that. I got issued all kinds of different gear, but was never allowed to don it as part of my uniform. If YOU get a satisfactory answer, please share it because I still want to know why in spite of the fact that I'm retired.

Speaking for myself, I look at it this way. The Boonie Hat was issued to me, it served a purpose. It did its job, protected me from the heat and hot sun. Mission accomplished. I never had an issue of someone saying that couldn't wear it.