Why is the boonie cap so demonized in the army?

I suggest it has more to do with MILITARY SNCO managers and Commissioned Officer leaders having OCD. The boonie hat, no matter how you slice and dice it simply doesn't look 'in order'... The military DEMANDS 'dress right dress' and when you've 40 different bends in bonnie hats throughout a formation - you get OCD response. Even the Beret, which soldiers have found multiple ways of wearing it - at least seems to appear 'consistent' throughout a formation. However, you have a formation of boonie hat wearers and it will drive someone with OCD absolutely NUTS! When the BDU cap was introduced, everyone attempted to 'block' it - me, I crushed it. I took the front of the hat, bent it down to the brim and then folded the 2d half so I could put it in my cargo pocket...the result - a SADDLE (high front and rear ridge - crush in the middle) My Commanders went nuts. Said I couldn't wear it like that - I said: Show me and they couldn't because there is nothing written that made it policy to 'block' it.

Sorry, best head gear ever, protected everything. Why was it issued, because it did the job. Why was it condemned, because it worked.! Those who did not do the work controlled those that did. Sorry get out and care about your people, not your power! If you care not, they care not for you. Pay back can be a bitch!

Wore one in Vietnam and Iraq. Didn't wear one for 30 plus years when not deployed. Might be the reason I regularly visit the dermatologist who carves on my ears and neck (or blasts me with liquid nitrogen) to remove damage from the sun. I think it safe to say that dermatologists would choose the boonie hat.

We all wore a boonie hat in Vietnam

I've pretty much been in a sniper or recon section my whole career and that's all I've worn in the field and deployed

I've always said this.

There are two types of Leaders in the Army.

2. Those who read regulations and see what is authorized.
1. Those who read the regulations and see what is NOT authorized or what is prohibited.

The best LEADERS see what is authorized. The majority of turds see what is prohibited.

I made my second to last First Sergeant so angry that she teared up when I told her that she was a Prohibitor. These people disgust me.

I always read DA and DOD regulations with an eye towards what I could get accomplished. Too many Army "leaders" look to stymie their people with prohibitions.

I abhor these people.

what is a boonie cap? just asking?

I was OIF 2006 - 2007. I was a senior CSM at the GO level and I had no issue with my Soldiers wearing the hat.

It was extremely hot and the sun was intense, which was a perfect situation for its use. It was part of the issue, and I figured if they didn’t want you to wear it, they wouldn’t have issued it to us. So I had no problem with it, as long as it was worn properly.

I received no guidance from higher command either denying or discouraging its use.

I wore mine on those days when it was intensely hot and the situation didn’t warrant wearing the ACH.

Good question. Some good response. The 10% at the top or in the rank will screw it up for the rest.
Good luck in your tour.

As a retired USAF Security Forces person, I never understood why we were forced to wear a barrette while humping around aircraft all day on the boiling sun. Troops faces and ears got fried. The leadership said it looked more professional. They sat in AC offices or vehicles