Why is the boonie cap so demonized in the army?

The only thing I can think of is that . They just need something to complain about.

The only thing I can think of is that . They just need something to complain about.

I agree with 1SG Healy, Sr NCOs are paying way more attention to "nothing issues" than taking care of Soldiers! When an NCO gets a Diamond or a Star in their Chevrons their main focus is Soldier well being. This means they stay out of planning missions only when it concerns a Soldier's ability to perform them! The Army made a grave mistake ever creating the "Command SGT Major" rank, because all it did is take the SGT Major from the enlisted and give it to the officers. Unfortunately, a lot of NCOs today no longer have the stomach for making a command decision, primarily for a fear of reprisals by superiors. "Officers command Soldiers, NCOs lead them!".

I love the Boonie. It is the most practical headgear we have. I and anothe CSM in our brigade authorized them in our battalions. The brigade commander has since authorized them within the brigade. (Although they are already an authorized item). The memo just reiterates the proper wear (no rolling etc) that is in the 670-1. Huge morale booster.

I wore mine in Vietnam! Worked great kept the sun off me and the rain during the monsoons, thing is that no one gave a shit. More important things to worry about.

Just because your senior leadership makes a decision does not mean we need to demonize their mentality. The sun hat (boonie cap) is not clearly authorized (read the part about "as determined by the commander") to be worn in the field. It is only worn when your leadership requires it -- Local commanders can pick and choose the "Uniform of the Day". If the Boonie cap is chosen for that day (as 1SGT Healy did), the following information in DA Pam 670-1, 4-10, d. covers all requirements on how to wear it! By the way, the requirements for wear do not meet some soldiers desires... You cannot wear it perched on the back of your head with the drawstring holding the sides up, or blocked and shaped with an upturned brim... Blatant disregard of this may be the reason some leaders frown on it...

The sun hat is an OCIE item authorized for wear 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 drawstring on the sun hat can be worn under the chin, around the back of the head and neck, or tucked inside. The drawstring 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. Subdued pin-on or sew-on grade insignia, or branch insignia for chaplains, is worn centered on the front of the headgear left to right and top to bottom.

As for me when I deployed I wore the boonie hat with the COLLAR TURNED UP when outside. It was a perfect desert uniform, but everyone else (AF) had the collar cut down because it was too wide:idiots. The booniehat was the perfect cover

I have to agree with CSM. I guess ok old school also. Soldiers never want to wear it correctly. Soldiers shape it this way or the other. Then your day is spent telling soldiers to correct the hat and then it’s an argument or some negative feed back.
Yes I know the same can be said about the PC, same issue. Just grab the head gear shake it and put it on. Just a crusty old retiree here.

I think the Boonie Cap (aka Sun Hat) is an acquired taste, you either like it or you dont. As a MSC officer I have been deployed in med and non med units. Have seen (usually CSMs) in both where someone didnt like the boonie cap so it was frowned upon in formations or in my last deployment to Bagram the CSM and Bdg cdr more or less outlawed it. Occasionally the army gets something right. The boonie cap was designed to keep the sun off your head and neck. Yeah I know its not perfect, not every mission outside the wire your going to wear it but in general its a sinceable piece of headgear. I have never cared for leaders making a decision purely based on there own personal preference.

Back in the '70s I was stationed at Bragg. As a matter of routine, guys wore the boonie cap in the field, but they were hard to come by. My mother had been a seamstress and taught me how to sew and repair my own clothes when I was young, because she didn't have the time. I rented a sewing machine from Post Rental and used to tailor guys' BDUs and such for cheap - like $5 a set. Someone asked me if I could make a boonie cap. I measured one up, took an old pair of fatigues and some really stiff cardboard, and made one. It looked great! After that, I got flooded with orders and my spare time was spent making boonie caps. I got $5 apiece for them and they paid for all my drinking time down on Hay Street. LOL!!