Out of curiousity, why does 11th ACR wear brown stetsons vs the traditional black stetsons other Cav units wear? ScoutsOut!

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 21 Dec 2013 18:13:16 -0500

Cav Stetsons - Tradition is black stetsons. 11th ACR wears brown stetsons?

Response by SFC James Baber made Dec 21 at 2013 7:32 PM

SFC James Baber — Sat, 21 Dec 2013 19:32:42 -0500

I never thought about that, I am curious about that myself now, hopefully someone within the know from the unit of main CAV can answer for us to know the "mystery" behind it.

Response by CSM Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 21 at 2013 7:52 PM

CSM Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 21 Dec 2013 19:52:06 -0500

I heard from a Soldier that was stationed with 11th ACR it represents when they were stationed in the desert in Irwin. I'm sure if you google them they have their unit history posted. 

Response by SSG Richard Stevens made Dec 22 at 2013 6:07 PM

SSG Richard Stevens — Sun, 22 Dec 2013 18:07:55 -0500

i do not know myself, that could be true

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 22 at 2013 6:50 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 22 Dec 2013 18:50:58 -0500

When I was in Blackhorse in the 97, they wore a black Stetson. Friends that were SGTs when the Regiment was assigned to Germany Fulda Gap said they wore Black Stetson in Germany. My guess is it had to be when they made the change to ACUs or when the primary headgear changed to beret instead of patrol cap. just trying to narrow down the timeframe and justification. I asked the question while I was there in 2012, the only answer was tradition. It's the only CAV unit in the Army that asks their Soldiers to pay for a Stetson that they can never wear in any other unit. It's one thing to offer unit shirts and ball caps, but you can drop more than 100 bucks on a good Stetson. their Association website sells them for 120 and 220. http://www.blackhorsestore.org/apparel.cfm?subcat=101

All Traditions have to start somewhere. Maybe I'll do some more homework tonight.

Blackhorse Association - Apparel

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Response by CSM Stuart C. O'Black made Dec 27 at 2013 6:17 PM

CSM Stuart C. O'Black — Fri, 27 Dec 2013 18:17:51 -0500

11th, Constituted in 1901 they no longer officially wear the black stetson but a
brown campaign hat/stetson that was in service at the time of the regiment's creation
in Virginia.

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Apr 25 at 2015 7:19 PM

LTC Jason Mackay — Sat, 25 Apr 2015 19:19:16 -0400

That is relatively new. I was there 1994-1998. Earned Spurs in 1995. We wore Traditional Stetsons, not brown.

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Apr 25 at 2015 7:57 PM

SFC Mark Merino — Sat, 25 Apr 2015 19:57:37 -0400

My money is on the uniform change, when we wore BDU's they were black. Now I have to find out.

Response by SSG Trevor S. made Apr 26 at 2015 2:56 AM

SSG Trevor S. — Sun, 26 Apr 2015 02:56:34 -0400

SFC Private RallyPoint Member Do you have an answer for this one? Does it have anything to do with role playing as desert bad guys? I never thought to ask when I was in Ft. Irwin.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 6 at 2015 4:18 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 06 May 2015 16:18:41 -0400

Let me shed some light on this topic for all. CSM Stuart above is on the right track. Inside the Spur Charter of the 11TH ACR it states, "The 11th CR was formed in 1901, long after the traditional cavalry Stetson had been retired. In its place the regiment wore the brown Campaign Hat. To continue the tradition, the regiment has chosen the Campaign Hat as its version of the traditional Stetson with certain allowances for the black Stetson". I have been a part of the 11th ACR since March 2009, MNT TRP, RSS, 11TH ACR, and have had my Brown Campaign Hat for all but a few months of the time.

Response by SPC David S. made Sep 28 at 2015 2:39 PM

SPC David S. — Mon, 28 Sep 2015 14:39:40 -0400

They are called "The 1903 Campaign Hat" because that was what the regiment wore when it was organized in 1903. I think it was around 2007 they change the color. I see this post is dated 2013 - a little late to the party on this one

Response by CSM Stephen Walls made Mar 2 at 2016 3:41 PM

CSM Stephen Walls — Wed, 02 Mar 2016 15:41:49 -0500

The 11ACR in Fulda Germany wore the Black/Blue Cavalry Stetson. this was because of the influence of US Army Cavalry Association influence. Once at Fort Irwin they went back to the "1903 Campaign Stetson" that was original to the organization in 1903... This is illustrated in the Stivers Print "The Last Charge" depicting the last "Horse Mounted Charge" conducted by the 11th Cavalry in Mexico ! the only thing they could do to improve the look is to go the "Montana Peak" that was regulation in 1903 !

Response by CPT Jacob Swartout made Feb 10 at 2017 12:30 PM

CPT Jacob Swartout — Fri, 10 Feb 2017 12:30:26 -0500

This is the first I have heard of any CAV unit wearing brown Stetsons. They were black when I was assigned with the 11th ACR.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 13 at 2017 10:18 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 13 Oct 2017 22:18:52 -0400

It is in relation to the campaign in the Philippines in the early 1900s. COL (R) Mark Calvert made this decision when he took command in 2007. It’s stuck with every RCO since.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 4 at 2018 8:30 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 04 Jan 2018 20:30:36 -0500

Nothing to do with uniform change. Was in the 11th during the change, done by the RCO to commemorate the campaign hat. They are more expensive than the Stetson.

Response by SSG Laymon Wilder made Mar 5 at 2018 4:10 PM

SSG Laymon Wilder — Mon, 05 Mar 2018 16:10:03 -0500

I have both ALLON'S

Response by SSG William Brandstater made Oct 19 at 2018 4:09 PM

SSG William Brandstater — Fri, 19 Oct 2018 16:09:12 -0400

Why does the Cavalry always wear black Stetsons

Response by SFC Gp Chan made Apr 18 at 2021 9:27 AM

SFC Gp Chan — Sun, 18 Apr 2021 09:27:37 -0400

https://www.aerotechnews.com/ntcfortirwin/2020/09/04/the-blackhorse-association-recognizes-nco-and-soldier-of-the-year/#:~:text=The%2011th%20ACR%20wears%20a,on%20the%20M1883%20Campaign%20Hat.

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