Why no BDU boonie hat

[Eclipse]

When the planes are around, stow your cap, when they are gone, which will, in most circumstances be the entire day (except for airshows, etc.), put it back on.

If you want to wear your grandmother's gardening hat, whatever - the problem comes in because
members don't understand the difference between a piece of field gear and something meant for wear during normal duty, in formation etc.  This is why we have cadets showing up with plates carriers to encampment, wearing their pancakes during GT missions, etc., etc.

Boonies look dumb, serve little purpose the way CAP members would need them, and are just another affectation of watching Vietnam movies, but whatever.  Be different, then wonder why we have cohesion and appearance issues.

[billford1]

When the planes are around, stow your cap, when they are gone, which will, in most circumstances be the entire day (except for airshows, etc.), put it back on.

If you want to wear your grandmother's gardening hat, whatever - the problem comes in because
members don't understand the difference between a piece of field gear and something meant for wear during normal duty, in formation etc.  This is why we have cadets showing up with plates carriers to encampment, wearing their pancakes during GT missions, etc., etc.

Boonies look dumb, serve little purpose the way CAP members would need them, and are just another affectation of watching Vietnam movies, but whatever.  Be different, then wonder why we have cohesion and appearance issues.

I agree the boonie hats don't look too swift but they do offer some sunburn protection.

[PHall]

When the planes are around, stow your cap, when they are gone, which will, in most circumstances be the entire day (except for airshows, etc.), put it back on.

If you want to wear your grandmother's gardening hat, whatever - the problem comes in because
members don't understand the difference between a piece of field gear and something meant for wear during normal duty, in formation etc.  This is why we have cadets showing up with plates carriers to encampment, wearing their pancakes during GT missions, etc., etc.

Boonies look dumb, serve little purpose the way CAP members would need them, and are just another affectation of watching Vietnam movies, but whatever.  Be different, then wonder why we have cohesion and appearance issues.

I agree the boonie hats don't look too swift but they do offer some sunburn protection.

So does a knit cap. Wanna wear one of those in the summer?

[Garibaldi]

When the planes are around, stow your cap, when they are gone, which will, in most circumstances be the entire day (except for airshows, etc.), put it back on.

If you want to wear your grandmother's gardening hat, whatever - the problem comes in because
members don't understand the difference between a piece of field gear and something meant for wear during normal duty, in formation etc.  This is why we have cadets showing up with plates carriers to encampment, wearing their pancakes during GT missions, etc., etc.

Boonies look dumb, serve little purpose the way CAP members would need them, and are just another affectation of watching Vietnam movies, but whatever.  Be different, then wonder why we have cohesion and appearance issues.

I agree the boonie hats don't look too swift but they do offer some sunburn protection.

And a little rain protection. I have one I use in the field when we train. I also have a white hard hat, a pseudo-Kevlar and goggles. Yes, it may seem tac-ti-kewl, but I go with what works. I don't get questioned about what I wear when I produce results. And no, I don't wear them outside of unit training.

[Hawk200]

Boonies look dumb, serve little purpose the way CAP members would need them, and are just another affectation of watching Vietnam movies, but whatever.  Be different, then wonder why we have cohesion and appearance issues.

I used to hate boonies. Didn't see the point, they were stupid looking, didn't seem like they would do anything more than a PC(patrol cap) and sunscreen. Never bothered with them, wasn't gonna pay any money for them, and if I did have to have one as part of a uniform issue, I wouldn't wear it.

Then I mobilized. Had pre-mob at Sill. I was issued a boonie, but it stayed in my locker. Wore my PC when it was allowed, tried sunscreen when I couldn't wear the hat. Didn't get the right sunscreen for me, was burned within three days. Commander saw me with my sunburn, asked why I didn't wear my boonie, it was authorized on the flightline as long as the strap was under my chin. Said I didn't particularly care for the boonie, thought it looked stupid. He said that he didn't want to see me at medical with severe sunburn; a boonie was a lot easier than sunscreen, told me to wear it the next day, asked me if I understood. Said "Yes, sir. Will wear it tomorrow." He said alright, left me to my work.

The next day, I wore it. Didn't have much more sunscreen, used it on my arms and wore the boonie. Sunburn felt better. Even better the next day. Still thought it looked stupid, but it was a lot easier than putting sunscreen on my head, and it seemed to work. Continued wearing it on the flightline (as ordered,) and really started to appreciate it.

It really showed how effective it was when I got to the sandbox. No muss, no fuss. Was even handy when it was raining. We were allowed to wear it with PT's during the day, so I did that too. Bought three more of them, because I wasn't gonna give one up for the three days it took for it to come back from laundry. The next time I wore a PC was when we were ordered to do so, since we were going home soon. I wore the PC in formation, but put the boonie back on after.

A couple of years ago, there was something about allowing them for CAP GT's, but it had to be orange. Personally, I wouldn't have cared about the color. I'd wear it when it was legal to do so. Boonies are handy. To some they're an affectation, and that's the wrong reason to wear it. If you're doing it for the reason it was made, you're good.

However, if it hasn't been authorized for us, it's not authorized. Period. Until it is, we need to dismiss the thought, and get back on the job.

[abdsp51]

I wore a boonie for all of my deployments when I was allowed.  Kept the sun off of me and felt much better than the PC ever did.  It has its functionality and purpose but currently is not authorized and we can go back and forth about hats being allowed on a flt line till the cows come home.  Hell even working a flt line as a cop when I was conducting business I wore it when I wasn't it was off.  At the end of the day its whomever's call as to what is allowed or not on the ramp. If the OP is worried about a sun burn use sunscreen, where what you are told to or stay inside.

[SarDragon]

When the planes are around, stow your cap, when they are gone, which will, in most circumstances be the entire day (except for airshows, etc.), put it back on.

If you want to wear your grandmother's gardening hat, whatever - the problem comes in because
members don't understand the difference between a piece of field gear and something meant for wear during normal duty, in formation etc.  This is why we have cadets showing up with plates carriers to encampment, wearing their pancakes during GT missions, etc., etc.

Boonies look dumb, serve little purpose the way CAP members would need them, and are just another affectation of watching Vietnam movies, but whatever.  Be different, then wonder why we have cohesion and appearance issues.

I agree the boonie hats don't look too swift but they do offer some sunburn protection.

I gotta disagree. I wore one outside last weekend at a civilian gig, and all the hat did was give me a goofier than usual sunburn. My forehead was mostly saved, but my ears and neck still took a hit. This was in a grassy area, so ground reflection was not a factor.

[Hawk200]

When the planes are around, stow your cap, when they are gone, which will, in most circumstances be the entire day (except for airshows, etc.), put it back on.

If you want to wear your grandmother's gardening hat, whatever - the problem comes in because
members don't understand the difference between a piece of field gear and something meant for wear during normal duty, in formation etc.  This is why we have cadets showing up with plates carriers to encampment, wearing their pancakes during GT missions, etc., etc.

Boonies look dumb, serve little purpose the way CAP members would need them, and are just another affectation of watching Vietnam movies, but whatever.  Be different, then wonder why we have cohesion and appearance issues.

I agree the boonie hats don't look too swift but they do offer some sunburn protection.

I gotta disagree. I wore one outside last weekend at a civilian gig, and all the hat did was give me a goofier than usual sunburn. My forehead was mostly saved, but my ears and neck still took a hit. This was in a grassy area, so ground reflection was not a factor.

So you're one of those that wears the sides up in that "fashionable" look, and suffered the consequences. Wear it right next time, you won't have to worry about your ears. Neck should have been OK if the brim was properly sized.

[AngelWings]

What Hawk200 said. They're only practical when worn correctly.

[Eclipse]

14 some years teaching motorcycle safety, just wearing regular baseball caps.  It's usually 80+ in direct sun with black asphalt
below you.

Never had an issue with sunburned ears, a little sunscreen goes a long way.

I've had those Laurence of Arabia style hats with a neck flap, and a separate neck flap for any hat.  Just makes
my neck hotter.

[SarDragon]

No sides up. It's a standard green tag boonie hat. Not sure how I could wear it wrong.

[Mitchell 1969]

At NBB, we wore our regular Patrol Caps, on the flightline.

I'm just saying, if his IC tells him to take hat/cap/boonie on the flight line, he does it.

Actually, it's the "owner" of said flightline that determines if hats are worn on the flightline or not.
The IC can say whatever they want, but if the Airport Manager says no hats then that's it, no hats.

I wish I had a dollar for every hat/cap that will be worn on flight line, ramps and gate areas at LAX today.

That's because the Airport Manager at LAX allows hats to be worn on "their" flightline.  This seems to be the norm at most large airports.

Actually, I'd be shocked if any of the airport managers I have known at LAX over the last 30+ years ever gave the subject even 5 seconds worth of thought or made any decisions about it whatsoever. It was simply never an issue.

You really like irrelevant and inconsequential points, don't you?

Admittedly, not relevant to the OP.  But relevant to the thread segue re: hats/caps on flight lines. Over the years, I have encountered lectures, shrieks, condescending pronouncements and [darn] near been called a heretic because I've questioned the "it's in the regulations" or "safety rules require" sacrosanct dogma of  "no covers (sic) on the flight line!"   So, I am glad for the opportunity to reinforce the idea that there really is no "one size fits all" rule.  It all depends on WHICH flight line, WHOSE flight line, WHAT type of aircraft and aircraft movements, WHERE and WHEN.

[Critical AOA]

In my 30+ years of aviation maintenance, I have worn hats on military flight lines, GA flight lines and on large commercial airports such as LAX, SFO, ORD & IND.  I have worn them around everything from Cessna 150s to Boeing 747s as well as a variety of Army and civilian helicopters.  I have never had a hat create an issue. It all comes down to situational awareness, i.e. knowing when to stow it.  If you don't have the sense, stay on the other side of the fence.

[Pingree1492]

I LOVED my boonie hat during deployment.  It was one of the two hats allowed on the flight line (the other was the fleece cap during the winter).  I always stayed markedly cooler with the hat on, and it stayed on my head even when I walked in and out of the rotor disk on a UH-60 Blackhawk.  I see no reason why they couldn't be worn safely on GA flightlines.  I may end up investing in the BBDU after I ETS just to be able to wear the boonie again.  Especially if CAP does end up adopting the ABU's. 

[Blackhawk]

I LOVED my boonie hat during deployment.  It was one of the two hats allowed on the flight line (the other was the fleece cap during the winter).  I always stayed markedly cooler with the hat on, and it stayed on my head even when I walked in and out of the rotor disk on a UH-60 Blackhawk.  I see no reason why they couldn't be worn safely on GA flightlines.  I may end up investing in the BBDU after I ETS just to be able to wear the boonie again.  Especially if CAP does end up adopting the ABU's.

:clap:

Agreed, Boonie is the bomb! Saved me during deployments!

[AlphaSigOU]

Because the Air Force, who controls our uniforms said in absolutely clear terms: No!!!

Needs to be emphasized...

No!

[RogueLeader]

Because the Air Force, who controls our uniforms said in absolutely clear terms: No!!!

Needs to be emphasized...

No!

You mean like this?

NO!!!!!

[Panache]

Because the Air Force, who controls our uniforms said in absolutely clear terms: No!!!

Needs to be emphasized...

No!

You mean like this?

NO!!!!!

I'm not quite sure what you're trying to say here.  Can you please clarify?

[C/Awesomenesss]

Because the Air Force, who controls our uniforms said in absolutely clear terms: No!!!

Needs to be emphasized...

No!

You mean like this?

NO!!!!!

I'm not quite sure what you're trying to say here.  Can you please clarify?

Yes, if I may,


NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Im done

[RogueLeader]

Because the Air Force, who controls our uniforms said in absolutely clear terms: No!!!

Needs to be emphasized...

No!

You mean like this?

NO!!!!!

I'm not quite sure what you're trying to say here.  Can you please clarify?

no.   Linky