Boonie Cap

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So does anyone know what the regulation is as far as the boonie cap?  I saw that it was approved.  Or is there nothing specific saying how and where yet?  Or are we currently awaiting AF approval?

[mikeylikey]

ehhh.....

Wait for the Change Letter.  I am sure AF also still has yet to approve. 

I predict the Boonie will take the place in most SQD's as the preferred form of headgear within 1 year of it's approval.  Unless the Boonie is mandated by AF to be bright pink, I seriously doubt Commanders will restrict it just to outdoor activities in the sun.

Do you need some SPF 45, cause that stuff works just as well as a Boonie!

[RickFranz]

I asked our Wing Commander about that, he stated that it was only for wear for long periods in the sun, like flightline, gliders etc...  Not for everyday wear.

[mikeylikey]

^ Hats are allowed on the flightline?  Where my CAP planes are based, the Army Airfield guys said we can not wear anything to include cadet's rank insignia.  So basically, everything has to be stripped off the uniform.

[davidsinn]

If I see one person wear that thing on my flight line I will toss them off for the rest of the mission. I will not have FOD on my line.

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There is a way you can wear covers on the flight line if a higher authority hasn't banned them.  If you have some way to secure it to you or your uniform.  I know a Flight Line Supervisor who has hooks that can be used when on the Flight Line.  And with the Boonie Cap if you have the chin strap hold the hat down on your head.

[davidsinn]

There is a way you can wear covers on the flight line if a higher authority hasn't banned them. 

I'm that higher authority ;-)(FLS) I only allow stocking caps in the winter. I encourage orange ones(so much more visible) but black over BDU and black or navy over BBDU is acceptable. In the summer you wear sunglasses and sunscreen.

[davedove]

Do you need some SPF 45, cause that stuff works just as well as a Boonie!

I keep seeing this argument and it's not without merit.  But even better than either the boonie cap or the sunscreen is both used together.

[chiles]

Do you need some SPF 45, cause that stuff works just as well as a Boonie!

I keep seeing this argument and it's not without merit.  But even better than either the boonie cap or the sunscreen is both used together.

Agreed. From a health point, I'm always for doubling up on protection when feasible and safe (e.g. not on a flight line). I'd also like to point out that sunscreen doesn't help a whole lot when it comes to keeping rain out of your eyes. Yes, you can get sunburns even when it's extremely cloudy. Yes, even in the winter.

[jimmydeanno]

Maybe we should just wear balaclavas all year, with sunglasses.  Keep you warm in the winter and keep the sun off your entire head...

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It would make us stand-out on a multiagency exercise. 

[BigMojo]

Agreed. From a health point, I'm always for doubling up on protection when feasible and safe (e.g. not on a flight line). I'd also like to point out that sunscreen doesn't help a whole lot when it comes to keeping rain out of your eyes. Yes, you can get sunburns even when it's extremely cloudy. Yes, even in the winter.

And as someone who has had melanomas as well as another form of cancer, I'm all for anything that can be done in terms of additional protection from the sun and cancer...it's especially needed here in S. Florida.

[davedove]

Maybe we should just wear balaclavas all year, with sunglasses.  Keep you warm in the winter and keep the sun off your entire head...

Yeah, but they should be blaze orange for safety reasons.

[lordmonar]

There is a way you can wear covers on the flight line if a higher authority hasn't banned them. 

I'm that higher authority ;-)(FLS) I only allow stocking caps in the winter. I encourage orange ones(so much more visible) but black over BDU and black or navy over BBDU is acceptable. In the summer you wear sunglasses and sunscreen.

Nothing like reading your training material.  In the FLM training it says to wear a hat....even suggests a boonie hat.

[_]

Speaking from experience working 3.5 years as a lineman for Signature Flight Support, we pretty much always wore hats on the flightline.  Sunscreen doesn't cut it when you're out there all day and a hat helps protect your from any sand, gravel and exhaust blown around.  Making sure the hat fits is vitally important.  The uniform hat I was issued was very shallow and blew off my head one time.  After that I got a hat that fit and never had a problem again.  If it's too windy you take it off but otherwise wearing a correctly fitting hat is very useful.  I never saw a case where a hat became FOD (I heard of one case involving a Southwest 737's APU intake and an employee being stupid but not anything on GA side).  The propellers on GA aircraft don't have enough sucking power to pull your hat off your head, trust me, I've been close enough to some props to be an authority on the subject.  The same goes for jet engines on GA aircraft again I know this for the same reason.  The main threat to a hat is wind as as I said before you just need to be smart about that and pull the hat off when it gets too windy.

[LtCol Hooligan]

I remember, WIWAC, that I thought Bonnies and even berets were so cool.  Now though, I don't like it.  I concur with wearing them in the field for keeping sun off faces and ears, but not at other times.  Especially around military installations.  I believe it is unprofessional and only the softcap or a well designed baseball cap should be worn.  Professional appearances are very important and I think we would not appear too professional in the eyes of the military if they saw our cadets running around in boonies like they were Rambo or something.  Honestly, I wish they would not have approved them.  Also- no to wearing them on the flight line.  Wear sunscreen.

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Any idea when we'll see something in writing about this? 

[Eclipse]

I predict the Boonie will take the place in most SQD's as the preferred form of headgear within 1 year of it's approval....I seriously doubt Commanders will restrict it just to outdoor activities in the sun.

I can tell you for sure that many unit CC's will be restricting it to ES field operations or prohibiting it altogether.
In fact I'll be lobbying my Wing CC to do just that on a wing level.

It has absolute no place in quarters, formation, or any place else but summer field work, (any more than a beret belongs in the field).

[davidsinn]

There is a way you can wear covers on the flight line if a higher authority hasn't banned them. 

I'm that higher authority ;-)(FLS) I only allow stocking caps in the winter. I encourage orange ones(so much more visible) but black over BDU and black or navy over BBDU is acceptable. In the summer you wear sunglasses and sunscreen.

Nothing like reading your training material.  In the FLM training it says to wear a hat....even suggests a boonie hat.

And in another part of the same manual it says only if clipped to the collar.

[mikeylikey]

I predict the Boonie will take the place in most SQD's as the preferred form of headgear within 1 year of it's approval....I seriously doubt Commanders will restrict it just to outdoor activities in the sun.

I can tell you for sure that many unit CC's will be restricting it to ES field operations or prohibiting it altogether.
In fact I'll be lobbying my Wing CC to do just that on a wing level.

It has absolute no place in quarters, formation, or any place else but summer field work, (any more than a beret belongs in the field).

Sounds like a great plan.  But how long until everyone is required to bring a Boonie to ENC?  How long before it becomes the standard headgear for flight opps in sunny locals.

It seems we all got along with it just fine for so long, it is just one more item to make people feel better about themselves.

If we do get one, I pray it is bright orange!  Maybe that will curb the "I want to look like GI JOE mentality".