what's with the boonie hats?

[RiverAux]

Kind of late in the day to inform SWR public affairs isn't it?  The newsletter has been out for a while.  Too late to change anything other than for historical purposes.  They are not going to have any ability to correct the actual problem -- the wearing of the hats.  Have you also contacted the appropriate Wing commanders? 

[Major Carrales]

Kind of late in the day to inform SWR public affairs isn't it?  The newsletter has been out for a while.  Too late to change anything other than for historical purposes.  They are not going to have any ability to correct the actual problem -- the wearing of the hats.  Have you also contacted the appropriate Wing commanders?

Your "cheeky" comments aside, rest assured action is being taken.

Perhaps you do not understand the term "mitigation?"  It means to correct policies and procedures to prevent things like this from happening in the future.

That is what, after years of analysis, CAPTALK lacks...its lacks follow up.  A topic is raised, it is talked about, then it falls to new topics in a cycle that is repeated ad infinitum.  I think I am going to have to push for more "follow up."  Maybe that way these practices will be corrected and the "back room snickering" will slowly disappear.

[a2capt]

"Where's the ground team at?"

... out in the boonies, sir.

"What, who said they could wear those things?!!"

[lordmonar]

That is what, after years of analysis, CAPTALK lacks...its lacks follow up.  A topic is raised, it is talked about, then it falls to new topics in a cycle that is repeated ad infinitum.  I think I am going to have to push for more "follow up."  Maybe that way these practices will be corrected and the "back room snickering" will slowly disappear.

It took you "years" to figure that out?  It's in the blood name for FSM' sake!

[Cool Mace]

Just so everyone knows.. .Since you keep bringing up Ma blue. The guy wearing it is a Capt. in the Air Force. He knows the regs, trust me on that. But, if you read the story(I'm sure you did) then you would have read about how hot it was out there. The hat helps keep him cool. When it comes to safety, I say forget regs, do what you have to do to keep yourself going and be safe. I'm not a safety king by any means, but it was hot out there that weekend. He was smart and was ready for it. So if someone really wants to get mad at him for it, I'll give you his E-Mail and you can talk to him yourself. Unless you just want to bash him on here cuz that's what people do best here. All talk.....

[Майор Хаткевич]

If it was that bad out there, maybe the activity should have been canceled.

[Cool Mace]

I don't think so. You can train and be safe at the same time. Ever heard of water? There are steps you can take to stay cooled off, and that's what he did.

[arajca]

A few years ago, CAP pulled the safety card to authorize boonies. The AF said nice try, but no. Therefore, claiming "safety" to violate the regs doesn't work in this case. If you want to wear the boonie, wear the field uniform (aka bbdus). Want to wear the woodland camo, don't wear the boonie.

[Hawk200]

A few years ago, CAP pulled the safety card to authorize boonies. The AF said nice try, but no. Therefore, claiming "safety" to violate the regs doesn't work in this case. If you want to wear the boonie, wear the field uniform (aka bbdus). Want to wear the woodland camo, don't wear the boonie.

I remember that. There was also talk of attempting to get an orange boonie authorized. Not sure where anyone would get such a thing, but I would have been game. Who cares what color it is if it works?

[Cool Mace]

A few years ago, CAP pulled the safety card to authorize boonies. The AF said nice try, but no. Therefore, claiming "safety" to violate the regs doesn't work in this case. If you want to wear the boonie, wear the field uniform (aka bbdus). Want to wear the woodland camo, don't wear the boonie.

Ok, then if you want, I'll PM you his E-Mail. Why not go straight to the "problem" then to sit here and do nothing but bash him? I for one won't get on to someone for something as small as this, and I'm a uniform "reg whore" as some would say. But not in this case. I would let cadets and SRs go with it. Like I said before, he's a Capt. in the Air Force, and I'm pretty sure he knows the regs.

[Майор Хаткевич]

Like I said before, he's a Capt. in the Air Force, and I'm pretty sure he knows the regs.

Why? Just because someone is in the RM, they know CAP regulations? Maybe I should do OCS then.

What would it say about his integrity as a CAP and an AF officer if he knows the regulations, but ignores them anyway?

Besides, please show me where anyone is bashing this AF Captain. I didn't see a single reference where someone said Capt Bagodonuts is a dirtbag for breaking the regs.

[SarDragon]

Being any specific rank/grade is no guarantee whatsoever that someone knows the regs. I know many senior officers and NCOs from AD and CAP that were more ignorant than they should have been about important regs. The most frequent "reason" was, "I didn't realize that had changed?"

[Майор Хаткевич]

Honestly, I'd be more concerned about the cadet on Page 4, with a Level One Ribbon next to his Mitchell Award.  <_<

[SarDragon]

Also, two of the cadets on Pg 4 are not wearing US cutouts and the third is. Which is correct?

[ßτε]

Also, two of the cadets on Pg 4 are not wearing US cutouts and the third is. Which is correct?

None are correct. They should all be wearing CAP cutouts on the lapels.

[jeders]

Honestly, I'd be more concerned about the cadet on Page 4, with a Level One Ribbon next to his Mitchell Award.  <_<

If you look closely, I think the one on the left also has a Membership Ribbon.

[Phil Hirons, Jr.]

A few years ago, CAP pulled the safety card to authorize boonies. The AF said nice try, but no. Therefore, claiming "safety" to violate the regs doesn't work in this case. If you want to wear the boonie, wear the field uniform (aka bbdus). Want to wear the woodland camo, don't wear the boonie.

I remember that. There was also talk of attempting to get an orange boonie authorized. Not sure where anyone would get such a thing, but I would have been game. Who cares what color it is if it works?

http://www.vtarmynavy.com/blaze-orange-boonie-hat.htm

http://www.tasco-safety.com/hhats/hhats07.html#61587?ezppc=froogle (with reflective band, UGLY)

http://www.e4hats.com/_e/Boonie_Hat/product/sb90551ch-Neon-Orange/Boonie_Hats_Neon_Orange.htm

just the first few results from Google = orange boonie hat

[Майор Хаткевич]

Wow, can't believe I missed that. Left and center are missing "CAP" cutouts, while cadet on the left has "US" cutouts. The cadet on the left seems to have a Life Saving Ribbon?

Or HLS

Or it is also a Membership Ribbon

Or Spaatz?


That's the only thing I can think of that would look like that.

Also don't know what that cord is for, maybe it's wing level authorized, but it is worn incorrectly. The irony is, the middle cadet wrote this article which was below the picture:

The Uniform Within
TYLER, Texas -- Often we are judged by what someone else sees on our outside, since first
impressions are always lasting. But it is not what we look like on the outside that makes us who
we are. Rather than how we dress or our grooming standards, it is what we have inside that
counts. For Civil Air Patrol members, it is the uniform within that largely defines our character and
makes us who we are. Although much can be judged by a person's outward uniform – ribbons,
insignia, accoutrements and specialty badges – only the reason within that earned them makes
them a reflection of who we are.
As Civil Air Patrol members, it is our duty to make sure that our uniform within is spotless. As
we uphold the core values we must be morally and ethically sound inside and out, otherwise we
would be hypocritical. Sometimes people wear their uniform for the glory and recognition, but fail
to fulfill their mission within – in their heart. We must remember that the awards and decorations
will come as a result of our having fulfilled our mission. If our eyes are set only on glory, then we
are sure to fail; we can only succeed when our full attention is focused on the task at hand.
Elbert Hubbard (1856-1915) said this about character, "Many a man's reputation would not
know his character if they were to meet on the street." What he's saying is that our reputation is
not always our character. Character is what lies inside; it is our core values, the rules we live by,
but not necessarily what others see in us all the time. Our uniform within is the truth of who we
are; it is impossible to cover it up all the time, or make it look like something it is not.
In Civil Air Patrol, we are given the core values – Integrity, Respect, Excellence, and Volunteer
service. Whenever one of us has had a problem or issue, most of the time it has been caused by
that person's failing to uphold the core values. We can all fall short or make mistakes, but the
worst pit-fall is trying to separate our uniform within from Civil Air Patrol.
Should we uphold the core values only when we are in uniform, at some point this flaw will
reveal itself in some way. For a while, it might be possible to get away with living that way, but the
time will come when success will be knocking at our door, and only those whose uniform within
matches their outward self will be chosen.

Again, not ripping on the cadets, but a picture like that should not have passed PAO screening and Cadet Officers, C/1st Lts all three, should know better.

[Hawk200]

.....

just the first few results from Google = orange boonie hat

Didn't think anyone made such a thing, so I never thought to search for it. May pick one up. Could come in handy.

[NIN]

Might I suggest an opportunity to take a step back and look at the larger picture of what causes these things?

When I see uniform items incorrect, its easy to point at the individual and say stuff like "Oh yea, look at how jacked up C/A1C Timmy is.."   Thats standard.

But whats the larger issue?

Leadership.

Knowledge.

Consistency.

Professional Knowledge.

Not C/A1C Timmy's leadership, knowledge, consistency & professional knowledge.

No. 

His C/SSgt element leader.  His C/MSgt flight sergeant.  His C/1Lt cadet commander.  His 1Lt Deputy for Cadets and his Maj squadron commander.

THEIR leadership, knowledge, consistency & professional knowledge.

If they can't get the simple stuff right, the things that are printed in the book with pretty pictures, even, how can they be expected to lead people thru the other, perhaps more critical, aspects of the program?