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Fashion
Army Stetson Hat: Facts, Regulations, History & Ordering
08
Sep
Sep
today, I ’ d like to take a few minutes and educate you about the Army Stetson hat. There ’ s nothing quite like the Army Stetson hat. It very stands out and capture people ’ s attention, particularly compared to the unattractive beret. While I never served as an armor policeman, or in a cavalry unit, during my 15+ years in the Army, it would have been an respect to do so. The purpose of this article is to plowshare the information I ’ ve compiled on-line about the Army Stetson hat. Keep in judgment, there are a batch of things I don ’ t know about it deoxyadenosine monophosphate well. A lot of the information about it is close and varies from whole to unit. At the end of this post, I would appreciate any input you might have about it.
The History of the Army Stetson Hat
The Army Stetson hat has a hanker and gallant tradition in the Army .
The Cavalry fedora was the headgear typical of cavalrymen during the late eighteenth hundred into the nineteenth century, including the indian Wars and the Civil War. Before John B. Stetson, for whom the hat is named, introduced the Boss of the Plains hat in 1865, troopers wore hats in a like stylus, but cursorily adopted the Boss of the Plains as an unofficial standard. source .
The Details of the Army Stetson Hat
The primary function of the hat is to promote esprit de corporation among the cavalry troopers, like to how soldiers serving in airborne units get to wear the maroon beret. What ’ randomness on the hat ? Who gets to wear it ? What is it all about ? If you ’ re wondering about the answers to any of those questions, here is what I found on the official 1st Cavalry Division web site .
The “ Cav Hat ” is a standard black Cavalry hat, Stetson or early appropriate brand, with a 3 inch brim and a black leather kuki strap. The chin strap is fastened to the hat cord and goes through the brim. The chin strap is worn behind the wearer ’ s capitulum unless mounted. When mounted the chinstrap may be worn under the chin to maintain the hat ’ south position on your head and keep it from falling off. If your “ Cav Hat ” does not have a chin flog, it is barely a black hat normally referred to as a “ cowboy hat ”. Hat cords are wear and represent the rank of the wearer. general officers wear solid gold cords, field and party grade officers wear black and amber hat cords, warrant officers wear black and silver hat cords and enlisted Troopers wear Cavalry yellow hat cords. The hat cords should be adjusted therefore that the acorn on the ends of the cord comes to the edge of the brim. Cords may be knotted if the wearer wishes. While many refer to the knots in the cords as “ battle knots ” there is no documentation available to support this estimate. The Division MOI prohibits any other character of hat cords for those Troopers presently on active voice duty with the 1st Cavalry Division. normally the ramify insignia of the Cavalry, crossed sabers, are worn on the movement along with the rank of the wearer. The rank is worn above the branch insignia evenly spaced. Both are centered on the front of the hat. regular sized Distinctive Unit Insignia ( DUI ), normally referred to as unit crests, or miniatures of your unit of measurement are traditionally put on the second of the “ Cav Hat ”. extra items like a CIB or CMB may besides be placed on the “ Cav Hat ” along with reunion pins or other items if you are a Veteran. Some of the “ Cav Hats ” worn by our Veterans are festooned with numerous pins, miniature medals and other items. Active Duty Troopers assigned to the First Team must follow the guidelines of the MOI .
Who Can Wear an Army Stetson Hat?
This seems to be the million dollar wonder. The Army Stetson hat is not an authoritative headgear in the Army, as per AR 670-1, but cavalry units are allowed to wear these hats at the discretion of the unit air force officer ( normally squadron level ). Basically, the tire of these hats is considered a custom among cavalry units. After doing some research on-line, here ’ s what others were saying .
The fedora international relations and security network ’ deoxythymidine monophosphate truly earned. It is normally accepted that if you belong to a cavalry unit that you can normally wear the fedora with your appropriately colored acorns. What is earned are your battle knots on the acorn r-2. besides, spurs are earned via deployments with the Cav or Spur Rides. Source .
and…
You will wear the Stetson entirely when assigned to a Cavalry whole, which includes Cavalry Squadrons within all BCT formations, Cavalry Regiments, and the 1st Cavalry Division. There are two types of Spurs, Silver and Gold. Silver Spurs are earned by completion of a Spur Ride event with your unit, and Gold Spurs are earned as “ Combat Spurs ” by completing a deployment with a Cavalry Organization. Source.
They are all unofficial awards, and are governed by local policies and not by Army Regulations .
When is it Worn & Who Can Wear One?
Troopers in Cavalry units wear their Army Stetson hat in home of their patrol capital or beret. It is normally tire during official functions, such as ceremonies, parades, dining ins and dining outs. Traditional, Army authorized headdress is normally wear during daily operations. The hat must be earned, normally at a Spur Ride. During the spur ride, troopers can earn their Stetson and spurs by completing a series of genial, physical and leadership tests. Each Cavalry Squadron does their own Spur Ride, and has their own customs and procedures for earning the hat. From the research I found on-line, anyone can earn a Stetson hat, a long as they are assigned to a Cavalry unit. In other words, you don ’ t have to be a scout or tanker. The Supply Sergeant, maintenance personnel and presidency folks besides qualify for it a good, once they complete a spur ride or serve with the unit in battle. Each Stetson hat will have different colors ( cords ) based upon the Soldier ’ s MOS or Branch. They are largely worn by elder NCOs and officers, but junior enlisted can wear them excessively. Commanders in cavalry units can use their discretion as to when their soldiers can wear their Stetson. enlist soldiers wear a yellow hat cord, Warrant Officers wear a flatware or bootleg cord and commissioned officers wear a gold and black cord. Soldiers wear crossbreed sabers on the front along with their rank insignia ( aviators wear their wings ) and on the back, soldiers can have their airborne, publicize assault or other relate pins. What accessories go on the Stetson, and how they are wear, varies greatly by unit .
Where Can You Buy One?
When you search on-line, these hats cost anywhere from $ 150 to $ 300, plus extra money for the accessories that go with it. Places to buy your Army Stetson hat include :
- Clothing and Sales (on the base)
- Amazon
- eBay
- Order Online
Questions About the Army Stetson Hat
What you read above is what I found out on-line about the Army Stetson hats. There ’ mho still a set of information I don ’ thymine know about them. hera are some questions I don ’ thymine know the answers to :
- Can any trooper participate in the Spur Ride?
- Do troopers have to participate in the Spur Ride, if for some reason they don’t want to?
- Once you’ve earned the Stetson hat, can you still wear it when you are no longer assigned to a Cavalry unit?
- Which types of Cavalry units are eligible for it? For example, could a Reconnaissance Troop in an Infantry Brigade wear a Stetson hat?
- Can Stryker Units wear them?
Any information that you know and could plowshare with our web site visitors would be very helpful .
Final Thoughts
The bottom line is that Army Stetson hats have a proud custom in the U.S. Army. Although I never got the experience to serve in a Cavalry unit myself, I can ’ metric ton think of anything more excite than earning the properly to wear one of these hats. What are your thoughts ? Do you have any information you can share with our readers ? Leave a comment below to let us know what you think. I look fore to hearing from you.
If you ’ re looking to holy order a Stetson Hat, like the one you see above, you can do so here on Amazon.
