Do I have to wear the hat and spurs for Cavalry Scout?

2018-09-23T15:25:09-04:00

I recently joined the army and I got cavalry scout even though I wanted Infantry. Is it mandatory to wear the hat and spurs?

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 23 at 2018 3:46 PM

2018-09-23T15:46:59-04:00

What?

Response by SGT Michael Thorin made Sep 23 at 2018 4:06 PM

2018-09-23T16:06:36-04:00

I found this thread that may be a good source of info, with several senior NCO’s speaking from experience and regulations.

Here is the comment in regards to some helpful info. I’ll keep digging, but these may hold the answer for you. I hope this helps. All of my friends, I hope you will join in with your advice on PVT Private RallyPoint Member’s dilemma.

COL Mikel J. Burroughs,SPC Douglas Bolton,Brig Gen Jim Jaeger,CPT Jack Durish,Maj Marty Hogan,SPC Christopher Smith,Lt Col Charlie Brown,Cpl Scott McCarroll,SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth,SP5 Mark Kuzinski,PVT Mark Brown,SGT Elizabeth Scheck,PFC Jacob Wrubel,MSgt Ken "Airsoldier" Collins-Hardy,SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL,SSG William Jones

https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/cav-stetson-wear

Cav Stetson wear | RallyPoint

I have a buddy that is Army Guard, in an AGR position. He is one of the Admin guys (used to be PAC office, now, not sure what they call it!). He just saw the pricetag on them $250!! He is hoping that the unit does not make him get one... so, the questions I have: 1. Do you have to be MOSQ CAV to wear the Stetson or just assigned to the unit? 2. Are they optional or can a unit direct the purchase of one? (ok, I understand that this could be...

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 23 at 2018 4:53 PM

2018-09-23T16:53:47-04:00

You have to earn those spurs through a spur ride.

Response by TSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 23 at 2018 7:22 PM

2018-09-23T19:22:04-04:00

Here's the question you should really be asking yourself: Do you want to be accepted by your unit or do you plan to go it alone? The reason for the Stetson and spurs, the process to earn them, is not to look good, but to develop Esprit de Corps within your unit.

I don't know the Army's position on mandated wear of option items at the unit level, but I do remember from my active duty days, if the commander mandated an optional wear item, he had to expend unit funds to acquire it for us. When you get to your unit, ask your sergeant these questions as he'll be the one who can best answer your question.

Response by PVT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 23 at 2018 9:02 PM

2018-09-23T21:02:01-04:00

I haven’t been to basic yet so I can’t answer that

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 23 at 2018 10:13 PM

2018-09-23T22:13:44-04:00

Worry FIRST about learning and perfecting your new craft. Learn the job then you EARN the right to wear the tradition.

Response by SPC Douglas Bolton made Sep 24 at 2018 11:40 AM

2018-09-24T11:40:52-04:00

PVT Private RallyPoint Member Actually I really like seeing soldiers with those Hats on. Wear it with pride. You are a special group of soldiers everyone admires.

Response by PFC Timothy Ahern made Sep 24 at 2018 3:39 PM

2018-09-24T15:39:03-04:00

You have to earn the right to wear the spurs but if your command wears Stetson's then you will and be proud to wear them after all it is an HONOR

Response by SGM Bill Frazer made Sep 24 at 2018 11:33 PM

2018-09-24T23:33:30-04:00

1. YOU have to EARN those symbols, they are not given out. 2. It is part of your MOS history for over 150 yrs. SUCK it UP

Response by SPC Jeffrey Evetts made Sep 25 at 2018 10:51 PM

2018-09-25T22:51:43-04:00

As far as “have to” no one can make you because it’s not an official uniform item however. If you earn your spurs gold (combat) or silver (spur ride) you earned it and your a fool if you don’t. The spur ride is the Cav version of the EIB and takes heart. I couldn’t get my silver because we didn’t have enough spur holders for my units ride. I had gold so I was on a station. It’s also a part of Cavalry history and only cav gets gold acorns everyone else gets red and as far as I remember only Cav can get gold (combat) spurs awarded.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 27 at 2018 4:21 PM

2018-09-27T16:21:20-04:00

. . . . Ask your first line supervisor.
I would say that if the Commander, Sergeant Major or First Sergeant specifies that to be the uniform of the day, or for a specific during duty hours activity, you may end up being "lighter in the wallet" come next pay day if you failed to show up wearing the hat and spurs.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 10 at 2018 8:01 AM

2018-10-10T08:01:54-04:00

No it is not a requirement. Its up to the commander on when he allows you to were it. To earn your spurs you habe to go threw a series of tasks and scoutt knowledge and phyical fitness to ewrn them. Be a 19 delta is awsome

Response by SPC Kendall Metcalf made Oct 11 at 2018 10:04 AM

2018-10-11T10:04:09-04:00

PVT Chandler. I can say that holding both Sliver and Gold Spurs is not a right. They are earned. They day you Earn your Sliver Spurs is the day you became a true Cavalry Men. When you Earn your Gold Spurs, you have been baptized in Combat. You gain A sense of pride and respect from your peers. You are also held to a new and different Standard. The Stetson is a reminder of our deep history. The Army as a whole kinda treats the Cav like a RedHeaded step child and talks crap on, but in the end the Cavalry comes to the Rescue. You wanted 11B but got 19D, You’ll be grateful for this latter on in your Military career.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 11 at 2018 12:07 PM

2018-10-11T12:07:56-04:00

If you decide in the future that you still do not want to be calorie, and you want to be Infantry, go to Ranger school. Once you got your tab, it is a very simple process to reclass in to Infantry.

Response by CPL Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 22 at 2018 4:59 PM

2018-10-22T16:59:38-04:00

It is not mandatory and you can only buy the hat (Stetson) you earn the Spurs through deployment and/ a spur ride it’s a tradition so be proud to have it I got both and no they are not mandatory but your unit will give you some grief if everyone else has a Stetson and you just have the beret

Response by PFC Eric Bast made Oct 28 at 2018 10:19 AM

2018-10-28T10:19:46-04:00

Nope , you get to wear them. You chose this job, nobody held a gun to your head and made you do it.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 4 at 2018 12:43 AM

2018-11-04T00:43:22-04:00

I was a cav Scout and I can tell you wearing the spurs and Stetson are an honor. You won’t understand until you earn it but it is a worth while experience.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 23 at 2018 5:01 PM

2018-11-23T17:01:53-05:00

It's not mandatory if you are in a Battalion. But it is if you are in a Squadron. You only get to wear the Stetson until you earn your Silver spurs by participating in a Spur ride. And you also get a gold spurs if you deploy to combat with a Squadron.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 27 at 2018 5:02 PM

2018-11-27T17:02:25-05:00

No. Silver spurs you do spur ride. Stetson is optional but frowned upon if you don’t have one, especially in CAV Squadrons.