Stetson with kilt

[Steve Ashton]

And to clarify what seem to be some confusion.

The OP asked about wearing his "Stetson" to a Tankers reunion at Ft. Hood, TX.
The hat he is referring to is a very specific style of headgear. It is not the classic cowboy hat that many think of when the hear "Stetson".

This is the Cavalry Stetson.


Whether you are a current or former member of the Cav, be it Horse Cavalry, Armored Cav, or in my case Air Cav, this type of hat is the recognized symbol of The Cav.

When attending a function such as a Cav reunion it is not only acceptable but almost a required item. Much as a regimental tie would be expected to a reunion of your old British unit. It is one of those distinctive things like Airborne blousing their trousers and Rangers wearing a red beret.

This headgear is not covered by Army Regulations except as a "Unit specific" item so is not seen like wearing medals or parts of the uniform with civilian clothing. It is perfectly acceptable for wear with civilian clothes.

I have my Stetson and if I were attending a reunion you can bet I would wear it.
If the reunion included a formal dinner I would wear my Cav Stetson with my Prince Charlie and have no problem at all.

And a post script to this - The braid worn with the Cav Stetson denoted rank. Enlisted members wear a solid gold or yellow braid. Warrant Officers wear a Silver and Black braid. Commissioned Officers wear a Gold and Black braid.

And a post, post script In the US Military, a Warrant Officer is very different from those in the British Military.

[Steve Ashton]

I knew I had seen a photo of Colonel Bruce Crandall wearing a Cav Stetson at a formal dinner.

Here he is. In Full Military Mess Dress.



For those of you who may not know who Col. Crandall is look at the blue ribbon around his neck. The one with the little white stars. That is The Medal of Honor.

[Tarheel]

For those of you who may not know who Col. Crandall is look at the blue ribbon around his neck. The one with the little white stars. That is The Medal of Honor.

I do not know Col. Crandall, but every service member (active, inactive and the Commander in Chief) salutes the person wearing the blue ribbon and white stars. I give my respects to the man and the award.

[Jock Scot]

And to clarify what seem to be some confusion.

The OP asked about wearing his "Stetson" to a Tankers reunion at Ft. Hood, TX.
The hat he is referring to is a very specific style of headgear. It is not the classic cowboy hat that many think of when the hear "Stetson".

This is the Cavalry Stetson.


Whether you are a current or former member of the Cav, be it Horse Cavalry, Armored Cav, or in my case Air Cav, this type of hat is the recognized symbol of The Cav.

When attending a function such as a Cav reunion it is not only acceptable but almost a required item. Much as a regimental tie would be expected to a reunion of your old British unit. It is one of those distinctive things like Airborne blousing their trousers and Rangers wearing a red beret.

This headgear is not covered by Army Regulations except as a "Unit specific" item so is not seen like wearing medals or parts of the uniform with civilian clothing. It is perfectly acceptable for wear with civilian clothes.

I have my Stetson and if I were attending a reunion you can bet I would wear it.
If the reunion included a formal dinner I would wear my Cav Stetson with my Prince Charlie and have no problem at all.

And a post script to this - The braid worn with the Cav Stetson denoted rank. Enlisted members wear a solid gold or yellow braid. Warrant Officers wear a Silver and Black braid. Commissioned Officers wear a Gold and Black braid.

And a post, post script In the US Military, a Warrant Officer is very different from those in the British Military.

Thank you Steve for explaining the significance of the Tankers Stetson so clearly and in this particular case my understanding is now so much clearer.

However and I have to be absolutely honest here, this is a case where American military traditions and Scottish civilian kilt traditions do not march easily together. In fact in my humble opinion, they just don't. If it were me and of course it is not, but if it were, I would wear the Stetson to the military function with all the pride that I could muster and leave the kilt behind and wear appropriate Saxon attire.

[Steve Ashton]

And that Jock is completely your choice and your choice is valid.

I was only trying to clear up the misunderstanding about this particular style of hat and trying to shed some light on its importance.

To those of us who have a Cav Stetson it is as important a part of who we are as our heritage. Our kilt is not the all of who we are.

I guess someone could make the analogy to the strictly kilted world that a person who had served in a kilted regiment would wear his kilt differently from someone who had not served. The two ways would be obviously different and yet both would be valid.

The OP wants to wear his Stetson to a reunion of his old military unit. He would be attending as a civilian. He also wishes to show that he has the kilt as part of his total heritage.

So he came here to pose his question. And on the whole his question was interpreted as referring to a totally different style of hat. Some tried to answer his question from a civilian point of view and some from the traditionalist point of view.

In the end we went through quite a few responses. Many based on not knowing the point of view of the OP and many not understanding what type of hat he was asking about.

I too own a Cav Stetson. But please notice that I did not post a pic of myself in mine. I do not wear my Stetson except within the confines of the world that would know what it signifies. To my normal world wearing my Stetson would appear costume and out of place with my kilt.

But within the Cavalry world I would not be seen as a guy of Scottish Heritage, who happened to wear a strange hat. I would be viewed as a Cavalry Officer, who happens to have some Scottish Heritage. Picking nits? Perhaps, but a very, very significant difference if you change that one small difference in point of view.

[Jock Scot]

I think Steve that you know and understand that I hold military traditions, of any nation, in the highest of esteem, where I do respectfully differ with you and others, is indeed where American military traditions for retired military personnel and civilian Highland attire meet. Both traditions are steeped in history and both traditions have every right to expect respect to be given to them and they are, by most thinking people, but that does not mean that those traditions march easily or happily together from an aesthetic point of view, for everyone.