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Aboonie hat orbooney hat is a type of wide-brimsun hat commonly used by military forces in hot tropical climates.[1] Its design is similar to abucket hat but with a stiffer brim.[2]
The Australiangiggle hat has a thinner brim. Often a fabric tape band of "branch loops" is sewn around thecrown of the hat. This "foliage ring" is meant to hold additional vegetation ascamouflage. A strap provides stability. The crown may be vented with eyelets or small mesh panels. Snaps may also be provided with which to fix the brim in the style of anAustralian bush hat.
A blue cap with an all-around brim was issued as part of the 1937 blue denim fatigue uniform that was nicknamed the "Daisy Mae hat".[3][4][self-published source?]The M1941 greenherringbone twill cloth fatigue uniform featured the same hat. The military caps inspired "Johnny Jeep" hats (or "Johnny Jeepers") which were featured on the cover of the August 24, 1942 issue ofLIFE magazine and mocked in the accompanying article. The cover features two female models wearing the hats in style, while the article notes that the fashion accessory costs $25 at John-Frederic's (from a famousmilliner known asMr. John) and the "Army hat" costs 45¢. Photos of GIs demonstrating various ways to wear the hat are included in thetongue-in-cheek article.Lord & Taylor produced licensed copies for a reduced price; cheapknockoffs ("bootleg imitations") soon followed.[5]
The boonie hat was introduced to theUnited States Armed Forces during theVietnam War, whenU.S. ArmyGreen Berets of the5th Special Forces Group began wearing them in the field, along withAustralian andArmy of the Republic of Vietnam units.[6] These leopard spots ortigerstripe boonie hats were locally procured, and the camouflage cloth was usually salvaged from other uniform items or parachutes, and were fabricated by a tailor in the style of the Frenchchapeau de brousse Mle 1949. The name is derived from "boonie", the abbreviated form ofboondocks (originally Americanmilitary slang derived fromTagalogbundok, "mountain", during thePhilippine–American War).[7][8][9][10] The hat was similar to the hat worn with the pattern 1941HBTfatigue uniform.
In 1967, the U.S. Army began issuing boonie hats, such as the "Hat, Jungle, with Insect Net", made ofcotton and wind-resistantpoplin, inolive drab, tigerstripe, andERDL pattern.[11] It was meant to supplement and replace thepatrol andbaseball caps that had been in service sinceWorld War II. As the U.S. military evolved away from agarrison mentality, the boonie hat found a permanent place as part of the uniform of all services. The boonie hat has changed little through the decades since the Vietnam War and was used in both theIraq War and theWar in Afghanistan as an alternative to thepatrol cap. The U.S. military boonie hat has come in a variety of camouflage patterns; the current assortment includesWoodland,three-color desert,UCP,MultiCam, and both desert and woodland versions ofMARPAT, as well as the Air ForceABU pattern.[6] The boonie hat is often worn with the wearer's rank insignia pinned or sewn to the front, above the branch loops.
In 1968 the U.S. Army authorized the use of the woodland ERDL pattern (Engineer Research & Development Laboratory) material, used in 1969 and later production of hats in cottonripstop material. These were labeled, "Hat, Camouflage (Tropical Combat) Type II" with contract dates starting in 1968. They were in use from 1968 for both the Army and Air Force, and from 1969 to 1970 for the Marine Corps and Navy.[6]
Later boonies are called "Hat, Sun" or "Hat, Sun, Hot Weather", which is still the designation for this type of cover. They are made in various patterns, in cotton ripstop or nylon blend cloth.[6]
Similar wide-brimmed hats in theAustralian Army are known as giggle hats although today most Australian soldiers refer to them as bush hats, unlike in the past where aslouch hat with the brim down was referred to as a bush hat. Along withslouch hats, giggle hats were issued as the standard uniform of Australian troops fighting in theSouth West Pacific theatre, during theSecond World War. The design apparently originated from an earlier British uniform intended for fighting in hot and humid conditions. They were nicknamed "giggle hats" (as well as "hat ridiculous-for-the-use-of") by the Australian troops due to their appearance.[12]
The giggle hat gained popularity during theMalayan Emergency. Protection from the searing heat of Malayan conditions and heavy rain proved to be necessary. Alongside the British, the Australian Army started issuing this type of hat, which had a steeper and shorter brim than its earlier counterparts. It was made with the same materials as the hot weather combat uniforms, unlike the slouch hat, which was beginning to take on a more ceremonial role rather than being field gear.
These hats gained popularity during theVietnam War, where they were called 'hats utility, jungle green', although they were colloquially known by Australians as giggle hats. Their New Zealand counterparts referred to them as "J hats." During this conflict, most Australian soldiers were issued the hat. The army created several regulations: the hat was not allowed to be modified or cut whatsoever, and it had to be worn when outdoors at all times. The hat had also served to break up the recognizable outline of the soldier's head. It was made with cotton twill and was issued inolive drab, the standard colour of Australian combat uniforms at the time.
Current giggle hats are issued in Multicam Pattern. They continue to be heavily used by theAustralian Defence Force, and are issued to every person serving in the Australian Army and Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF).
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