Cavalry Stetson

In the modern U.S. Army, the Stetson was revived as an unofficial headgear for the sake of esprit de corps in the cavalry.

4: Occasions for wearing the Stetson: Squadron dining-ins/outs, formal events in dress blues, gatherings of spur holders, professional gatherings such as AAAA and any other event or function as designated by Saber 6.Colored cords worn on the Stetson have evolved and expanded since their introduction in 1851.

Below is an excerpt from the full announcement:[4] WASHINGTON, APRIL 1, 2011 -- In a fingertip-to-the-brim nod to its American frontier history, the Army is changing hats again - returning to the tumultuous days of the horse Cavalry in the wild west and adopting a dark blue Stetson as the official headgear for the current force of 1.1 million Soldiers.

Maj. Bob S. Stone, Army Uniform Board headgear task force president.

But reminiscent of the controversial switch from the garrison cap to the black beret, the Army faces opposition from one community deeply opposed to losing its special identity with the Stetson - the Armor branch.

The Cavalry Stetson hat with non-commissioned officer (yellow) cord
A spur holder with the 4th Cavalry Regiment instructs candidates on the assembly of an M2 machine gun after their first try during the "2006 Spur Ride"
LTC Bruce P. Crandall (Ret.) wearing Stetson with gold and black cord during his Medal of Honor ceremony at the White House , 2008
A U.S. Army NCO and officer wearing Cavalry Stetsons at a Dining in ceremony, both affixing cavalry branch and rank insignias on their Stetsons with the NCO wearing a yellow cord and the officer a light blue (infantry) cord with yellow tips
Three of the five photographs accompanying the announcement on army.mil