The Stetson... For CAV guys the stetson hat is a pretty big deal. Once assigned to a CAV unit (usually Kiowa and Apache boys but in special occations like mine Chinooks and Blackhawks as well) buy their $200 plus hat, before they can wear the hat is must be broken in (unless your a commander or 1SG). The broken in ceremony takes place which consists of the guys gathering together as a group. In the states the broken in ceremony takes place as all gather together. The senior guys put all sorts of alcohol and whatever else they have on hand into the hat and then the patrons must drink everything in the hat before they can wear it for the first time. Now while deployed we don't have the good fortune of beer or alcohol so anything and everything gets put into the had for the ceremony. If "big if" I get a stetson, I will not be breaking mine in here and will wait until I get to the states.

The Gathering

The preparation (notice the man pouring water down the old A#$ AK47 barrel) the other gentlemen is pour a near bear (alcohol free beer) in the stetson

The Process before the drink

The Drink of the "ugg"

Finished Product