DRESS REQUIREMENTS
25.01 General Dress. Texas Ranger personnel representing the Department in their official capacity are required to dress in an appropriate manner. The appropriate clothing is deemed to be conservative western attire. Appropriate clothing other than western attire may be acceptable if such is of a conservative nature and blends with the expected western clothing. To be dressed appropriately, Rangers are required to wear a western hat, a dress shirt, a tie, a dress coat, appropriate pants, western belt, western boots, and the official Texas Ranger badge pinned above the left shirt pocket. An approved handgun should be worn in a waist holster at all times.
Clothing that is worn, torn, or faded is prohibited. All clothing will be clean, neat, and with a pressed appearance. The exceptions to this policy will be outlined below, as well as definitions to certain words and phrases. Field Majors shall be responsible for defining the terms in this section, considered too vague in description, in order to promote uniformity within their company or within the Ranger’s assigned area. Certain special or non-routine occasions may arise in which the field Major may specify a specific dress for wear, within these guidelines, in order to promote uniformity within the Rangers on the specified occasion.
1. Fanny Packs or Waist Purses. Fanny packs or waist purses are prohibited.
2. Hats. Hats will be light-colored and shaped in a businessman’s style. Styles commonly called the Rancher or Cattleman will be the only styles acceptable. Brims must not exceed 4 inches or be flat with edges rolled up. Hats excessively crushed, rolled, or dipped are not acceptable. Members of the Ranger Division will own both a quality straw and quality felt hat. Palm-leaf styled hats are prohibited. The appropriate hat will usually be determined by the weather or assignment. Both types of hats will be kept clean. Faded or worn-out hats are expressly prohibited.
3. Dress Shirts. Shirts are defined as solid colored shirts or small-striped shirts. Shirts bearing outlandish designs or loud colors are expressly prohibited. Denim, faded or worn-out shirts are expressly prohibited. All shirts will be clean, neat and with a starched appearance at all times while on duty.
4. Tie. Ties will be conservative. Ties for female Rangers will be optional or at the Major’s discretion.
5. Dress Coats. Dress coats include suit coats, sport jackets, and other types of wind breakers, jackets, and coats. All should be clean and pressed if appropriate (suit coats and sport jackets). Faded or excessively worn dress coats are expressly prohibited.
6. Appropriate Pants. Dress slacks and pants commonly known as “dress jeans” are acceptable, and must be of a solid color. Suits, whereby the coat and slacks are of the same design or style, may be worn. Dress jeans must be starched and pressed with a visible crease. Slacks or jeans that are faded, excessively worn or have frayed seams or cuffs are expressly prohibited.
7. Western Boots. Boots commonly known as western boots are required; however, exaggerated under slung heels are prohibited. The boot material and color shall be of a conservative and business approach. During general dress, lace-up boots are prohibited. Boots will be shined and in good repair.
8. Official Badge. There are two styles of official badges. One is the official-issued badge for the rank currently held by the Ranger. The other is an approved personalized badge that has all the official markings as the official-issue badge, except the Department of Public Safety is replaced with the Ranger’s name.
9. Exceptions. From time to time Rangers will become involved in manhunts, crime scene searches, surveillance, and other such duties that make the appropriate dress impractical. In such circumstances, Rangers are expected to dress for the occasion, which may deviate from the appropriate dress. A dress coat and tie should be kept readily available in case a circumstance presents itself where the absence of such dress coat and/or tie would be inappropriate.
10. Special Circumstances. Court appearances, Governor’s Security, Executive Security, Legislative appearances, or any other high exposure to public events requires specific appropriate dress, and requires a suit or sports coat and appropriate pants, such as dress slacks or suit. Dress jeans or “Wrangler” style jeans are expressly prohibited. Protective clothing (BDUs) will be worn for special tactical situations, tactical tracking, crime scenes, firearms training (the only exception regarding firearms training being when the Company Major determines that regular work attire will be worn, including soft body armor), and emergency/disaster related scenarios.
When BDUs are worn, only the uniform purchased and issued to each Ranger will be worn, to include: issued ball cap or “boonie hat”, issued boots and issued T-Shirt. Firearms instructors are issued red colored (for safety) caps. Majors will evaluate any clothing items potentially needing replacement and ensure the purchase and issue of the items as they deem appropriate.
BDUs are expressly prohibited during routine Ranger duties. Nylon-issued gun belt gear will be worn only with the protective clothing or while engaged in special circumstances that would make the wearing of such gear practical. The gear is expressly prohibited during routine Ranger duties.
