I had no idea the uniform discussion was this lengthy....  I don't see much in here all that exciting but it is good to see that we can now walk in uniform while talking on a cell phone...

UNCLASSIFIED//

 

PRECEDENCE TO: ROUTINE DTG: 101359Z JUN 09

PRECEDENCE CC: ROUTINE

TYPE: DMS SIGNED/ENCRYPTED

FROM PLA: HQ USAF WASHINGTON DC//A1S//

FROM D/N: C:US,O:U.S. Government,OUoD,OU:AF,OURGANIZATIONS,

LENTAGON WASHINGTON DC,OU:HQ USAF A1(uc),OU:HQ USAF

A1S(uc)

SUBJECT: 98TH AIR FORCE VIRTUAL UNIFORM BOARD RESULTS

TEXT:

UNCLASSIFIED//

 

1. THE 98TH AF VIRTUAL UNIFORM BOARD CONVENED IN 2008. VOTING MEMBERS INCLUDED AIRMEN FROM ALL MAJCOMS AND MOST FUNCTIONAL COMMUNITIES.

REPRESENTATIVES FROM AAFES, DSCP/DLA, THE AF UNIFORM OFFICE, AF/A1D AND AF/A4L ACTED AS NON-VOTING ADVISORS. BOARD RECOMMENDATIONS WERE FORWARDED TO THE AIR FORCE CHIEF OF STAFF FOR FINAL DECISION.

 

2. APPROVED ITEMS - EFFECTIVE AS INDICATED:

 

A. DRESS (BLUE) UNIFORM

1) ELIMINATE WEAR OF THE METAL RANK BY ENLISTED AIRMEN ON THE

LIGHT WEIGHT BLUE JACKET; RANK MUST BE WORN USING ONLY THE CHEVRON

RANK

INSIGNIA SEWN ON THE SLEEVES; EFF: NLT 1 JAN 2010

 

B. UTILITY UNIFORM (APPLIES TO ABUS, BDUS, AND DCUS)

1) TROUSERS MUST BE TUCKED INTO BOOTS AND PRESENT A BLOUSED APPEARANCE AT ALL TIMES; EFF: IMMEDIATELY

2) TUCK IN BOOT LACES; EXCESS BOOT LACES MAY BE WRAPPED AROUND THE BOOT AND TUCKED IN. NO "BOWTIE" BOOT LACES; EFF: IMMEDIATELY

3) MAJCOMS AUTHORIZED TO APPROVE WEAR OF BLACK BOOTS WITH THE ABU

ONLY IN INDUSTRIAL AREAS IAW 132024Z FEB 09 HQ USAF/A1 MESSAGE; EFF:

AS

PER REFERENCED MESSAGE, 13 FEB 2009

4) ELIMINATE AUTHORITY TO ATTACH ORGANIZATIONAL CAP TO BDU TROUSER; EFF: IMMEDIATELY

5) UPPER SLEEVE POCKET APPROVED FOR FIRE RESISTANT ABUS AUTHORIZED FOR, AND WORN ONLY IN, THE AOR

 

C. ACCOUTREMENTS

1) AUTHORIZE AIRMEN MEETING THE CRITERIA FOR, AND AWARDED THE

US

ARMY PARACHUTE RIGGERS BADGE PERMANENT WEAR OF THAT BADGE ON ALL

AUTHORIZED

UNIFORM COMBINATIONS. WHEN WEARING THE SUBDUED RIGGERS BADGE ON THE

ABU/BDU, THE BADGE WILL BE BLUE (NOT BLACK). WHEN WEARING THE SUBDUED

BADGE

ON THE DCU, THE BADGE WILL BE BROWN.

2) AUTHORIZE PERMANENT WEAR OF BLACK U.S. ARMY AIR ASSAULT

BADGE

ON THE BDU, REGARDLESS OF DUTY ASSIGNMENT, UPON GRADUATION FROM AIR

ASSAULT

SCHOOL

3) AUTHORIZE WEAR OF THE AIR FORCE OFFICE OF SPECIAL

INVESTIGATIONS DUTY BADGE ON THE SERVICE DRESS UNIFORM AND SUBDUED CLOTH

DUTY BADGE ON THE ABU

 

D. MISCELLANEOUS

1) AUTHORIZE USE OF PERSONAL CELLULAR PHONES WHILE WALKING IN

UNIFORM; CELLULAR PHONE MUST BE CONSERVATIVE IN COLOR; WEAR OF HANDS

FREE

DEVICES WHILE WALKING IN UNIFORM IS PROHIBITED; CELL PHONE MAY BE WORN

ON

EITHER THE LEFT OR RIGHT SIDE OF UNIFORM; MILITARY CUSTOMS AND

COURTESIES

APPLY AND TAKE PRECEDENCE

 

3. APPROVED UNIFORM/DESIGN CHANGES. WEAR GUIDANCE AND EFFECTIVE DATES

WILL

BE PROVIDED IN SUPPLEMENTAL MESSAGES. NO ACTION REQUIRED BY MEMBERS AT

THIS

TIME:

 

A. UTILITY UNIFORMS

1) WEAR OF FOLIAGE GREEN FLEECE AS AN OUTER GARMENT WITH ABU

2) A FLEECE LINER WITH THE ABILITY TO ZIP INTO THE APECS

3) NCREASE LENGTH OF LOWER LEG POCKET ON ABU TROUSER 1/2 INCH

4) CHANGE FEMALE ABU TROUSER FLY BUTTON?S TO MIRROR MALES

5) ADD SMALL ABU NAME TAPE WITH LAST NAME TO POCKET FLAP ON

ALL-PURPOSE ENVIRONMENTAL CLOTHING SYSTEM (APECS)LEFT SLEEVE

6) ALTER ABU SLEEVE PEN POCKET 1/2 INCHTO PREVENT BREAKING WRITING

UTENSILS

OR PUNCTURES WHILE BENDING ARM

 

B. PHYSICAL TRAINING GEAR

1) REVISE CURRENT PT GEAR WEAR GUIDANCE TO REFLECT A MORE

PROFESSIONAL IMAGE. MAKE STANDARDS MORE IN LINE WITH THE INTENT OF THE

UNIFORM

 

C. MATERNITY UNIFORM

1) AUTHORIZE AN ADDITION OF SIDE BUTTONS THAT UNFOLD A SMALL

PORTION OF THE MATERNITY ABU TROUSER.

 

4. DEFERRED ITEMS AND ITEMS THAT BOARD RECOMMENDED APPROVAL, BUT

REQUIRE

FURTHER RESEARCH AND/OR DEVELOPMENT. IF ANY ITEM IS LATER APPROVED BY

CSAF,

WEAR GUIDANCE AND EFFECTIVE DATES WILL BE PROVIDED IN SUPPLEMENTAL

MESSAGES;

NO ACTION REQUIRED BY MEMBERS AT THIS TIME:

 

A. UTILITY UNIFORM

1) WEAR OF GREEN CREW NECK SWEATER SIMILAR TO MARINE CORPS

UNDER

THE ABU

B. MATERNITY UNIFORM

1) ADJUST MATERNITY ABU TO MIRROR REGULAR POCKET PLACEMENT

C. ACCOUTREMENTS

1) OFFICERS ASSIGNED TO COMMAND AND CONTROL (C2) NODES TO WEAR

THE C2 BADGE IF APPROVED FOR AWARD BY THE FUNCTIONAL AUTHORITY

 

5. DISAPPROVALS:

A. THE FOLLOWING INITIATIVES WERE DISAPPROVED:

1) OPTIONAL FLIGHT CAP W/VENTING

2) CORFAM/PATENT LEATHER LOW QUARTERS IN CLOTHING BAG

3) FEMALE AIRMEN TO WEAR MALE BLUE PANTS

4) MAKING LOOSER FITTING SERVICE DRESS TROUSERS

5) CONNECTED STARS FOR 2, 3, AND 4 STAR GENERAL OFFICERS

6) BODY SUIT STYLE SERVICE DRESS BLOUSE FOR FEMALE AIRMEN

7) AUTHORIZE ONLY LOW QUARTERS AND BOOTS FOR FEMALE AIRMEN

WEARING SERVICE DRESS UNIFORMS

8) AUTHORIZE WEAR OF ADDITIONAL OCCUPATIONAL BADGE 1.5" BELOW

WELT POCKET ON SERVICE DRESS COAT (THE WEAR OF ONE BADGE IN

THAT

LOCATION IS STILL AUTHORIZED)

9) MALE "PRINCE CUT" SERVICE DRESS SHIRT SIMILAR TO FEMALE

"PRINCESS CUT" SERVICE DRESS SHIRT

10) WEAR OF SILVER "TERM OF SERVICE" STRIPES ON LOWER RIGHT

SLEEVE/CUFF AND ORANGE BRAID "DISCHARGE STRIPE" ON THE

SERVICE

DRESS UNIFORM

11) OFFICER BLACK ?GRADE? STRIPES ON LOWER SLEEVE/CUFF OF

SERVICE COAT (1=LT-CAPT; 2=MAJ-COL; 3=GEN OFFICER)

12) WEAR OF ALL, SOME, OR NO RIBBONS ON SERVICE DRESS UNIFORM;

I.E, AIRMEN MUST CONTINUE TO WEAR ALL

13) LONGEVITY STRIPES (HASH MARKS) ON SLEEVE OF SERVICE DRESS

AND MESS DRESS UNIFORMS

14) WEAR OF CREW NECK UNDERSHIRT W/ANY COMBINATION OF SERVICE

DRESS

UNIFORM

15) REPLACE BLUE TIE/TIE TAB WITH BLACK HERRINGBONE TIE/TIE TAB

16) SMALL BOW TIE TO REPLACE FEMALE TIE TAB ON MESS DRESS

17) "BILLY MITCHELL" STYLE COAT W/FULL SIZE MEDALS AS

MESS DRESS UNIFORM/ELIMINATE SEMI-FORMAL UNIFORM

18) WEAR OF AMERICAN FLAG ON THE ABU/DCU/BDU

19) BOONIE HAT W/ABU AND BDU IN ALL GARRISON AND DEPLOYED

LOCATIONS (IAW AFI 36-2903, TAB 1.1, THEATER COMMANDERS

PRESCRIBE FOR THEATER OF OPERATIONS)

20) DELETE REQUIREMENT TO BLOUSE UTILITY UNIFORM TROUSERS (SEE

ITEM 2.B.1 ABOVE, TROUSERS MUST BE TUCKED INTO BOOTS)

21) WEAR OF BRIGHT NON-SUBDUED GRADE INSIGNIA ON ABU CAP IN

NON-DEPLOYED LOCATIONS (ONLY SUBDUED PIN-ON OR SEW-ON RANK

AUTHORIZED)

22) WEAR OF PIN-ON OCCUPATIONAL BADGES ON ABUS FOR EASE OF

SANITIZING/CHANGING BADGES

23) WEAR OF ENLISTED RANK ON ABU COLLAR LAPEL

24) WEAR OF SIX-POINT UTILITY CAP

25) PERMANENT REDUCTION OF SLEEVE LENGTH OF ABU (ACCOMPLISHED

BY MANUFACTURER)

26) VELCRO IN PLACE OF BUTTONS ON ABU

27) SLANTED CHEST POCKETS ON ABU

28) ONE PIECE UTILITY UNIFORM (SIMILAR TO FLT SUIT) TO REPLACE

ABU

29) WEAR OF BERET WITH ABU BY ALL AIRMEN (AFSCS CURRENTLY

AUTHORIZED TO WEAR BERET MAINTAIN AUTHORIZATION IAW

36-2903)

30) EMBROIDERED NAME ON ABU VICE NAME TAPE

31) WEAR OF ORGANIZATIONAL CAPS WITH ABU

32) BLACK SOCKS WITH ABU (SAGE GREEN SOCKS MUST BE WORN WITH

THE SAGE GREEN BOOT; TAN OR SAGE SOCKS MUST BE WORN WITH

THE

TAN BOOT UNTIL 2011)

33) REMOVE TWO LOWER POCKETS ON ABU BLOUSE (TOP)

34) WEAR OF BLUE BELT WITH ABUS

35) REMOVE THIRD ABU CUFF BUTTON, REPLACE OTHER CUFF BUTTON

WITH HOOK AND LOOP VELCRO FASTENERS

36) ADD NAME TAPE SIMILAR TO ABU NAMETAPE TO BACK OF ABU HAT

37) WEAR OF UNIT PATCHES ON ABU (TO INCLUDE SISTER SERVICE

PATCHES)

38) WEAR OF ARMY LIGHT GREEN FLEECE WATCH CAP WITH THE ABU

39) DISALLOW SEWING DOWN POCKETS ON ABU (THIS MEANS AIRMEN

ARE STILL AUTHORIZED TO SEW THEM DOWN)

40) WEAR OF ABU CAP WITH ELASTIC BAND

41) ALLOW WEAR OF WATCH CAP WITH ABUS ALONE, VICE WITH APECS

(OUTER GARMENTS ARE STILL REQUIRED WITH THE BLACK WATCH

CAP)

42) PEN POCKET ON RIGHT SLEEVE OF ABU FOR LEFT-HANDED AIRMEN

43) SMALL POCKET ON ABU TO ACCOMMODATE COMMON ACCESS CARD

44) METAL ZIPPER IN LIEU OF BUTTONS ON ABU TROUSER FLY & BLOUSE

45) ELASTIC BANDS INSIDE BOTTOM OF TROUSERS OF ABU FOR BLOUSING

46) WEAR OF WEAPONS SCHOOL PATCH ON ABUS

47) CREATE ABU FIELD JACKET

48) BLACK LETTERING VICE BLUE ON NAMETAPE/USAF/OCCUPATIONAL

BADGES WORN ON ABU

49) PERMANENT WEAR OF TAN BOOTS VICE SAGE GREEN BOOTS

50) PIXILATED BACKGROUND FOR ENLISTED RANK ON ABU AND

ELIMINATE CREASED RANK

51) GREEN UNDERSHIRT WITH ABU

52) BLUE POLAR FLEECE JACKET WITH ABU

53) TAN GLOVES WITH ABU (BLACK AND SAGE GREEN GLOVES ARE

AUTHORIZED WITH APPROPRIATE OUTER GARMENTS)

54) WEAR OF BLACK OR DARK BLUE (MATCHING LETTERING ON

NAMETAPE, ETC) UNDERSHIRT WITH ABU

55) WEAR OF COMMANDER?S INSIGNIA ON ABU

56) OLIVE GREEN/BEIGE/TAN BERET IN GARRISON AND MULTI-POINT HAT

WITH ABU WHILE DEPLOYED

57) INTERIM WEAR OF DCU UNTIL MANDATORY WEAR DATE OF ABU

58) WEAR OF SPACE BADGE ON UTILITY UNIFORMS

59) REPLACE PIERCED STAR ON ENLISTED CHEVRONS WITH ?US? INSIGNIA

FOR AIRMAN TIER; RESERVE PIERCED STAR FOR NCOS

60) WEAR OF FIRST SERGEANT INSIGNIA (DIAMOND) IN THE SAME

MANNER AS COMMANDER?S INSIGNIA

61) DELETE OPTION TO WEAR COMMANDER?S INSIGNIA AS GRADUATED

COMMANDER

62) REPLACE CURRENT PT PANTS WITH SNAP/TEAR AWAY PANTS THAT

CAN BE ALSO USED AS SHORTS (REMOVABLE LOWER LEG)

63) BLACK SOCKS WITH PT GEAR

64) HOOD OF PT JACKET SAME AS HOOD ON APECS

65) ZIP OPEN VENTS BELOW POCKETS ON BOTH SIDES OF PT PANTS

66) SILK-FITTED HEADSCARVES WITH PT GEAR

67) REPLACE REFLECTIVE ?V? ON BACK OF PT JACKET WITH AF SYMBOL

68) REMOVE ELASTIC WAIST BAND ON PT JACKET

69) CREATION OF MATERNITY PT UNIFORM

70) ALLOW RETIRED/CIVILIAN MEMBERS TO WEAR PT GEAR WITHOUT

REGARD TO GROOMING STANDARDS

71) AUTHORIZE BEARD/GOATEE WITH SAME INTENT AS MUSTACHE;

NEATLY TRIMMED AND TASTEFUL

72) WEAR OF SQUARE DIAMOND EARRINGS FOR FEMALE AIRMEN

73) ALLOW AIRMEN STATIONED OVERSEAS TO HAVE DOUBLE THE HAIR

LENGTH AND BULK CURRENTLY AUTHORIZED

74) RESTRICT FINGERNAIL LENGTH TO NO LONGER THAN TIP OF FINGER

75) REVISIT SUPPLEMENTAL CLOTHING ALLOWANCE PAYMENT TO

INDIVIDUALS IN SPECIAL DUTY POSITIONS NO LONGER REQUIRED

ADDITIONAL MAINTENANCE DUE TO LOW MAINTENANCE OF ABU

76) AUTHORIZE AIRMEN TO WEAR EARNED SISTER SERVICE

PATCHES/BADGES ON ABU WHEN OPERATING WITH SISTER SERVICES

 

6. THIS MESSAGE PROVIDES CSAF APPROVED CHANGES TO CURRENT AIR FORCE

UNIFORMS AND UNIFORM POLICY RESULTING FROM THE 98TH AIR FORCE VIRTUAL

UNIFORM BOARD. THE CHANGES WILL BE CODIFIED IN AIR FORCE INSTRUCTION

36-2903, DRESS AND PERSONAL APPEARANCE OF AIR FORCE PERSONNEL. ANY

QUESTIONS SHOULD BE ADDRESSED THROUGH YOUR LOCAL CHAIN OF COMMAND/MAJCOM

POINTS OF CONTACT.

 

RICHARD Y. NEWTON III

LIEUTENANT GENERAL, USAF

DCS, MANPOWER, PERSONNEL & SERVICES