WASHINGTON (AFNS) –
Air Force officials announced policy updates to the 98th Virtual Uniform Board decisions posted June 10.
It's important Charleston Airmen know the only updates made were to uniform effective dates, not to the new uniform changes.
In the original release, Air Force's senior leaders said they intend to provide fully functional and appropriate uniforms to support all Airmen both stateside and deployed, with emphasis on the current uniform inventory, in response to Airmen feedback.
The Air Force's top enlisted Airman underscored the importance of ongoing analysis and constant response to wearer feedback.
"Our Airmen spend their hard-earned money on these uniforms, and we owe it to them to do the research, development and quality assurance necessary to guarantee every uniform item put on the shelf is right the first time," Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force Rodney McKinley said. "The Virtual Uniform Board is essential because no one knows better than Airmen serving today what uniform changes are needed."
The board convened in 2008 with Airmen voting members from all major commands and most functional communities. Representatives from the Army & Air Force Exchange Service, Defense Supply Center Philadelphia, Defense Logistics Agency, Air Force Uniform Office, Air Force Logistics and Air Staff members acted as non-voting advisors. Board members forwarded their recommendations to the Air Force chief of staff for a final decision.
The following provides a snapshot of approved uniform wear. Follow-on messages will be released containing detailed guidance and instructions. All information will be incorporated into Air Force Instruction 36-2903.
· The effective date of Oct. 1, 2010, to begin tucking trousers on utility uniforms into boots to give a bloused appearance has been put on hold until next year to take a closer look at the intent.
· The green fleece, formerly worn only as the All-Purpose Environmental Clothing System liner, is authorized Air Force wide as an outer-wear garment. The addition of the name, rank and service designators to the green fleece when worn as an outer-wear garment is authorized.
· Airmen may use personal cellular telephones while in uniform and walking. Cell phones may be worn on either left or right side; however, the cell phone must be a conservative color. Military customs and courtesies are required and take precedence. Talking on a phone is no excuse for not saluting. Wearing hands-free devices such as cell phone attachments worn on the ears is still prohibited.
· Enlisted chevrons will be worn on light-weight blue jacket sleeves instead of the metal rank insignias on the collar effective Jan. 1, 2010.
· The ends of boot laces must be tucked into the boots. Wrapping the laces around boot is authorized.
· The length of airman battle uniform lower leg pocket will increase by approximately a half inch.
· Upper sleeve pockets are authorized on fire-resistant clothing authorized for the Central Command region.
· Airmen earning and awarded the Army Parachute Riggers badge are authorized permanent wear on all uniform combinations. For the ABU and BDU, the badge will be blue. On the desert combat uniform the approved color is brown.
· Wearing the black Army Air Assault Badge on the BDU is authorized upon graduation from Air Assault School.
· Organizational ball caps are not authorized to be attached to either lower leg cargo pockets on the BDU trousers.
· The female ABU trouser fly buttons will be the same as on men's pants.
The intent of the Virtual Uniform Board is for Airmen to identify a problem and suggest an improvement, Ms. Ewalt said.
Charleston Airmen can provide uniform recommendations by going to the Air Force Innovative Development through Employee Awareness Program Web site at the Air Force Portal.
Airmen also can access uniform information at the Air Force Portal by typing "uniform" in the search box in the page's upper right-hand corner.
Trisha Gallaway, 437th Airlift Wing Public Affairs, also contributed to this article.