CHARLESTON AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. –
Some Charleston Airmen are now authorized to wear black boots with their Airman Battle Uniforms under certain circumstances according to a base policy letter signed April 2.
Gen. Arthur Lichte, commander of Air Mobility Command, temporarily authorized AMC base commanders to allow their Airmen to wear black boots with ABUs if they work in industrial environments, which may cause irreparable damage to the green boots. This policy will remain in effect until stain-resistant sage green boots become available.
"I think this is a good idea because there are jobs we do that ruin our boots," said Airman 1st Class Grant Carson, 437th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron aircraft electrical and environmental apprentice. "My boots get pretty dirty from maintenance and I have to clean them every two weeks, but some spots don't go away. I know people who have to do inspections and other jobs on the aircraft get their boots pretty torn up and stained."
Along with flightline maintenance, other authorized areas for Airmen to wear the boots while working on processes or products that may cause irreparable damage to the boots include cargo handling and fleet services areas in the aerial port squadron; generators, arresting barriers and field equipment areas base-wide for civil engineer Airmen only; the dining facility and flight kitchen; vehicle maintenance areas; warehouse areas of Buildings 79, 80 and 610; and aircraft maintenance back shops.
As long as Airmen are within their industrial environment, whether they're working or waiting to be called out for a job, they are authorized to wear black boots with ABUs. Once they leave the industrial area to go somewhere, like home or the commissary, they are required to change back into the sage green or desert tan boots with their ABUs.
"The policy is written this way because we want Airmen who are working in their industrial environments to be able to wear their black boots," said Chief Master Sgt. Mike Ivey, 437th Airlift Wing command chief."It's important to understand that the policy only applies to those Airmen who are assigned to or working in the areas listed in the policy letter who may damage their green boots, not to people who just happen to be there."
Though Airman Carson thinks some Airmen won't accept the policy as readily as others, he understands why they want Airmen to wear the matching green boots with ABUs in the public eye.
"Sure it may seem like a bit of a hassle to change your boots when you leave work, but we want to maintain the professional appearance of our uniforms," he said. "The green boots are more comfortable but they tear and stain easier, whereas the black boots can hold up to more wear and tear. We can just keep the green boots as our good pair so we can look sharp at commander's calls and other events and wear our black boots for work."