JOINT BASE CHARLESTON, S.C. –
I'm sure by now you're aware that the long awaited revision of Air Force Instruction 36-2903, Dress and Personal Appearance of Air Force Personnel, was released July 18. As a matter of fact, it was the subject of an article in this very newspaper a few weeks ago. The updated instruction consolidates a great deal of guidance which has been implemented since the previous version was published in 2006 and it's obvious that a concerted effort was made to organize the information in a much clearer and user-friendly way. But those are not the only reasons I'm so glad the revised AFI is finally out. I'm also hopeful that with its release we see a renewed focus on adhering to the standards which it prescribes.
It's every Airman's responsibility, regardless of rank, to not only comply with the standards of dress and personal appearance ourselves, but to also enforce those standards among each other. However, too often I've found myself having to address a uniform infraction that went completely unchecked by other Airmen in the vicinity. Why is that?
I suppose it's because many folks are uncomfortable with the potential for provoking a confrontation. But in my experience, not just as a first sergeant but for as long as I've been in the Air Force, there's no reason for the vast majority of these situations to become confrontational at all. For the most part, and especially when a violation is completely unintentional, I believe it's all about attitude. If you come at someone with an "I got you" kind of approach, then they'll probably get a little upset about it. Conversely, it makes no sense to get offended when someone's trying to help you by letting you know you neglected to button a pocket or a ribbon is missing.
Uniform infractions sometimes occur because individuals simply aren't aware of a particular standard. I came upon one Airman recently who didn't realize the only authorized color for back packs when worn with blues is solid flat black (no high gloss). Again, there was no need for raised voices or increased anxiety here. I addressed the issue with him in a respectful manner and he replied in kind, thanking me for making sure he was squared away. I wonder how many Mondays this young man had been walking around wearing an unauthorized back pack without anyone ever saying a word to him. The new AFI 36-2903 is great, but there's still a lot of guidance out there and even more policy updates are probably already on the way. We can all help educate one another.
Of course, on some occasions it goes beyond a lack of knowledge or awareness and moves into blatant violations of established guidance. While I admit it can be much more uncomfortable dealing with these types of encounters, that doesn't diminish our obligation to enforce the standards. We are charged with presenting a professional military image at all times. That will never change, regardless of how many more AFI revisions or policy updates there may be in the future. So take pride in the proper wear of your uniform and accept nothing less from your fellow Airmen.