It could just be that the Air Force is entering an era that, in part, will be defined by what will not be a hot-button issue: uniforms.
“First things first,” Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz responded Sept. 17 when asked by Military.com whether uniforms — new ones or modifications to current dress — will be relegated to the back burner during his tenure.
Schwartz, who had just listened as his major command chiefs offered up a list of things the Air Force needs today-right-now-thank-you-very much — including new tankers, more manpower, new tankers, upgrades and maintenance to mobility and fighter planes and, oh yeah, new tankers — said the Air Force has any number of critical programs it must tackle.
Maybe, at some point down the road, when these other things have been taken care of, he said, uniforms may again be on the agenda.
For now, Schwartz does have to deal with proposed uniform changes that he inherited, including the adoption of a new service dress uniform modeled after one worn by legendary airman Hap Arnold.
The Air Force has a long record of changing or tweaking its uniforms. Acting Air Force Secretary Michael B. Donley made a humorous reference to this fact on Monday, the opening day of the Air Force Association’s Air and Space Symposium in Washington, D.C. The Air Force dress uniform only recently underwent a change, with the addition of a belt to the jacket, and Donley noted that the last time he worked for the Air Force, as an assistant secretary and then acting secretary in 1993, the uniform went through major changes under then Chief of Staff Merrill McPeak.
He said he would answer questions today about uniforms the same way he answered them back then: “Ask the chief.”
Schwartz last month decided to defer until sometime next year a decision on a Hap Arnold-esque service coat. The proposed jacket came out of a 2006 uniform board under Schwartz’s predecessor, Gen. T. Michael Moseley.
Some uniform changes have been greeted critically by airmen — including a proposed blue cammie BDU several years ago — who argue that the Air Force has more important issues facing it than whether it should have a belt on a service dress jacket or whether BDUs should come with a permanent crease.
The proposed new dress jacket will cost about $125 million to manufacture if it’s approved, the Air Force estimated.
– Bryant Jordan
I joined the Air Force because I loved the uniform and the pride i feel wearing it. But, that’s when we were wearing BDU’s. These people need to work on the ABU’s before they try to come up with the 1950s dress uniform. I work in the medical field and I’ll tell you those ABUs are the most uncomfortable thick and heavy uniforms ever!! Getting patients on a gurney and into an ambulance is becoming a workout in itself while wearing the ABUs. Let’s try to come up with a summer weight that is lighter and more breatheable instead of a stupid dress uniform. Matter of fact once you come up with it. LEAVE IT ALONE!!!!!! NO MORE CHANGES!!!! I seriously can’t afford to change my unifrom every year because you wanna “save” money on deployments!!! BULL@#$%
First thing is first. Our AF leadership needs to pull their heads out of their rear ends. Next our leaders need to go to theater, and not take the standard DV tour. For example, go to Scania, go out with some EOD teams responding to an IED. Maybe, (while wearing ABUs, IBA, helmet, rifle…etc) hop in with an Army convoy across the ITO up to let’s say Balad, maybe receive some small arms fire along the way just to really get ‘em sweatin’. Then once they’re up there have them join an A1C babysitting TCN’s (vehicle not included). Go work on a busted up C-130 in 120+ degree heat for a few hours, let them hear a couple mortars land, maybe an alarm red too. Then take them to the theater hospital to work at the helipad for a few hours on a busy night. Enough talk about uniform changes, go talk to the Airmen Tier, NCO Tier, the CGOs, then you’ll know what the Air Force NEEDS. I think our leaders (for the most part) are competent and have earned their rank appropriately, but I think sometimes they forget about what it’s like being in the everyday, practical Air Force and common sense gets tossed out the window. And ‘Blue Monday’?…pun intended…need I say more?
Are our USAF leaders serious? Surely they jest! I laughed out loud when I saw the picture of the suggested new uniform. Holy cow, the picture in this article has to be the most rediculous uniform I have ever seen suggested. What an astonishingly rediculous idea. If we don’t have morale problems now, try this on for size and watch both the existing morale drop through the floor. Come on you guys … get real! Get your heads in the game and straighten-up. Our old uniforms looked very sharp and military-like, then we went to the United Airlines civilian look and the people chuckled (out loud!); now it’s suggested we go to this clownish, “got dressed in the dark after drinking too much” look. Please, either get serious or drop the issue, you’re embarassing all of us!
Are our USAF leaders serious? Surely they jest! I laughed out loud when I saw the picture of the suggested new uniform. Holy cow, the picture in this article has to be the most rediculous uniform I have ever seen suggested. What an astonishingly rediculous idea. If we don’t have morale problems now, try this on for size and watch both the existing morale drop through the floor. Come on you guys … get real! Get your heads in the game and straighten-up. Our old uniforms looked very sharp and military-like, then we went to the United Airlines civilian look and the people chuckled (out loud!); now it’s suggested we go to this clownish, “got dressed in the dark after drinking too much” look. Please, either get serious or drop the issue, you’re embarassing all of us!
I am currently wearing the ABU. This poorly constructed idea is too hot, fits poorly, and blends in only with the ACU and the rocky parking lots of the Forward Operating Bases. Once outside the wire, this uniform does NOT produce the effects that it was intended to. CAMOUFLAGE.
Got out of the Air Force just in the nick of time because of stupid decisions. This one proves my point.
The new uniform.…Ha, HaHaHa, HaaaHaHa, HAHA, HEE HEE, GASP, HAHA, HAHA, HAAAAAAAAAHAAAAAAAA ad infinitum…God I’m Glad I’m retired!!!
I spent 23 years in AF Blue, and I have but this to say: if you want the uniform to look “space-age”, just get the folks who designed the uniforms for Babylon 5 and Battlestar Galactica to come up with some ideas. Otherwise, just buy the Army’s digital camo and BE DONE WITH IT!!!
When Gen McPeak became Chief of Staff, he wanted to modernize the uniform. While I was in the AF, we were taught to think towards the future. With this new uniform they are trying to go back to the past. Besides I think that the proposed uniform looks tacky. Looks like I retired just in time.
The Hap Arnold uniform reminds me of a failed experiment back in the 70’s—they tried to have Law Enforcement folks wear an “Ike” jacket. It had built in holster clips that made your holster (and firearm) sit up too high—I remember the jacket being featured on posters, but the jacket was ultimately scrapped. And how about the Tony McPeak era that required a v-neck tee for men—it was very unprofessional to have guys chest hair being featured!!!!! I am glad that I’m retired and don’t have to suffer through the “Hap Arnold” period!
The Air Force should come up with comfortable, economical and easy to maintain Dress Uniforms. I stayed in fatigues when I was in the Air Force and very rarely wore any of my Dress Uniforms. I can remember the Air Force being wild about Patches on Fatigues, it costed me more to get patches sewed on than the fatigues costed. Members are spending far too much of their time and money on clothes with fancy glitter just to satisfy Ego-Eccentrics.
I am a retired AF Lt Col…served from 1980–2004 and now teach AFJROTC. I cannot imagine having to put my High School kids in this stupid looking thing. Our current service dress is bad enough…but this looks stupid. If we must change…let’s reverse McPeak’s folly and bring back the uniform we were all proud to wear. It looked like a military uniform. This high collared costume looks like something from low-budget sci-fi movie…or a cheap halloween costume. As my stdents would say…IT SUCKS!
I have served in the active duty from 1980–1997 and the Air national Guard now. Don’t wear the uniform too often but, I was proud of the style I wore during the cold war era. PLEASE go back to that style. NO $ WILL BE SPENT ON STYLE DEVELOPEMENT IF YOU DO. WE STILL HAVE THAT PATTERN. IT SHOULD NEVER HAD BEEN CHANGED IN THE FIRST PLACE! When I do finally retire I want to remember and keep what I have. I hope it is the correct style (old). BRAC is dimantling the Air Force (because it concentrates only on the Air Force). Too much money is being spent on paying those people for that commission that we can’t focus on what our new equipment that is really needed. Get the leadership needed to make the decision to go back to the uniforms that works and that is part of our real heritage and, get the things we need to fly and fight. My son is a MARINE because he was embarrassed to be an Airman. He is proud of me but, the STUPID changes I had to go thru really STEERED him away from the Air Force. GET REAL BEFORE I RETIRE.
You’ve got to be kidding me…Leaders, please focus on fixing the sizes on the P.T. gear first. I am roughly a 32 to 34 inch individual and have to wear XXlarge shorts and a XLg shirt just so they will fit right and be able to run 3 miles (comfortable). Please focus on the mission then worry about the nice little blue jacket that is probably going to hang in my closet and collect dust due to the nature of my job. Also, I recommend summer weight ABU’s since I don’t work in an office and am constantly outside. It gets pretty darn hot wearing these things.…Have a nice air force day all…
Jimbo, If you get the chance to read this, you know not of what you speak. I have a comm maintenance background and have done tactical comms, combat comms, and airborn comms. I deployed Desert Shield/Storm, Southern Watch, OIF/OEF, Horn of Africa. I have slept in the mud and ate tons of sand. I’ve been in more than half my life and will continue to bust a hump when it is called for. In my daily duties as a 1st sgt, there is not usually the requirement for me to get dirty. I will don a chem suit and a gas mask along side everyone else when we exercise. I still get dirty when the Airmen need a hand. Hell, I’m usually grabbing them to give me a hand. I will mock the folks that wear zoomeralls that don’t fly planes. It is a “flight” suit, not a “sit-at-a desk” suit. How much money do you think we spend on that uniform. I pay for mine; flight suits are issued. They ain’t cheap. I am proud of the AF AND the blues I get to wear each Monday. Don’t worry about the Airmen doing the grunt work. They are still in there BDUs/ABUs.
And you’re damn skippy we need to upgrade our aircraft, but whining about the uniform isn’t going to prompt your congressman to do anything about it.
Sarah,
You rock. I wish there were more folks like you commenting on here. You are one of the few that get it. The most enjoyable time I’ve had as a shirt was with the cops. Keep up the good work!
Defender!
Hooah!
I think the People who keep changing the uniforms way tooooo often should really be concentrating on what is really needed, like proper protective gear and weapons for the military personnel who are outside an office Really Protecting Americans, and less time on how a uniform worn in an office LOOKS. I am a disabled Air Force veteran and my husband has been in the Air Force for 25 years and we have seen way too many UN-NECCESARY changes to the uniforms over the years. When I was “Active” I stayed in WWII era dorm buildings, shouldn’t things like that be up-dated before a “New Look” is implemented to “Uniforms”.
Y YES I APPROVE OF THIS NEW DESIGN, ITS VERY COOL. ITS DEFINITELY A GO WITH ME. CONTINUE TO AIM HIGH !
I WANT MY NEW AIR FORCE DRESS UNIFORM AS IT APPEARS IN THE ARTICLE. HOW MUCH AND WHEN, LET’S GET BUSY ON THE PRODUCT… DEFINITELY A GO HERE!!!
I went in the AF in ’69. The dress blues were great looking then, I still have mine after all these years, (still fit in them too) and really can’t understand a need for any change. We all looked sharp then. Why the need to change what isn’t broken?
It looks like a combination of a unisex Mao suit and a 1930s era army uniform with a belt. Congratulations. Now all that is needed is breast pads for the male suit and the feminists and femi-male officers of today’s U.S.A.F. will be well on the way to achieving their obvious goal — complete eradication of the “bad” gender. Manditory gonad extraction for males next?
MSgt Jones AD USAF
This uniform shows an shows a cronic lack of focus for what’s important. The people working uniform issues for the United States Air Force should be fired. The PT gear is a joke and the above belted suit makes me weep in despair. I’d like to see a uniform that I can be proud to wear and improves retention. It’s already tough enough to keep the good folks and get them to re-enlist.
Please don’t make my job harder than nessessary.
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Why not just go with Star Trek uniforms, instead of the Empire from Star Wars!! They could wear them along with the flying cars and robots on the flight line. LOL. Like many have said I retired last year and just in time!!! Happy Veterans Day!!
I was an Army Air Corps Pilot during WW2 and was vwery proud wearing the Winter dress uniform of Blouse and pinks
It is sad to see the overall negativity and bitterness of Air Force and other military personnel. It
It is sad to see the overall negativity and bitterness of Air Force and other military personnel. It’s funny to read postings by Marines because I didn’t even know they knew how to read much less write a cognitive sentence.
The first question is why should anyone care about dress blues when there are other things such as tankers, a successful battle dress uniform or uniforms (hey the Marines got something right– still wouldn’t be one), maintaining the overall safety of our ground personnel by giving them the right tools for the job, and oh yea tankers?
Tankers, need I say more? I believe all the services should adopt the Marines battle uniforms or switch to multicam. They work, simple as that. No real need to invest money when one service found what works (amazing what they can do with 4% of the DOD budget). Wasn’t this a team effort at one time?
But dress uniforms? The Air Force does have the worst one. Bus driver, bell hop, you name it and the current uniform looks it. It should be changed to something more military. Why not have a professional tailor make something? When the Marines wanted their uniform that’s what they did. You keep seeing generals putting in way too much input on what it should look like and even go as far as coming up with sketches. Let the guy do his job and maybe they would get something worth wearing. The Air Force has two options: Look like the Army from which they came or look like the Navy/Marines. Anything else would look “unmilitary.“
Finally, I am a firm believer in, “if you’re going to do something, you sure as hell do it right.” The uniform change is going to happen one day in the next 10 years. The current uniform is just too ugly for it not to. And what the hell is up with the v-neck? That takes a day to change. Come on Air Force, you have the world’s best shit and you can’t dress yourself.
What made the Army Air Corps uniform look so great was the dark green jacket, khaki pants, and spit shine brown low-quarters.
This version is comical by comparison. Hap Arnold would surely snort in disgust at the ridiculous “design” sense of current Air Force leaders (I use the term loosely).
You wouldn’t stick an ICBM missile officer in an F-16 and expect them to get bombs on target would you? So why allow generals with too much time on their hands to play Barbie dress up and design?
We all know that boredom can lead to some ridiculous mistakes. Clearly our leaders are so bored and without tasks — now they’re creating things to justify their existence. Job security? I guess.
Retirement is knowing I’ll never have to walk into Wal-Mart and get asked if I can tell someone the price on the item in their hands.
I’m in JROTC and I don’t want to join waering that uniform. I’d rather wear the old four button service coat– That one makes everyone look smart(even the ones who aren’t).
You mean “wearing”, a little odd for someone so concerned on looking smart.
Dad was a Korean war AF vet — His tailored uniform looked good then and now. Don’t change what works. PS the new army BDUs look stupid.
So what would you rather. Military or none. Sure government spending is out of control. No doubt.. But I’d much rather have them there than not. There is allot of paranoia going on about the black ops. That they are here to kill us, Americans. Youtube it and you can find one conspiracy freak after another. Sorry to say it but fire power is the only way to keep the peace. I live near an AFB and I sleep VERY well knowing there’s enough fire power in that ONE place to wipe out a small nation. There’s allot of people who are down on the military. WHY?? They work for us. If you want to angry with some one try looking up the tree towards the top. Military personnel DO NOT wage wars. Leaders of nations wage wars.. I’d love to see these guys thrown into a cage match situation and let them figure it out rather than watch our soldiers killed one after another. War is young men dying and old men getting rich over it. That has not changed from the stone age. Always over religion, land or some thing else STUPID! IF you’ve ever watched Dances with wolves Dunbar says this after fighting off an attack from a rival tribe. “I’ve never been in a war like this one, there was no dark politacal agenda, it was not about land or riches, it was about protecting children and loved ones just a few feet away, it was about protecting the food stores that would see us through the winter”.. These days wars are waged over “dark political agendas”.
I am 100% behind out troops. I don’t agree with the wars, but our troops? I love them all. Which brings to a sore spot to say little. The wife of a dead congressmen gets ONE MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR UNTIL SHE DIES!.. WTF??! Yet our own vets are more often than not rejected and treated poorly when they return home. They live on the streets begging!.. These men who fought for this country are treated like dirt… Shame on allot of you. I read you posts.. SHAME SHAME SHAME ON YOU!… These vets should be treated with velvet gloves. They should be housed, fed and taken VERY excellent care of. The families of the fallen get what? A free funeral, a thanks, and a flag? While some old broad that was married to a DEAD US congressmen get ONE MILLION A YEAR until she dies!? WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG HERE?! We send money over seas while AMERICANS go hungry and live on the streets. A PRISON INMATE gets more money than a school teacher! Not only that but out of a teachers pittance of a paycheck they are expected to BUY their own teaching materials?.. Allot needs to change in this country. Prisons are over flowing, children are getting passed along like some kind of disposable commodity and many graduate UNABLE to fill out a W2? A prison inmate can go to college! Get a Ph.D if they want one. But our own children are NOT getting a proper education?.. I could go on for DAYS about whats wrong. We need SERIOUS changes if we are to survive as a country and we need them now!
I am trying to locate fellow Veterans that was assigned to the Third Field Hospital, from Nov. 1967, until May 1969, if you are out there, please contact me, Sherman Carliles, shermancarliles@comcast.net. I am looking fordward to hearing from all of you.
I am trying to locate fellow Veterans that was assigned to the Third Field Hospital, from Nov. 1967, until May 1969, if you are out there, please contact me, Sherman Carliles, shermancarliles@comcast.net. I am looking fordward to hearing from all of you.
There seems to be a lot of experimentation with different variations of AF uniforms these days. With all due respect to the leadership, I think the solution is to leave the dress uniform alone. If you want respect and a huge buy-in with current USAF personnel, as well as other branches, bring back the 1505 uniform.
The 1505 was the most practical, comfortable and traditionally connected uniform the Air force ever had. Getting rid of it in late 1976 was a huge mistake and left many in all branches scratching their heads. Don’t take my word for it, take a poll and you will see an overwhelming majority of AF personnel jump at the opportunity to wear the 1505 uniform.
No other branch could in good conscience state that the 1505 is an ugly uniform or argue that it doesn’t fit the Air Force. It was a uniform worn for years by Air force personnel, and was hugely liked. The answer to respect, tradition, practicality, comfort and a uniform that flat out looks sharp is what the Air force already had.
Bring back the 1505 uniform and you will be surprised how that will lift morale, and pride amongst the men and women who wear the AF uniform. It will also facilitate newfound respect from other branches who will then try to implement their version of an old AF uniform that never should have been scrapped.