The Uniform Board decided on changes that range from changing the Ceremonial Band Uniform to allowing Airmen to have clean shaven heads. Below is an excerpt of the "Official" message:


1. THE CSAF HAS RENDERED THE FOLLOWING DECISIONS CONCERNING THE 96TH AF UNIFORM BOARD THAT MET ON 18 - 19 JUNE 2003. VOTING MEMBERS INCLUDED REPRESENTATIVES FROM DESIGNATED AIR STAFF DIRECTORATES, EACH MAJOR COMMAND, AF RESERVE, NATIONAL GUARD AND THE CHIEF MASTER SERGEANT OF THE AIR FORCE. NON-VOTING MEMBERS INCLUDED REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE ARMY AND AF EXCHANGE SERVICES (AAFES), AF CLOTHING OFFICE AND DEFENSE SUPPLY CENTER PHILADELPHIA (DSCP).

A. APPROVALS

1. REPLACE CURRENT USAF BAND CEREMONIAL UNIFORM WITH DISTINCTIVE AND COST-EFFECTIVE UNIFORM
2. AUTHORIZE A SPECIAL EVENTS UNIFORM FOR AF RECRUITERS
3. OFFER THE A-LINE SKIRT AS AN OPTIONAL ITEM
4. REDESIGN THE MATERNITY JUMPER AND BRING BACK THE MATERNITY SMOCK/TUNIC WITH ADDED EXPANSION TABS
5. REVISE THE MATERNITY SERVICE UNIFORM SHIRTS BY ADDING EXPANSION TABS
6. AUTHORIZATION TO WEAR MATERNITY T-SHIRT EITHER TUCKED IN OR LEFT OUT WITH BDUS
7. ESTABLISH A STANDARDIZED AF PHYSICAL TRAINING (PT) UNIFORM
8. REPLACE BMT ISSUE SUMMER PT GEAR (T-SHIRT AND SHORTS)
9. REDESIGN THE FEMALE LIGHTWEIGHT BLUE JACKET
10. AUTHORIZE THE LIGHTWEIGHT BLUE JACKET TO BE WORN INDOORS
11. AUTHORIZE AS AN OPTION TO HAVE THE AF SYMBOL EMBROIDERED ON THE LIGHTWEIGHT BLUE JACKET
12. INCORPORATE IN AFI 36-2903 MINIMUM WEAR POLICY/REQUIREMENTS FOR WEAR OF FLIGHT SUIT AND OTHER FLIGHT DRESS UNIFORMS AS A CREW DUTY UNIFORM
13. INCORPORATE IN AFI 36-2903 WEAR POLICY FOR FLIGHT ATTENDANT UNIFORM
14. INCORPORATE IN AFI 36-2903 WEAR POLICY FOR HOSPITAL SCRUBS
15. AUTHORIZE ONLY BLACK SCARF TO BE WORN WITH BDUS, DELETE ALL OTHER COLORS
16. AUTHORIZE ONLY BLACK SCARF TO BE WORN WITH ALL BLUE UNIFORM COMBINATIONS WHEN WEARING THE LIGHTWEIGHT BLUE JACKET AND OVERCOAT, DELETE ALL OTHER COLORS
17. ELIMINATE WHITE, GRAY, OLIVE DRAB SCARVES; BLACK SCARF ONLY COLOR AUTHORIZED WITH ALL AF UNIFORMS
18. AUTHORIZE CONSERVATIVE ORNAMENTATION ON NONPRESCRIPTION SUNGLASSES AND EYEGLASSES; FRAMES MAY BE BLACK OR BROWN MATERIAL OR GOLD/SILVER WIRE; BRAND NAME GLASSES MAY BE WORN WITH SMALL LOGO ON FRAMES OF LENS; LOGO MUST BE SAME COLOR AS FRAMES OR LENS
19. AUTHORIZE WEAR OF CONSERVATIVE WRAP AROUND SUNGLASSES; FRAMES MAY BE BLACK OR BROWN MATERIAL BRAND NAME GLASSES MAY BE WORN WITH SMALL LOGO ON FRAMES OR LENS; LOGO MUST BE SAME COLOR AS FRAMES OR LENS
20. AUTHORIZE ONLY ONE SMALL BLACK, NONDESCRIPTIVE PERSONAL DIGITAL ASSISTANCE (PDA), PAGER, OR CELLULAR PHONE AT A TIME BE WORN ON THE UNIFORM BELT
21. ALLOW FEMALES TO WEAR SMALL BLACK SPHERICAL EARRINGS WHEN IN UNIFORM
22. ALLOW BLACK WEB BELT OR BLACK RIGGERS BELT WITH NONDESCRIPT BLACK BUCKLE AS AN OPTIONAL ITEM WITH BDUS
23. STANDARDIZE ENLISTED GORE-TEX JACKET RANK INSIGNIA
24. REMOVE REQUIREMENT TO WEAR A TIE OR TAB WITH SHORT SLEEVE SHIRT OR BLOUSE WHILE TRAVELING ON A COMMERCIAL AIRLINE
25. AUTHORIZE WEAR OF A BACKPACK OVER BOTH SHOULDERS
26. AUTHORIZE ONLY SOLID-COLOR BLACK BACKPACK WITH AF BLUE UNIFORM COMBINATIONS AND SOLID-COLOR BLACK OR OLIVE DRAB, OR WOODLAND CAMOUFLAGE BACKPACK WITH BDUS
27. AUTHORIZE SURVIVAL, EVASION, RESISTANCE, AND ESCAPE (SERE) SPECIALIST THE WEAR OF A PEWTER GREEN BERET
28. ALLOW SURVIVAL, EVASION, RESISTANCE, AND ESCAPE (SERE) SPECIALIST TO WEAR THE SERE ARCH ON THE BDUS
29. REDESIGN OF SECURITY FORCE'S BERET
30. ALLOW THE WEAR OF PLAIN BLACK CONSERVATIVE HAIRPINS, COMBS, HEADBANDS, ELASTIC BANDS AND BARRETTES WITH ALL FEMALE HAIR COLORS
31. ALLOW MALES TO CLEANLY SHAVE THEIR HEADS OR HAVE MILITARY HIGH-AND-TIGHT HAIRCUTS; FEMALES ARE NOT AUTHORIZED TO SHAVE THEIR HEADS OR WEAR HIGH-AND-TIGHT HAIRCUTS
32. AUTHORIZE BASEBALL CAPS TO BE WORN NOT ONLY AT HOME STATION BUT ALSO AT CONUS TDY; NO OVERSEAS LOCATIONS
33. CREATE A METAL OR PLASTIC SECURITY FORCES FLASH FOR BERET
34. REDESIGN THE COMBAT WEAR TEAM BERET DEVICE
35. ADD IN AFI 36-2903, "NO HANDS IN POCKET AUTHORIZED"
36. PROVIDE ADDITIONAL DUTY BADGE PLACEMENT FOR WOMEN'S BLOUSE, MESS DRESS JACKET AND MATERNITY JUMPER
37. REDESIGN AIR MOBILITY LIAISON OFFICER BERET FLASH AND AUTHORIZE A BLACK BERET BE WORN
38. ADD GUIDANCE IN AFI 36-2903 ON MILITARY CREASES; NOT AUTHORIZED IN AF UNIFORMS; CREASES WILL ONLY BE ON SLEEVES AND PANT LEGS
39. CLARIFY IN AFI 36-2903 THE INSTALLATION COMMANDER HAS OVERALL AUTHORITY FOR WEAR OF UNIFORM DURING SPORTS EVENTS

1. ALLOW BASE HONOR GUARD TO WEAR CHARCOAL GRAY FLIGHT SUIT
2. ALLOW BASE HONOR GUARD A DISTINCTIVE PT UNIFORM
3. ALLOW FLIGHT LINE PERSONNEL TO WEAR UNIFORM SIMILAR TO BASE TRANSIT ALERT TEAMS
4. ADD ADDITIONAL ALLOWANCE FOR FEMALE SERVICE COAT TAILORING OR ALTERATION
5. REDESIGN SERVICE DRESS UNIFORM
6. ADD LONGEVITY "HASH MARKS" TO SERVICE DRESS JACKET
7. AUTHORIZE FEMALES TO WEAR CHAINED BUTTONS ON MESS DRESS JACKET
8. ADD ADDITIONAL ALLOWANCE FOR SHIRT/BLOUSE TAILORING OR ALTERATION
9. REDESIGN FEMALE BLUE PANTS TO STRAIGHT LEGS VICE TAPERED LEGS
10. PERMIT FEMALES TO WEAR PANTS WITH SEMI-FORMAL OR MESS DRESS UNIFORMS
11. EXTEND ALLOWABLE LENGTH OF FEMALE SKIRT
12. CREATE MATERNITY COLD WEATHER JACKET
13. ADD BLOUSING RIBBON TO MATERNITY BDU
14. BRING BACK THE MATERNITY SERVICE DRESS JACKET
15. CREATE WINTER-WEIGHT MATERNITY BDUS
16. DEVELOP BLUE GORE-TEX JACKET FOR WEAR WITH ALL SERVICE DRESS COMBINATIONS
17. CREATE SLEEVED LINER FOR LIGHTWEIGHT BLUE JACKET
18. AUTHORIZE ISSUE AND WEAR OF "SECURITY FORCES" BLUE JACKET TO OTHER CAREER FIELDS
19. GRANT INSTALLATION COMMANDER AUTHORITY TO AUTHORIZE WEAR OF DCU
20. PERMIT WEAR OF BLACK T-SHIRT WITH BREAST POCKET
21. ELIMINATE BUTTON-FLY BDU TROUSERS AND REPLACE WITH ZIPPER
22. DESIGN BDU SHORT SLEEVE SHIRT AS OPTIONAL ITEM
23. INSERT HARD PLASTIC SHEET UNDER BDU POCKET FLAP TO PREVENT BUTTON "BURN THROUGH" FROM DRY CLEANING AND IRONING
24. ADD ADDITIONAL ALLOWANCE OR VOUCHER FOR TAILORING AND ALTERING THE FEMALE BDU AND DCU
25. ADD BUTTONED TABS TO SIDES OF BDU SHIRT
26. MAKE DCU AN ISSUE ITEM INSTEAD OF AN ORGANIZATIONAL
27. INCORPORATE IN AFI 36-2903 PROPER WEAR INSTRUCTIONS FOR DCUS
28. ADD POCKET TO EACH SLEEVE OF BDU AND DCU
29. ADD STRAP TO FLIGHT SUIT SLEEVES TO ALLOW FOR SLEEVE ROLL UP
30. LOWER FLIGHT SUIT TIGHTENING STRAP 3 TO 4 INCHES
31. ALLOW FLIGHT LINE AIRCREW AND MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL TO WEAR FLIGHT GLOVES WITH BDU AND DCU WHEN NOT PERFORMING DUTIES ON THE FLIGHT LINE
32. ALLOW NAVY-COLORED GLOVES AND MITTENS
33. ALLOW WEAR OF CREW-NECK T-SHIRTS WITH SHORT SLEEVED BLUE SHIRT
34. PHASE OUT FEMALE 3.5 INCH BDU STRIPES
35. REDESIGN FEMALE TIE TAB
36. MAKE TIE OR TAB MANDATORY WITH BLUE SWEATER
37. ELIMINATE BLUE PLASTIC NAME TAG
38. AUTHORIZE WEAR OF SERVICE JACKET METALLIC NAME TAG ON BLUE SHIRTS
39. STANDARDIZE POSITIONING OF FEMALE BLUE NAME TAG
40. ALLOW VELCRO NAMETAPES AND PIN-ON RANK FOR DCU
41. REDESIGN GENERAL APPEARANCE OF MALE FLIGHT CAP
42. ELIMINATE HATS AND CAPS; MAKE THEM OPTIONAL EXCEPT FOR OFFICIAL CEREMONIES
43. ELIMINATE FEMALE FLIGHT CAP AND AUTHORIZE FEMALES TO WEAR MALE FLIGHT CAP
44. ADD BUTTON-HOLE OR TABS INSIDE FEMALE FLIGHT CAP AND BDU CAP TO ACCOMMODATE BOBBY PINS OR HAIRCLIPS
45. AUTHORIZE FEMALE TO WEAR NAVY BLUE PUMPS AS AN OPTIONAL COLOR
46. PROHIBIT FEMALE HAIR "SCRUNCHY"
47. ELIMINATE FEMALE PONYTAIL AS AUTHORIZED HAIRSTYLE
48. REDESIGN REAR POSTS FOR MAJOR AND LIEUTENANT COLONEL METAL RANK INSIGNIA
49. AUTHORIZE "POCKET-ROCKET" MISSILE BADGE TO BE WORN BY 2WXX1 PERSONNEL
50. PRIORITIZE EXPERT FIELD MEDICAL BADGE (EFMB)/COMBAT MEDICAL BADGE (CMB) ABOVE PARACHUTIST BADGE
51. ALLOW WEAR OF NATIONALLY REGISTERED EMT (NREMT) PATCH
52. REQUIRE WEAR OF ALL BADGES AND RIBBONS WHEN WEARING SHORT OR LONG SLEEVED BLUE SHIRT
53. ESTABLISH NEW BADGE RECOGNIZING HEADQUARTERS AF PERSONNEL
54. AUTHORIZE PERSONNEL CAREER FIELDS TO WEAR PERSCO TEAM PATCH
55. AUTHORIZE WEAR OF BRAIDED BADGES ON MESS DRESS UNIFORM
56. AUTHORIZE MORE THAN ONE COLOR SUBDUED AF OCCUPATIONAL BADGES
57. REDESIGN POSTS OF RIBBONS, PINS, AND NAMETAGS WITH MACHINE THREADED POSTS
58. AUTHORIZE THE WEAR OF THE US FLAG ON THE UPPER ARM AREA OF THE BDU
59. ALLOW MEMBERS TO WEAR BDUS OFF INSTALLATION FOR OFF-DUTY EDUCATION
60. EXPAND THE SIZE SELECTION OF BDU
61. ALLOW FEMALES TO WEAR MEN'S BLUE PANTS

1. NO ACTION TAKEN PENDING OUTCOME OF UTILITY UNIFORM TEST

   a. ADD RANK INSIGNIA TO EXTREME COLD WEATHER PARKA
   b. REDESIGN THE HOOD ON THE GORE-TEX JACKET
   c. REQUIRE NAME TAPE BE WORN ON GORE-TEX BDU PARKA SLEEVE POCKET
   d. ALLOW BDU POCKETS TO BE ALTERED EITHER BY SEWING DOWN OR USING VELCRO WHEN NOT DEPLOYED
   e. AUTHORIZE MOISTURE-MANAGING T-SHIRTS UNDER BDUS

    

2. REFERRED TO AF/XO

   a. ALLOW MAJCOM TO AUTHORIZE REMOVAL OF FLIGHT SUIT PEN HOLDER FLAP AND WEAR MINIATURE PATCHES
   b. WEAR OF GORE-TEX BDU JACKET WITH FLIGHT SUIT
   c. ALLOW WEAR OF KNITTED STOCKING CAPS (WATCH CAPS) WITH BDU AND FLIGHT SUIT WHEN WEARING FLYER'S COLD WEATHER JACKET (45-P)

    

3. MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS

a. REFERRED TO AF/DPPFC FOR CONSIDERATION: CHANGE OUTSTANDING AIRMAN OF THE YEAR AND AF RECOGNITION RIBBONS TO MEDALS
b. REFERRED TO AF/DPPFC FOR CONSIDERATION: CHANGE NAME OF BASIC MILITARY TRAINING HONOR GRADUATE RIBBON TO HONOR GRADUATE RIBBON
c. REFERRED TO AF/ILE FOR CONSIDERATION: ALLOW GAS MASK CARRIER TO BE WORN ON LEFT HIP BY LEFT-HANDED PERSONNEL (WEAR POLICY NOT AFUB)
d. REFERRED TO AF/ILE FOR CONSIDERATION: STANDARDIZE NAMEPLATES FOR INDIVIDUALS PROTECTION EQUIPMENT
e. PULLED BY SG AT BOARD: AUTHORIZE STANDARDIZED JUMP SUIT FOR 24-HOUR AMBULANCE SERVICES MEDICAL TECHNICIAN

 

4. IPT FOR BADGES: BOARD RECOMMENDED AN IPT TO REVIEW WEAR POLICY OF BADGES TO INCLUDE SISTER SERVICE BADGES. WEAR OF BADGES WILL BE REEVALUATED AT THE END OF THE SIX-MONTH UTILITY UNIFORM WEAR TEST AND ALL ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE
5. IPT FOR AF DISTINCTIVE UNIFORMS: BOARD RECOMMENDED AN IPT REVIEW WEAR POLICY FOR ALL APPROVED DISTINCTIVE UNIFORMS TO ESTABLISH A UNIFORM THAT WOULD ACCOMMODATE THE NEEDS OF ALL CAREER FIELDS.
6.  AFI ALREADY ADDRESSES THESE ITEMS CLEARLY

   a. MANDATORY WEAR OF BLACK SOCKS WITH BDUS WHEN NOT INVOLVED IN CONTINGENCIES
   b. WHITE SOCKS CANNOT BE EXPOSED AT ANYTIME WHILE WEARING BDUS WHETHER IN WAR OR PEACETIME
   c. AUTHORIZE MEN/WOMEN TO PURCHASE SHOES WITH ADDITIONAL SEAM ON TOP OF SHOE
   d. ADD GUIDANCE FOR CAPS AND CROWNS ON TEETH
   e. SPECIALTY BADGES AWARDED AFTER PERSON IS FULLY UPGRADED TO EQUIVALENT SKILL LEVEL
   f. ADD DETAILED OUTLINE IN AFI 36-2903 OF CORRECT WEAR OF BRAIDS AND CORNROWS