(She would kill me if she knew I was posting this photo.)
Posted on 06/02/2006 1:51:10 PM PDT by Paladin2b
Based on feedback received during visits with Airmen across the Air Force, the Air Force Uniform Board is reviewing several concepts that Airmen have suggested regarding the appearance of the service dress uniform.
Some of the informal feedback about the current service dress includes Airmen wanting to revamp the service dress to look more military, like the other services. One senior airman said, “the current uniform resembles a cheesy business suit.” A staff sergeant said, “think world’s most dominating air power, not CEO,” and another described it as a “cheap leisure suit.”
Other comments have suggested that the uniform needs to reflect the Air Force’s history more. On an Internet message board an Airman recently wrote, “I want to look good and be proud of my AF heritage.” Another Airman wrote that the dress uniform pales in comparison to any of the other services. "We need something that distinguishes us as proud members of the U.S. military.”
The Air Force began exploring these ideas by producing several prototypes that reflect a combination of ideas that have been gleaned from comments, suggestions and informal surveys conducted over the past several years.
A more formal survey soon will provide additional opportunities for Airmen to provide feedback and comments.
"We’ve been getting informal feedback on our current service dress uniform for several years, and what we consistently have heard from many Airmen is a desire for a more 'military,' and less 'corporate' look and feel, something more reflective of the Air Force’s heritage, and its role as a professional military organization,” said Brig. Gen. Robert Allardice, director of Airman development and sustainment, deputy chief of staff for manpower and personnel.
“The Uniform Board has come up with some options to explore these concepts and the initial prototypes are direct descendants of our heritage, rooted in Hap Arnold and Billy Mitchell’s Air Force,” General Allardice said.
The survey will provide a more formal opportunity to collect feedback on whether or not Airmen want a new service dress, and if so, what changes, likes, or dislikes they have about the prototypes.
“We believe we need to respond to the force and the constant flow of feedback we receive on the service dress is driving this initiative. We see this as an opportunity to do so, along with a chance to reflect on our rich history, as well as the image we wish to portray in uniform,” said General Allardice. “We want to make sure our uniforms, all combinations, meet our current and future needs.”
This process will use the standard Air Force Uniform Board process and as with the Airman’s Battle Uniform, Airmen are encouraged to take the opportunity to directly contribute to how their new service uniform might look.
The Air Force will present options based on feedback received on possible service dress designs through the uniform board process.
My point was that the class A used to be mandatory wear, much of the year. Unless one was working on the flight line or doing other work where mechanics clothing would be appropriate. It's no accident that the old fatigues were pretty much the same, except in green, as what auto mechanics, plumbers, etc wore at the time. They were a work uniform, "blue collar" type work. If you worked in an office, you didn't wear 'em you wore class A's or something similar. In the 80s that meant the same pants with a shirt that could be worn open collar, or with a tie, depending on circumstances. (Of course that was too comfortable for certain brass, so they changed the rules to require wear with a tie, unless it was the outer garment. You couldn't wear the lightweight jacket unless you also wore a tie. Other wise at most southern bases, folks would rarely wear it any other way.
What's currently missing, but present when I was serving, is something equivalent to "corporate casual". Once the kahki 1505s (named after the number assigene to the color/shade) later it was the regular dress uniform's pants or something like "dockers", which didn't hold up as well as today's dockers, and tended to get shiny after a washing or two, with the short sleeved shirt worn with an open collar (Until the 80s that was the only sort of sort sleeved shirt we had. That one had no epaulets, rank was worn on the collar by officers and on the sleeves by enlisted). You can still wear that combination, although I'm not sure if you can wear the open collar, I've not been on an AF base in a long time, and then everyone was wearing green bags or BDUs. When our AF customers visited us at our facility, they usually wore the same, but occasionally they'd wear the blue pants, light blue shirt, but I think always with a tie. I hate ties with a passion!
Neither have I, but most officers, at least those Captain and above, plus Academy graduates, both own and wear them. Usually at least a couple of times a year, as far as I can tell.
Heck they have so called Dining Ins and Dining Outs (which started out as Wing Dings during WW-II in England and grew out of similar RAF affairs), just so they can wear them. Then there is often a Military Ball, and a Christmas affair of some sort. But Reservists don't have all that stuff, maybe a Military Ball and/or a Christmas dance depending on location.
No blue uniforms anywhere...the AF projects a "warrior" image now...BDUs or deserts everywhere now...
Thanks....I had to call Mike to look and see...he really got a kick out of the ribbons.......his fav was *Never got a ribbon ribbon*.....LOL
The most common uniform on an AF base has "Carrier" on the back.
Can you picture the fat guys in that uniform?;)
Thanks for that visual!!
How're ya doing?
Your screen name puts me in mind of a former boyfriend who wanted to marry me (seriously). I need to say Seriously because of what follows.
When I asked him why he wanted to marry me, he said, in this order: Because I want to spend the rest of my life looking at your legs; you are so loving; and you're fun to be with.
Enjoyed your home page.
Being a tall girl is such a hardship. ;-)
Glad you liked my homepage, I enjoyed yours as well!
I forgot to mention that I'm average height but I can empathize with your plight.
Thanks re the home page. =)
Yeah, yeah you're right. And the Star with oak leaf clusters was CMSgt of the Air Force. My bad, but it's been a very long time...
This is better. So long as they keep the shoulder rank, that is......
Nodding, thanks for the info!
"The bag" is very comfortable - trouble is, only flyers get to wear them. I only know how comfy it is 'cause I got an orientation flight in a T-38 a couple of years ago. Yup, every time there's a change, they give us a drop-dead date for when we have to start wearing the new uniform. And the more rank you get, the sooner they expect you to convert to the new uniform. Apparently, it shows leadership or something...
"Reservists don't have all that stuff" - hmmm. I'm a reserve JAG O-6 and have had to wear my mess dress a couple times a year for the last 6 years (since I was an O-4). Maybe not in the unit world (although part of my time was as an SJA in a flying unit).
In 1955, the Air Force introduced its new summer uniform (above, getting a second look from conventionally dressed airmen at Mac Dill AFB, Fla.). In addition to the shorts and pith helmet, options included a bush jacket and long pants, but the look never really caught on.
This style never quite made it either, but the Post Office adopted it.
Don't think the senior officers' garrison cap of this pith helmet style would have looked good with "farts and darts" style scrambled eggs.
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