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Dress, appearance standards updated

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Kathryn R.C. Reaves
  • 20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. --  The Air Force announced updates to Air Force Instruction 36-2903, Dress and Personal Appearance of Air Force Personnel, July 16.

The updates went into effect July 13, followed recommendations made by Airmen, which were reviewed during the 100th Air Force Uniform Board, April 2017.

Changes include additional guidance for the wear of ribbons, the Operational Camouflage Pattern and Physical Training Gear, as well as adjusted grooming standards.

OCP wear will be mandatory beginning April 1, 2021, but Airmen are authorized to begin purchasing or wearing previously owned OCPs on Oct. 1, 2018.

The uniform will consist of the following:
- OCP coat

- Spice brown rank or black for first lieutenants and lieutenant colonels effective April 1, 2019

- Accoutrements in a basic configuration until otherwise authorized

- “USAF” tape, name tape and rank either secured via stitching or fabric fastener

- Mandatory wear of U.S. flag patch on the right sleeve with the optional wear of approved patches

- Two patches may be worn on the left sleeve including duty identifier tabs and functional badges, awarded joint qualification tabs or organizational unit patches

- Desert sand or tan colored shirt

- OCP trousers

- Tan 499 rigger style, nylon web belt

- Patrol cap with spice brown nametape centered on the back of the hat

- Defense Logistics Agency- issued green or, until June 1, 2020, desert sand or tan socks

- Shirt will be tucked into the trousers and must be tan or, until June 1, 2020, may be desert sand colored

- Coyote brown or, until June 1, 2020, tan boots

Staff Sgt. Terry Luckhardt, 20th Civil Engineer Squadron electrical systems craftsman, said the OCP uniform was not only lighter and easier to move in, but it also proved to be conducive to duties and functional during his latest deployment.

For female Airmen, the changes also include the removal of a minimum hair length, increase of hair bulk allowances to 3 1/2 inches, authorization for black hair accessories regardless of hair color and the addition of locs in hair guidance.

Although the update included many changes, there may be more changes soon.

“There are additional Uniform Board initiatives that are ongoing and still being analyzed for consideration and implementation by senior leaders,” said Lt. Gen. Gina Grosso, Deputy Chief of Staff, Manpower, Personnel, and Services.

For more information on AFI 36-2903 updates, visit static.e-publishing.af.mil/production/1/af_a1/publication/afi36-2903/afi36-2903.pdf