JOINT BASE CHARLESTON, S.C. -- There are several changes to Air Force dress and appearance guidelines documented in Air Force Instruction 36-2903.
"If you have not yet reviewed AFI 36-2903, I recommend you do so, but here are a few important highlights you should be aware of," Chief Master Sgt. GiGi Manning, 315th AW Command Chief Master Sergeant.
Here are a few new requirements and frequently violated dress and appearance requirements.
"Dress and personal appearance standards that are not listed as authorized in the publication are unauthorized," States AFI 36-2903, Page 1, last sentence.
Backpacks
- With blues and PT uniform, solid-color black backpacks only.
- With ABUs, solid-color black, ABU-patterned, olive drab or Air Force sage green only.
- Backpacks should only be carried in your left hand or worn on the left or both shoulders. You should never wear a backpack on your right shoulder.
Contact lenses
- Contact lenses must be clear and cannot change the natural color of the wearer's eye.
Watches
- Watches must be conservative. Prohibited examples include: diamond covered, neon or bright colors, bands exceeding 1 inch in width and novelty watches (i.e. cartoons characters, sports teams)
Ear Rings
- Earings must be spherical, white diamond, gold, white pearl or silver. Maximum diameter is 4mm.
Bracelets
- Bracelets must be conservative and no more than ½ inch in width, be gold or silver in color. Support-a-cause, a person, a philosophy or group bracelets are not authorized.
- Exceptions to this include medical alert/ID bracelets are authorized. Traditional metal POW/MIA/KIA bracelets which are silver, bronze or gold are also authorized.
Sunglasses
- Plastic sunglass frames should be black or brown. Medal frames should be gold or silver.
- Conservative ornamentation is OK.
- Mirror lenses are not authorized.
- Logos are allowed if they are small and the same color as the frame or lens.
- Never wear sunglasses on the top or back of your head , around your neck or hanging from a uniform pocket.
Hair
- Male's hair must be tapered on the sides and back. Sideburns should not extend below the lowest ear opening.
- Female's hair should not extend 3 inches in bulk and not extend below the rear edge of the collar. Hair color must complement the members complexion and skin tone.
Pockets
- At no times are members of the Air Force allowed to have their hand in their pockets - this includes while walking, standing and in cold weather. This rule applies to all uniforms, including PT uniform.
ABUs
- Sleeve cuffs must remain visible at all times. All pockets will be secured and items stowed in pockets will not be visible except pens stowed in the pen pocket.
- ABU caps may not be pushed, rolled, folded or tucked in (e.g. ranger fold).
Cell phones
Previous: 98th Uniform Board message dated 12 June 2009 allowed use of personal cell phones while walking in uniform.
Current: AFI 36-2903 dated 18 July 2011 superseded this message. Now it is not allowed.
Exception: Use of a personal cell phone for official notifications is allowed.
Specialty Badges
Basic: Upon graduation of technical school officers and enlisted are authorized the basic specialty badge.
Senior: When an enlisted member is awarded their 7 level they may wear the senior badge. Officers may wear the senior badge after 7 years in their specialty.
Master: Enlisted 5 years after award of 7th level skill level and master sergeant or above. Officers may wear this badge after 15 years in the specialty.
Phased out items
- 33S legacy badges (Oct. 2011)
- Battle Dress Uniform - BDU (Nov. 2011)
- Desert camouflage uniform (Nov. 2011)
- Black t-shirts and black combat boots (Nov. 2011)
- Tan boots with ABUs outside theater of operations (Nov. 2011)