Webmaster Note:
some items (para 2 + sub paras) are effective immediately or by a specified effective date; some are approved by not effective until wear guidance and effective dates are published (para 3 + sub paras); some items have been deferred to a later date (para 4 and sub paras) and finally numerous disapproved items (para 5 and subparas).

Significant changes listed that are effective immediately...blousing of boots, laces... (although this has now been pulled and is being relooked at.

1.  THE 98TH AF VIRTUAL UNIFORM BOARD CONVENED IN 2008.  VOTING MEMBERS INCLUDED AIRMEN FROM ALL MAJCOMS AND MOST FUNCTIONAL COMMUNITIES.  REPRESENTATIVES FROM AAFES, DSCP/DLA, THE AF UNIFORM OFFICE, AF/A1D AND AF/A4L ACTED AS NON-VOTING ADVISORS.  BOARD RECOMMENDATIONS WERE FORWARDED TO THE AIR FORCE CHIEF OF STAFF FOR FINAL DECISION.

2.  APPROVED ITEMS ? EFFECTIVE AS INDICATED:

A.  DRESS (BLUE) UNIFORM

1)  ELIMINATE WEAR OF THE METAL RANK BY ENLISTED AIRMEN ON THE LIGHT WEIGHT BLUE JACKET; RANK MUST BE WORN USING ONLY THE CHEVRON RANK INSIGNIA SEWN ON THE SLEEVES; EFF:  NLT 1 JAN 2010

B.  UTILITY UNIFORM (APPLIES TO ABUS, BDUS, AND DCUS)

1)  TROUSERS MUST BE TUCKED INTO BOOTS AND PRESENT A BLOUSED APPEARANCE AT ALL TIMES; EFF:  IMMEDIATELY

2)  TUCK IN BOOT LACES; EXCESS BOOT LACES MAY BE WRAPPED AROUND THE BOOT AND TUCKED IN.  NO “BOWTIE” BOOT LACES; EFF: IMMEDIATELY

3)  MAJCOMS AUTHORIZED TO APPROVE WEAR OF BLACK BOOTS WITH THE ABU ONLY IN INDUSTRIAL AREAS IAW 132024Z FEB 09 HQ USAF/A1 MESSAGE; EFF:  AS PER REFERENCED MESSAGE, 13 FEB 2009

4)  ELIMINATE AUTHORITY TO ATTACH ORGANIZATIONAL CAP TO BDU TROUSER; EFF:  IMMEDIATELY

5)  UPPER SLEEVE POCKET APPROVED FOR FIRE RESISTANT ABUS AUTHORIZED FOR, AND WORN ONLY IN, THE AOR

C.  ACCOUTREMENTS

1)  AUTHORIZE AIRMEN MEETING THE CRITERIA FOR, AND AWARDED THE US ARMY PARACHUTE RIGGERS BADGE PERMANENT WEAR OF THAT BADGE ON ALL AUTHORIZED UNIFORM COMBINATIONS.  WHEN WEARING THE SUBDUED RIGGERS BADGE ON THE ABU/BDU, THE BADGE WILL BE BLUE (NOT BLACK). WHEN WEARING THE SUBDUED BADGE ON THE DCU, THE BADGE WILL BE BROWN.

2)  AUTHORIZE PERMANENT WEAR OF BLACK U.S. ARMY AIR ASSAULT BADGE ON THE BDU, REGARDLESS OF DUTY ASSIGNMENT, UPON GRADUATION FROM AIR ASSAULT SCHOOL

3)  AUTHORIZE WEAR OF THE AFOSI DUTY BADGE ON THE SERVICE DRESS UNIFORM AND SUBDUED CLOTH DUTY BADGE ON THE ABU

D.  MISCELLA            NEOUS

1)  AUTHORIZE USE OF PERSONAL CELLULAR PHONES WHILE WALKING IN UNIFORM; CELLULAR PHONE MUST BE CONSERVATIVE IN COLOR; WEAR OF HANDS FREE DEVICES WHILE WALKING IN UNIFORM IS PROHIBITED; CELL PHONE MAY BE WORN ON EITHER THE LEFT OR RIGHT SIDE OF UNIFORM; MILITARY CUSTOMS AND COURTESIES APPLY AND TAKE PRECEDENCE

3.  APPROVED UNIFORM/DESIGN CHANGES.  WEAR GUIDANCE AND EFFECTIVE DATES WILL BE PROVIDED IN SUPPLEMENTAL MESSAGES.  NO ACTION REQUIRED BY MEMBERS AT THIS TIME:

A.  UTILITY UNIFORMS

1)  WEAR OF FOLIAGE GREEN FLEECE AS AN OUTER GARMENT WITH ABU

2)  A FLEECE LINER WITH THE ABILITY TO ZIP INTO THE APECS

3)  INCREASE LENGTH OF LOWER LEG POCKET ON ABU TROUSER 1/2 INCH

4)  CHANGE FEMALE ABU TROUSER “FLY” BUTTONS TO MIRROR MALES

5)  ADD SMALL ABU NAME TAPE WITH LAST NAME TO POCKET FLAP ON ALL-PURPOSE

ENVIRONMENTAL CLOTHING SYSTEM (APECS) LEFT SLEEVE

6)  ALTER ABU SLEEVE PEN POCKET 1/2 INCHTO PREVENT BREAKING WRITING UTENSILS OR PUNCTURES WHILE BENDING ARM

B.  PHYSICAL TRAINING GEAR

1)  REVISE CURRENT PT GEAR WEAR GUIDANCE TO REFLECT A MORE PROFESSIONAL IMAGE.  MAKE STANDARDS MORE IN LINE WITH THE INTENT OF THE UNIFORM

C.  MATERNITY UNIFORM

1)  AUTHORIZE AN ADDITION OF SIDE BUTTONS THAT UNFOLD A SMALL PORTION OF THE MATERNITY ABU TROUSER.

4.  DEFERRED ITEMS AND ITEMS THAT BOARD RECOMMENDED APPROVAL, BUT REQUIRE FURTHER RESEARCH AND/OR DEVELOPMENT.  IF ANY ITEM IS LATER APPROVED BY CSAF, WEAR GUIDANCE AND EFFECTIVE DATES WILL BE PROVIDED IN SUPPLEMENTAL MESSAGES;  NO ACTION REQUIRED BY MEMBERS AT THIS TIME:

A.  UTILITY UNIFORM

1)  WEAR OF GREEN CREW NECK SWEATER SIMILAR TO MARINE CORPS UNDER THE ABU

B.  MATERNITY UNIFORM

1)  ADJUST MATERNITY ABU TO MIRROR REGULAR POCKET PLACEMENT

C.  ACCOUTREMENTS

1)  OFFICERS ASSIGNED TO COMMAND AND CONTROL (C2) NODES TO WEAR THE C2 BADGE IF APPROVED FOR AWARD BY THE FUNCTIONAL AUTHORITY

5.  DISAPPROVALS:

A.  THE FOLLOWING INITIATIVES WERE DISAPPROVED:

                        1)  OPTIONAL FLIGHT CAP W/VENTING

                        2)  CORFAM/PATENT LEATHER LOW QUARTERS IN CLOTHING BAG

                        3)  FEMALE AIRMEN TO WEAR MALE BLUE PANTS

                        4)  MAKING LOOSER FITTING SERVICE DRESS TROUSERS

                        5)  CONNECTED STARS FOR 2, 3, AND 4 STAR GENERAL OFFICERS

                        6)  BODY SUIT STYLE SERVICE DRESS BLOUSE FOR FEMALE AIRMEN

                        7)  AUTHORIZE ONLY LOW QUARTERS AND BOOTS FOR FEMALE AIRMEN

                        WEARING SERVICE DRESS UNIFORMS

                        8)  AUTHORIZE WEAR OF ADDITIONAL OCCUPATIONAL BADGE 1.5? BELOW

WELT POCKET ON SERVICE DRESS COAT (THE WEAR OF ONE BADGE IN THAT LOCATION IS STILL AUTHORIZED)

9)  MALE “PRINCE CUT” SERVICE DRESS SHIRT SIMILAR TO FEMALE PRINCESS CUT SERVICE DRESS SHIRT

10)  WEAR OF SILVER “TERM OF SERVICE” STRIPES ON LOWER RIGHT SLEEVE/CUFF AND ORANGE BRAID “DISCHARGE STRIPE” ON THE SERVICE DRESS UNIFORM

                        11)  OFFICER BLACK “GRADE” STRIPES ON LOWER SLEEVE/CUFF OF

                        SERVICE COAT (1=LT-CAPT; 2=MAJ-COL; 3=GEN OFFICER)

12)  WEAR OF ALL, SOME, OR NO RIBBONS ON SERVICE DRESS UNIFORM; I.E, AIRMEN MUST CONTINUE TO WEAR ALL

13)  LONGEVITY STRIPES (HASH MARKS) ON SLEEVE OF SERVICE DRESS          AND MESS DRESS UNIFORMS

14)  WEAR OF CREW NECK UNDERSHIRT W/ANY COMBINATION OF SERVICE DRESS UNIFORM

                        15)  REPLACE BLUE TIE/TIE TAB WITH BLACK HERRINGBONE TIE/TIE TAB

                        16)  SMALL BOW TIE TO REPLACE FEMALE TIE TAB ON MESS DRESS

17)  BILLY MITCHELL STYLE COAT W/FULL SIZE MEDALS AS MESS DRESS UNIFORM/ELIMINATE SEMI-FORMAL UNIFORM

                        18)  WEAR OF AMERICAN FLAG ON THE ABU/DCU/BDU

19)  BOONIE HAT W/ABU AND BDU IN ALL GARRISON AND DEPLOYED LOCATIONS (IAW AFI 36-2903, TAB 1.1, THEATER COMMANDERS PRESCRIBE FOR THEATER OF OPERATIONS)

20)  DELETE REQUIREMENT TO BLOUSE UTILITY UNIFORM TROUSERS (SEE ITEM 2.B.1 ABOVE, TROUSERS MUST BE TUCKED INTO BOOTS)

21)  WEAR OF BRIGHT NON-SUBDUED GRADE INSIGNIA ON ABU CAP IN NON-DEPLOYED LOCATIONS (ONLY SUBDUED PIN-ON OR SEW-ON RANK AUTHORIZED)

22)  WEAR OF PIN-ON OCCUPATIONAL BADGES ON ABUS FOR EASE OF SANITIZING/CHANGING BADGES

                        23)  WEAR OF ENLISTED RANK ON ABU COLLAR LAPEL

                        24)  WEAR OF SIX-POINT UTILITY CAP

25)  PERMANENT REDUCTION OF SLEEVE LENGTH OF ABU (ACCOMPLISHED BY MANUFACTURER)

                        26)  VELCRO IN PLACE OF BUTTONS ON ABU

                        27)  SLANTED CHEST POCKETS ON ABU

                        28)  ONE PIECE UTILITY UNIFORM (SIMILAR TO FLT SUIT) TO REPLACE ABU

29)  WEAR OF BERET WITH ABU BY ALL AIRMEN (AFSCS CURRENTLY AUTHORIZED TO WEAR BERET MAINTAIN AUTHORIZATION IAW 36-2903)

                        30)  EMBROIDERED NAME ON ABU VICE NAME TAPE

                        31)  WEAR OF ORGANIZATIONAL CAPS WITH ABU

32)  BLACK SOCKS WITH ABU (SAGE GREEN SOCKS MUST BE WORN WITH THE SAGE GREEN BOOT; TAN OR SAGE SOCKS MUST BE WORN WITH THE TAN BOOT UNTIL 2011)

                        33)  REMOVE TWO LOWER POCKETS ON ABU BLOUSE (TOP)

                        34)  WEAR OF BLUE BELT WITH ABUS

35)  REMOVE THIRD ABU CUFF BUTTON, REPLACE OTHER CUFF BUTTON WITH HOOK AND LOOP VELCRO FASTENERS

                        36)  ADD NAME TAPE SIMILAR TO ABU NAMETAPE TO BACK OF ABU HAT

37) WEAR OF UNIT PATCHES ON ABU (TO INCLUDE SISTER SERVICE PATCHES)

38)  WEAR OF ARMY LIGHT GREEN FLEECE WATCH CAP WITH THE ABU

39)  DISALLOW SEWING DOWN POCKETS ON ABU (THIS MEANS AIRMEN ARE STILL AUTHORIZED TO SEW THEM DOWN)

                        40)  WEAR OF ABU CAP WITH ELASTIC BAND

41)  ALLOW WEAR OF WATCH CAP WITH ABUS ALONE, VICE WITH APECS (OUTER GARMENTS ARE STILL REQUIRED WITH THE BLACK WATCH CAP)

                        42)  PEN POCKET ON RIGHT SLEEVE OF ABU FOR LEFT-HANDED AIRMEN

                        43)  SMALL POCKET ON ABU TO ACCOMMODATE COMMON ACCESS CARD

                        44)  METAL ZIPPER IN LIEU OF BUTTONS ON ABU TROUSER FLY & BLOUSE

                        45)  ELASTIC BANDS INSIDE BOTTOM OF TROUSERS OF ABU FOR BLOUSING

                        46)  WEAR OF WEAPONS SCHOOL PATCH ON ABUS

                        47)  CREATE ABU FIELD JACKET

48)  BLACK LETTERING VICE BLUE ON NAMETAPE/USAF/OCCUPATIONAL BADGES WORN ON ABU

                        49)  PERMANENT WEAR OF TAN BOOTS VICE SAGE GREEN BOOTS

50)  PIXILATED BACKGROUND FOR ENLISTED RANK ON ABU AND ELIMINATE CREASED RANK

                        51)  GREEN UNDERSHIRT WITH ABU

                        52)  BLUE POLAR FLEECE JACKET WITH ABU

53)  TAN GLOVES WITH ABU (BLACK AND SAGE GREEN GLOVES ARE AUTHORIZED WITH APPROPRIATE OUTER GARMENTS)

54)  WEAR OF BLACK OR DARK BLUE (MATCHING LETTERING ON NAMETAPE, ETC) UNDERSHIRT WITH ABU

                        55)  WEAR OF COMMANDER’S INSIGNIA ON ABU

56)  OLIVE GREEN/BEIGE/TAN BERET IN GARRISON AND MULTI-POINT HAT WITH ABU WHILE DEPLOYED

                        57)  INTERIM WEAR OF DCU UNTIL MANDATORY WEAR DATE OF ABU

                        58)  WEAR OF SPACE BADGE ON UTILITY UNIFORMS

59)  REPLACE PIERCED STAR ON ENLISTED CHEVRONS WITH “US” INSIGNIA FOR AIRMAN TIER; RESERVE PIERCED STAR FOR NCOS

60)  WEAR OF FIRST SERGEANT INSIGNIA (DIAMOND) IN THE SAME MANNER AS COMMANDER’S INSIGNIA

61)  DELETE OPTION TO WEAR COMMANDER?S INSIGNIA AS GRADUATED COMMANDER

62)  REPLACE CURRENT PT PANTS WITH SNAP/TEAR AWAY PANTS THAT CAN BE ALSO USED AS SHORTS (REMOVABLE LOWER LEG)

                        63)  BLACK SOCKS WITH PT GEAR

                        64)  HOOD OF PT JACKET SAME AS HOOD ON APECS

                        65)  ZIP OPEN VENTS BELOW POCKETS ON BOTH SIDES OF PT PANTS

                        66)  SILK-FITTED HEADSCARVES WITH PT GEAR

                        67)  REPLACE REFLECTIVE “V” ON BACK OF PT JACKET WITH AF SYMBOL

                        68)  REMOVE ELASTIC WAIST BAND ON PT JACKET

                        69)  CREATION OF MATERNITY PT UNIFORM

70)  ALLOW RETIRED/CIVILIAN MEMBERS TO WEAR PT GEAR WITHOUT REGARD TO GROOMING STANDARDS

71)  AUTHORIZE BEARD/GOATEE WITH SAME INTENT AS MUSTACHE; NEATLY TRIMMED AND TASTEFUL

                        72)  WEAR OF SQUARE DIAMOND EARRINGS FOR FEMALE AIRMEN

73)  ALLOW AIRMEN STATIONED OVERSEAS TO HAVE DOUBLE THE HAIR LENGTH AND BULK CURRENTLY AUTHORIZED

                        74)  RESTRICT FINGERNAIL LENGTH TO NO LONGER THAN TIP OF FINGER

75)  REVISIT SUPPLEMENTAL CLOTHING ALLOWANCE PAYMENT TO INDIVIDUALS IN SPECIAL DUTY POSITIONS NO LONGER REQUIRED ADDITIONAL MAINTENANCE DUE TO LOW MAINTENANCE OF ABU

76)  AUTHORIZE AIRMEN TO WEAR EARNED SISTER SERVICE PATCHES/BADGES ON ABU WHEN OPERATING WITH SISTER SERVICES

6.   THIS MESSAGE PROVIDES CSAF APPROVED CHANGES TO CURRENT AIR FORCE UNIFORMS AND UNIFORM POLICY RESULTING FROM THE 98TH AIR FORCE VIRTUAL UNIFORM BOARD.  THE CHANGES WILL BE CODIFIED IN AIR FORCE INSTRUCTION 36-2903, DRESS AND PERSONAL APPEARANCE OF AIR FORCE PERSONNEL.  ANY QUESTIONS SHOULD BE ADDRESSED THROUGH YOUR LOCAL CHAIN OF COMMAND/MAJCOM POINTS OF CONTACT.