Changes to AF dress and appearance standards

  • Published
INCIRLIK AIR BASE, Turkey --  Nov. 1 marks the first day that certain military clothing items will no longer be allowed in uniform.

Oct. 31 will be the last date authorized for the following:

- Battle dress uniform
- Desert camouflage uniform
- Black T-shirt
- Black combat boots (except with dress uniforms)
- Tan combat boots

Wear of boots other than sage green boots will no longer be authorized with the Airman battle uniform. Sage green socks will be worn with the sage green boots. Plain white socks may be worn under the sage green socks as long as the white socks are not visible.

Additionally, Air Force Instruction 36-2903, Dress and Appearance of Air Force Personnel, was updated July 18 to include guidance for wear of the Airman battle uniform, as well as other changes and clarifications for standards.

Changes and clarifications on common dress and appearance violations include the following:

- Gym bags carried while wearing blues or the physical training uniform should be solid black or dark blue only. Gym bags carried while wearing ABUs may be solid black, dark blue, olive drab, Air Force sage green or ABU-patterned. Small logos are authorized, stitching must be the same color as the bag, and bags will be carried in the left hand.

- Backpacks carried while wearing blues or the PTU should be solid black only. Backpacks carried while wearing ABUs may be solid black, olive drab, Air Force sage green or ABU-patterned. The backpack will be worn on the left shoulder, both shoulders or carried in the left hand.

- Contact lenses must be clear and not change the natural color of the wearer's eye.

- Watches must be conservative and not have bright colors, have bands exceeding one inch in width, be diamond colored or be a novelty watch.

- Earrings will be round, white diamond, gold, white pearl or silver, and must not exceed 4 mm in diameter.

- Body piercings and ornamentation, with the exception of earrings for women, are not authorized in uniform on or off a military installation, in civilian attire while on official duty on or off a military installation, or in civilian attire on a military installation.

- Hands will not be placed in pockets of any uniform other than to retrieve items from the pocket.

- Use of personal cell phones is not authorized while walking in uniform unless the call is for an official notification or emergencies.

- ABU sleeve cuffs will be visible, all pockets will be secured with no visible items other than pens protruding from the pen pocket, and the cap may not be pushed, rolled, folded or tucked in ranger-style.

- While wearing the PTU, females with long hair will secure hair but may have loose ends that extend below the collar, such as a ponytail.

- Short and long-sleeved form fitting undershirts worn and visible under the PTU shirt may be white or light gray only.

- Short, mid- and full-length form fitting bottoms worn and visible under the PTU shirt may be solid black or dark blue only.

For additional changes and details, check AFI 36-2903.