MAY 27, 2022 – The Air Force recently published a memorandum outlining updates to the Department of the Air Force Instruction 36-2903, Dress and Personal Appearance of United States Air Force and United States Space Force Personnel, which include mustache, sister service and joint unit patch wear guidance.
The updates are effective immediately for Airmen.
“These changes will allow Airmen additional flexibilities as to how to wear mustaches” said Gwendolyn DeFilippi, acting Deputy Chief of Staff for manpower, personnel and services.
“Additionally, allowing Airmen to wear sister-service patches in their current color configuration influences cohesiveness and pride while assigned to joint organizations.”
Mustaches: No portion of the mustache will extend below the lip line of the upper lip. Additionally, the mustache will not go beyond a horizontal line extending across the corners of the mouth and no more than 1/4 inch beyond a vertical line drawn from the corner of the mouth.
Patches: Airmen assigned, attached, detailed, or activated in support of sister-service units or joint organizations can now wear the unit’s patches in accordance with the sister service or joint organizations wear instructions.
The badges or patches can be worn in the sister service or joint organization’s color configuration and will not be converted to the spice brown color.
DAFI 36-2903 takes precedence if a sister service or joint organization wear instructions cause a conflict in Air Force patch configuration guidance, i.e. the wear instruction might switch a patch designated as a “left sleeve” patch to the right sleeve.
These updates were based off feedback provided to senior leaders and the updated DAFI will be published at a later date.
Philosophy: The Air Force philosophy is that the uniform will be plain, distinctive, and standardized. This standardization includes a minimum and maximum number of authorized badges, insignia, and devices.
Pride in an Airman’s personal appearance and wearing of the uniform greatly enhances the esprit-de-corps essential to an effective military force. Therefore, it is most important for all Airmen to maintain a high standard of dress and personal appearance. The five elements of this standard are neatness, cleanliness, safety, uniformity, and military image.
The first four are absolute, objective criteria needed for the efficiency and well-being of the Air Force. The fifth, military image, is subjective, but necessary. Appearance in uniform is an important part of military image. Judgment on the proper image differs in and out of the military.
The American public and its elected representatives draw certain conclusions on military effectiveness based on the image Airmen present. The image of a disciplined and committed Airman instills public confidence that Airmen live by a common standard and respond to military order and discipline. Every Airman has a responsibility to maintain an “acceptable military image,” as well as the right, within limits, to express individuality through his or her appearance.
Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs