SEPTEMBER 30, 2020 – As part of the ongoing effort to build a more inclusive Air and Space Force, additional revisions were approved Sept. 15 to Air Force Instruction 36-2903, “Dress and Personal Appearance of Air Force Personnel,” which are effective immediately.
Following the Department of the Air Force’s initial review, a diverse panel of Total Force Airmen completed a second review of Air Force grooming and appearance guidance in order to enhance inclusiveness while maintaining Department of the Air Force professional standards.
The changes are as follows:
- Clarification that the authorization to dye hair to natural colors applies to all Airmen regardless of natural born hair color. Examples of natural hair colors are brown, blonde, brunette, natural red, black or grey.
- Men’s hair bulk standard was increased from 1¼ inches to 2 inches.
- Men’s hair may have one (cut, clipped or shaved) front to back, straight-line part, not slanted or curved, on either side of their head, above the temple. Part will not exceed 4 inches length or ¼ inch width.
- Women’s hair bulk standard was increased from 3½ inches to 4 inches.
For more information, service members should view Air Force Guidance Memorandum 2020-02 and check Air Force Instruction 36-2903 for updates, which are available on the public website of the Air Force’s Personnel Center at https://www.afpc.af.mil/Career-Management/Dress-and-Appearance/.
Airmen are authorized to wear previously–owned, serviceable OCPs, including the Operation Enduring Freedom-Camouflage Pattern commonly referred to as the Multi-cam.
Airmen will wear a basic configuration consisting of name and USAF tapes, U.S. Flag and rank:
- The subdued black and green cloth flag is authorized for wear until Sept. 1, 2020, then the spice brown US flag will be the only accepted version. Infrared US flags are not authorized
- The USAF name tape, blouse name tape and rank must be either Velcro or sewn–they must all be affixed in the same manner
- Independently, the patrol cap name tape and occupational badge may be either sewn or Velcro and do not have to match the rest of the blouse or each other in that manner
Higher headquarters and unit patches will be mandatory on April 1, 2021, or when color conversion to spice brown is completed, whichever is soonest. Until then, current subdued versions of HHQ and/or unit patches may be worn. Colored patches are not authorized with one exception: combat patches earned by prior-service Soldiers can be worn in their current color configuration and will not be converted to the spice brown color criteria.
Squadron patches will be worn on the right sleeve along with the U.S. flag. The higher headquarters patch will be worn on the left sleeve of the OCP.
Occupational badges will be worn 1/2-inch above the US Air Force name tape, including those previously worn on the pocket.
Authorized duty identifier tabs are listed in Table 5.3.
Airmen may wear other services’ qualification badges, if earned and awarded, i.e.: Ranger tab, SERE, etc. Award criteria for other services’ qualification badges will be in accordance with the awarding service’s directives.
The two-piece flight suit, or 2PFDU, is now authorized to be worn in both garrison and deployed locations.
Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs