MARCH 22, 2023 – Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. CQ Brown, Jr. approved several initiatives submitted to the November 2022 Air Force Uniform Board for implementation in Department of the Air Force Instruction 36-2903, Dress and Personal Appearance of United States Air Force and United States Space Force Personnel. Authorized changes are effective April 1.
As separate services, the Air Force and Space Force host independent uniform boards, however, the results of one service’s uniform board may be adopted by either service. As a result, some of the changes approved by the Air Force’s 102nd Uniform Board were adopted by the Space Force. These specific changes have been identified within DAFGM 36-2903.
Airmen and Guardians submitted change requests through the Guardians and Airmen Innovation Network online.
The summary of approved changes are:
Child Development Centers (CDCs):
This authorizes installation commanders to designate CDCs as a no-hat, no-salute zone. Additionally, in areas not designated, salutes are not required when either person is carrying children.
Authorizes the wear of cold weather headband:
This expands the current cold weather accessories to add a headband in addition to scarves, earmuffs, watch cap and gloves.
Authorizes wear of a total of four badges on the Operational Camouflage Pattern (OCP) uniform above the USAF tape.
This expands the current regulation which allows a maximum of two badges to four.
Authorizes the wear of additional headgear for the Flight Duty Uniform (FDU):
This expands the current regulation to add OCP patrol cap and tactical OCP cap in addition to the flight cap.
Authorizes a “small logo” on purses and handbags:
The logo must not exceed one inch in diameter. USSF only: When wearing civilian attire or in uniform while carrying a backpack by hand, there are no color or logo restrictions.
Authorizes olive drab green authorized backpack color:
This expands the current regulation to allow olive drab green in addition to black, brown, gray and dark blue, as an authorized color for backpacks to wear with any uniform combination.
Authorizes any size logo on gym bags:
This removes the word ‘small’ from the DAFI, allowing any size logo on gym bags.
Authorizes the wear of parkas by characteristics:
This expands the current regulation to allow cold-weather parkas to be commercially purchased, with certain exceptions. Parkas must be OCP pattern or Coyote Brown and have name tapes, service tape, rank and patches worn in the same authorized configuration.
Authorizes Friday morale shirts with logo on the front and back:
This expands the current morale shirt regulation by allowing logos to be worn at a larger diameter on the back of the shirt in addition to having a logo on the left side of the chest not to exceed five inches in diameter. Regardless of the logo, the shirt must be Coyote Brown.
Authorizes the wear of “heritage-like” morale patches on the FDU:
This removes the verbiage from the DAFI limiting current or past official organizational emblem or any variation for the FDU, like the OCPs and two-piece Flight Duty Uniform.
Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs