From: CMSgt Mike Bergman <bergman@afnews.pa.af.mil>
Subject: AF News Svc 01/11/93
Organization: Hq Air Force News Agency/SCC
Date: Tue, 12 Jan 1993 16:39:19 GMT


From CMSgt Mike Bergman <bergman@afnews.pa.af.mil>

014.  New uniform
     WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- A new uncluttered, streamlined wool
blend service dress uniform is the Air Force's choice for the
future, the Air Force chief of staff said Jan. 12.
     More than 700 people participated in a wear test of the prototype
service dress uniform, including jacket, trousers and skirt, to see
how servicemembers felt about the new design, three different
fabrics, fit and comfort.
     "The results are in and I think we have a winning combination,"
Gen. Merrill A. McPeak said.
     The Air Force has also opted for the braided sleeve-style rank
insignia for officers.
     "The officer sleeve braid links the Air Force with its rich
heritage," McPeak said.
     As plans developed to establish an independent Air Force
following World War II, air power leaders advocated a distinctive
uniform for airmen.
     Under Gen. Henry H. "Hap" Arnold's authority, the Army
developed four prototype blue uniforms in 1946.  For a
distinctive look, each of the four test uniforms had braided
sleeve insignia similar to Royal Air Force uniforms, the rank
insignia preferred by then Chief of Staff Gen. Carl A. Spaatz.
     But to speed production of the new uniform, Army rank was
adopted as an interim measure that was never changed until
now.
     The braid is similar to that currently worn by allied air forces as
well as other aviation professionals.
     "Just as the Merchant Marines' uniform looks like the Navy in
many respects, the new Air Force image will reflect our ties with
the aerospace profession," McPeak said.
     Enlisted members' rank insignia will return to tradition with the
addition of the star to all chevrons and everyone in the Air Force
-- officers and enlisted -- will wear the same quality uniform.
     Enlisted stripes will be larger and bolder on the new uniform.
Standard four-inch chevrons will be worn on outer garments with
three-and-a-half-inch chevrons on shirts.  Women will be
authorized to wear either four- or three-and-a-half-inch insignia
on the service dress coat.
     The new chevron will also be worn on both the service dress and
mess dress uniforms, eliminating the need for a separate,
expensive mess dress chevron.
     To provide greater recognition to the top three enlisted grades, a
new design feature -- one stripe taken off the bottom and put at
the top, starting with master sergeant -- will clearly designate all
senior NCOs.  Senior master sergeants will have two stripes up
with five down, and chiefs three up and five down.
     The wear test of two new women's skirts with functional pockets
was also included in the service dress coat wear test.
     The style selected was the skirt with the zipper in the back, and
featuring belt loops, pockets and a kick pleat.
     One drawback of the current service dress is that it is
manufactured in two types, Air Force officials said.
     One quality of uniform is issued to recruits at basic training, but
most career military members buy the Army and Air Force
Exchange Service version for a more professional appearance,
especially at special functions, they said.
     Since Air Force people often had uniforms they seldom wore,
McPeak directed a comprehensive review of all Air Force
uniforms with the intent of streamlining the program, eliminating
unnecessary items and saving Air Force members money.
    The result was a three-phase program.
    Phase one involved redesigning the service dress uniform with
emphasis on style, comfort, fit, quality, mass producibility and
customer satisfaction.  Three different fabrics, polyester-wool
blends in different weaves, were wear-tested in this phase with
the serge weave selected for the new uniform.
    The best practices in the civilian clothing and textile
manufacturing industry have been incorporated into the new
service dress, officials said.
    The end result is a high-quality, comfortable uniform that is
essentially a commercial design which can be mass produced at
a price comparable to what Air Force members pay for the
current service dress, they said.
    Individuals will be able to purchase the coat, trousers and skirt
as separate items rather than as a uniform set, making it easier
to find the right size and avoid the cost of major alterations in
many cases.
    Phase two eliminated seldom-used uniforms, such as the blue
ceremonial and white ceremonial uniforms, which became
optional items in February.  The new service dress coat is
designed as a multi-purpose uniform which will replace these
uniforms at functions previously requiring them.
    The service hats, or "wheel" and "bucket" hats, are now also
optional.
    Phase three involved reviewing other uniform clothing items,
insignia and accouterments, and eliminating duplication to save
Air Force people money.  For example, different size badges
were necessary for different uniforms.  Badges have now been
standardized in size and finish.
    Each component in the test, such as design, fabric and rank
insignia, was considered separately based on evaluations from
the participants, major commanders, senior enlisted advisors
and other people throughout the Air Force.
    With elimination of name tags, epaulets, metal rank insignia and
collar insignia, the new look for the Air Force is uncluttered, with
high-quality design and materials, officials said.
    The single-breasted jacket has a three-button front and a single
breast pocket to help align ribbons, and features a full inside
lining.
    The result is the first new, distinctive service dress uniform the
Air Force has had since it became a separate service in 1947.
    The overall cost to buy and maintain uniforms will be less once
the new uniform comes on line.  With fewer accouterments and
less duplication on the same items, Air Force people will save as
much as $800 over a 20-year career, officials said.
    It will be offered initially by the Army and Air Force Exchange
Service as an optional garment in 1994.  Air Force issue
uniforms will start arriving in late-1995 and the new mandatory
wear date will be late-1999.
    With the final design approved, patterns and specifications will
be delivered to the procuring agencies, who will manufacture the
uniforms for AAFES and the Defense Personnel Supply Center.
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