Low boots are out with the United States Air Force, which released its updated dress and personal appearance instructions last week “to provide clear guidance for Airmen serving worldwide.” It was meant to clarify uniform items as well as personal appearance standards.
“The changes in this guidance memorandum only pertain to Airmen; the U.S. Space Force is projected to release a separate dress and appearance instruction in the coming weeks,” the U.S. Air Force announced.
The new guidance memorandum for DAFI 36-2903, Dress and Personal Appearance of Department of the Air Force Personnel, requires that all officers maintain at least one complete set of an Operational Camouflage Pattern (OCP), while it also clarified the folding or cuffing of the sleeves on the uniform. Additionally, it established a minimum height requirement for combat boots.
Beyond the uniforms, the guidance memorandum also removes the authorization for eyelash extensions, unless they are needed for medical reasons.
OCP Uniform Now Required
The guidance memorandum called for all Air Force officers, “regardless of career field,” to maintain at least one complete set of either the non-fire-retardant operational camouflage pattern uniform or an improved hot weather combat OCP uniform.
The OCP uniform was first developed by the United States Army as part of the Objective Force Warrior program in 2002. The Air Force officially adopted the OCP uniform after transitioning away from the Airman Battle Uniform (ABU) in October 2018, with a mandatory wear date of April 1, 2021.
The version worn by the U.S. Air Force is essentially the same, but with some key differences. The Army employs black thread for name tapes and rank insignia, while the Air Force uses a shade of brown known as spice brown. However, both branches of the U.S. military place rank insignia on the left side of the chest.
Since June 2020, the OCP uniform is to be worn over a coyote brown T-shirt. Since April 2021, all Air Force patches are to be in spice brown.
The new rules also provide clarification on the rolling or cuffing of OCP sleeves.
“When sleeves are not rolled up, cuffs may remain visible, or members may fold their sleeves once or twice,” the rule stated.
Boots on the Ground
According to the new memorandum, “combat boots must now be between 8-12 inches in height from the bottom of the heel tread to the top of the back of the boot, and soling material will not exceed two inches in height.”
As Task & Purpose reported, the new rule excludes many boots now available for sale, including “sneaker-style hiking and trail running shoes” that are marketed in materials and subdued colors that match military requirements. Previous guidelines had simply called for the Air Force boots to be coyote brown, with soles of up to two inches.
Airmen are required to comply with the new uniform and boot height guidance within 90 days.
Eyelash Extensions
The new dress and personal appearance instructions also prohibit eyelash extensions, which had been authorized for the past four years. Going forward, the extensions will only be allowed for medical conditions.
“If medical authorization is obtained and documented on an AF Form 469, eyelash extensions will not exceed 12 mm in length. Airmen must comply with the new eyelash extension standard no later than 30 days from the date of the guidance memorandum,” the update added.
Greater Uniformity
These are the latest changes to dress and personal appearance since Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin announced via a video address on Facebook and Instagram in January that the service would review the dress and appearance standards of airmen.
At the time, Allvin said the regulations would be more strictly enforced and that changes were about addressing the culture within the service.
