The United States Space Force, the sixth and newest branch of the United States military, first introduced its service dress uniforms in 2021. The prototypes, which included an asymmetrical short navy blue jacket with a large flap over the right breast and a diagonal line of six silver buttons, earned comparisons to uniforms from science fiction. It was announced a year ago that Guardians could expect to begin receiving the new uniforms by the end of this year, with them available service-wide by June 2026.
Space Force officials told Task & Purpose that the recruiters and military training instructors will be the first to receive the service dress uniforms, along with senior leaders. In addition, newly graduated Reserve Officers’ Training Corps cadets will be among the first to don the uniforms, likely over some guardians who have been with the Space Force for years.
However, Air Force spokesperson Maj. Kaitlin D. Holmes explained to Task & Purpose the rationale behind this rollout.
“The phased approach allows the Space Force to measure guardians for uniforms at specific locations, enables them to pre-order, and then ship the uniforms directly to guardians,” Holmes explained. “This process prevents bottlenecks and keeps the uniform ordering and delivery efficient.”
Optional Uniform For Now
Since receiving initial feedback on the design, the Space Force began to “wear-test” the dress uniforms at eight installations: Camp Smith, NY; Cavalier Space Force Station, ND; Goodfellow Air Force Base, TX; Kirtland Air Force Base, NM; Lackland Air Force Base, TX; Landstuhl Air Base, Germany; Vandenberg Space Force Base, CA; and Yokota Air Base, Japan.
The service dress uniform has steadily evolved based on feedback, including from The New York Times style writer Steven Kurutz, who described the initial pants as “saggy and baggy and in serious need of tailoring.” The Space Force responded with a post on X, the social media platform then known as Twitter, writing, “We heard your feedback. New pants, new fit coming soon.”
Beyond new pants, which are reportedly no longer baggy, the uniform will include an optional skirt for women. The material is made of a poly-wool blend with Lycra elastic material that provides “stretch, comfort, and breathability.” Nametags are not worn on the jacket, but will be optional on the shirt.
The new uniform has remained equivalent to the U.S. Air Force’s service dress uniform, and will remain optional until the Space Force determines when all guardians must wear it. Those who receive the uniform can wear it for daily office work and in more formal settings. The rollout will continue, with guardians serving in the National Capital Region expected to receive it by mid-December.
Uniform Details
The uniforms have earned comparisons to those seen in science fiction, but many of the elements have been carefully considered.
The asymmetric jacket is midnight blue, representing the deep expanse of space. It features a diagonal closure with six silver buttons, each bearing the Space Force seal, which includes the delta wings, center globe, and orbit symbols. The number of buttons is meant to pay homage to the U.S. Space Force being the sixth branch of the military, while the symbols represent, respectively, innovation, support for warfighting operations on Earth, and defense from threats in space.
Unlike the other services, the uniform design also began with garments meant for female guardians as part of an effort to reduce tailoring costs. By creating a functional, yet flattering uniform for women, the tailors then focused on the men’s uniform.
The former Chief of Space Operations for the Space Force, General John W. “Jay” Raymond, had sought to have guardians outfitted in a uniform that was unique from the other branches of the military, and the designers certainly succeeded. Raymond’s complete Space Force, which was the first manufactured, is now in the collection of the Smithsonian National Air & Space Museum on display at the James S. McDonnell Space Hangar at the Museum’s Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, VA.
