Back to Chapter 17 - Dress and Appearance
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17.6.1. Service Dress Uniform. This uniform consists of the blue service coat and trousers/slacks or skirt (women), light blue long- or shortsleeved shirt, and polyester herringbone twill tie for men or tie tab for women. With arms hanging naturally, the sleeves of the service coat will end 1/4 to 1/2 inch below the wrist. Ensure the bottom edge of the coat extends 3 to 3 1/2 inches below the top of the thigh.
In the 2009 PDG, the sleeves of the service coat ended 1/4 inch from the heel of the thumb:
17.6.1. Service Dress Uniform (Figure 17.1). This uniform consists of the blue service coat and trousers/slacks or skirt (women), light blue long- or shortsleeved shirt, and polyester herringbone twill tie for men or tie tab for women. With arms hanging naturally, the sleeves of the service coat will end approximately 1/4 inch from the heel of the thumb. Ensure the bottom edge of the coat extends 3 to 3-1/2 inches below the top of the thigh.
Ambiguity
17.6.1.1.1. U.S. Lapel Insignia. The U.S. lapel insignia is placed halfway up the seam, resting on but not over it. The “U.S.” letters are parallel with the ground. Enlisted U.S. insignia have circles around the U.S. and officer U.S. insignias do not.
What seam does the above refer to?
Ambiguity
Under the heading of 17.6.1.1. Mandatory Accouterments, paragraph 17.6.1.1.5. Aeronautical and Chaplain Badges, is listed which states:
17.6.1.1.5. Aeronautical and Chaplain Badges. Aeronautical and chaplain badges are mandatory.
Under the very next paragrapgh, 17.6.1.2. Mandatory Accouterments, paragraph 17.6.1.2.1 states:
17.6.1.2.1. Badges. Air Force members are highly encouraged to wear their current occupational badge. Aeronautical, space, cyber and chaplain badges are mandatory; others are optional.
This statement contradicts paragraph 17.6.1.1.5. which states that only aeronautical and chaplain badges are mandatory.
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17.6.2.1.3. Aeronautical, Space, Cyber, and Chaplain Badges. Aeronautical, space, cyber, and chaplain badges are mandatory. See paragraph 17.6.2.2.2 for information on the wear of aeronautical badges.
In the 2009 PDG, only aeronautical and chaplain badges were mandatory (the paragraph referenced below addressed chaplain badges):
17.6.2.1.3. Aeronautical Badges. Aeronautical badges are mandatory. See paragraph 17.6.2.2.2 for information on the wear of aeronautical badges.
Ambiguity
17.6.2.3. Long-Sleeved Shirt/Blouse. The collar of the shirt/blouse shows 1/4 or 1/2 inch above the coat collar, with arms hanging naturally and sleeves extended to 1/4 to 1/2 inch below the wrist. The man’s shirt has two pleated pockets and convertible cuffs. The woman’s blouse will have a tapered fit. A tapered fit is optional for men. Military creases are prohibited. Note: The mandatory and optional accouterments are the same as the short-sleeved shirt/blouse. Exception: The tie or tab is mandatory when wearing the longsleeved shirt/blouse.
There is another exception. The description of the placement of the chevrons described for the short-sleeve shirt does not apply because the bottom edge of the sleeve is at the wrist:
17.6.2.1.2. Chevrons. Center the 3 1/2-inch sleeve chevron halfway between the shoulder seam and bottom edge of sleeve.
Ambiguity
17.6.6.4.2. Cuff Links. Men will wear cuff links with the “wing and star” design and the Air Force symbol. Cuff links may be of satin finish or of highly polished plain silver. Cuff links are mandatory for men; optional for women, who may wear matching cuff links and studs as a set.
The above paragraph states that men will wear cuff links with the “wing and star” design and the Air Force symbol. This is confusing. Are we required to wear both simultaneously? In addition, the above paragraph states that there are only two types of cuff links allowed but the reference, AFI 36-2903, states there are three choices of design:
4.3.2.1. Cuff Links. Cuff links are mandatory with the mess dress uniform. They will either be silver, satin finish or highly polished with the "wing and star" design; silver, highly polished with the AF symbol; or plain silver, highly polished, commercial design with dimensions and shape similar to the "wing and star" cuff links.
Ambiguity
17.6.6.4.3. Studs. Women may wear plain silver studs, highly polished or satin finished. If worn, they must match the cuff links (paragraph 17.6.6.4.2).
The above paragraph implies that studs are only authorized for or worn by women but the reference, AFI 36-2903, states that they are mandatory for men wearing the mess dress uniform:
4.3.2.2. Studs.(Men) Studs are mandatory and can be either pearl centered, silver rimmed, highly polished, satin finished or plain silver, highly polished, commercial design with dimensions and shape similar to the pearl centered studs. The finish must match cuff links.
In addition, PDG paragraph 17.6.6.4.3. does not match what is stated in AFI 36-2903. The PDG paragraph lists one design choice for women's studs while the AFI lists two:
4.4.4.1. Studs.(Women) Studs are optional and can be either pearl centered, silver rimmed, highly polished or satin finished or plain silver, highly polished, commercial design with dimensions and shape similar to the pearl centered studs. The finish must match cuff links.
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Comrade Alex pointed out that, in the new AFI 36-2903, desert tan boots are not normally authorized with the ABU although the PDG says that they are:
17.6.8.5. Boots. ABU sage green boots are authorized for wear with all utility uniforms. Desert tan boots are also authorized for the wear with the ABU.
AFI 36-2903 18 July 2011:
6.4.3.2. Sage Green Boots. Will be worn with the Airman battle uniform, the battle dress uniform or the flight duty uniform. Boots will be sage green, lace up with plain rounded toe or rounded capped toe with or without a perforated seam. A zipper or elastic inserts may be worn; however, if worn, they will be without design. Green boots can be either with or without a safety toe. Exception: If approved by MAJCOM commanders, black leather boots may be temporarily authorized with ABUs in industrial work environments or in work center where industrial products or processes cause irreparable staining to the sage green suede or tan suede boot. This exception is not specifically restricted to flightline activities and is in effect until a stain-resistant green boot becomes available.AFI 36-2903 18 July 2011:
6.4.3.3. Tan Boots. May be worn with the Airman battle uniform through 31 October 2011; effective 1 November 2011, tan boots will not be worn with the ABU unless authorized by the Theater commander for wear only in theater. The tan boot may be worn with the desert flight duty uniform indefinitely. Boots will be made of tan suede material with plain rounded toe or rounded capped toe, with or without a safety toe, with or without a perforated seam, and lace up. A zipper or elastic inserts may be worn; however, if worn, they will be without design.
Although it's important to be aware of the facts, always go by what the PDG says, not the current reg. Test questions that conflict with current AFIs will probably be thrown out and not scored but, if they aren't, the PDG is what the test is based on, not the reg.