Dress and Appearance II

You'll never forget putting on the service uniform for the first time. It signals you're close to graduating from BMT — and it's the uniform you'll wear for inspections, ceremonies, and most off-duty appearances throughout your career. This section covers how to wear the service and service dress uniforms, the placement of name tags, ribbons, badges, and chevrons, and the outer garments authorized with each.

This section complements Dress and Appearance I (which covered grooming standards, OCP, PTG, accessories, and body modification) — together they're the pair you'll be evaluated on. The information here isn't all-inclusive; consult DAFI 36-2903 when needed.

Overview

Objective: Given an Air Force uniform, wear the uniform with no more than three discrepancies.

Learning Outcomes

• Demonstrate the proper wear of the service and service dress uniforms in accordance with DAFI 36-2903.
• Recognize the outer garments that may be worn with the service uniforms.

Foundational Competencies

• Decision Making — Makes well-informed, timely decisions; uses sound judgment to weigh constraints, risks, and rewards.
• Precision — A concern for order, quality, and accuracy.
• Results Focused — A concern for working well or for competing against a standard of excellence.

Summary

• Service Uniform
• Service Dress Uniform
• Outer Garments

Service Uniform

The service uniform consists of:

• Light blue long- or short-sleeved shirt (men) or blouse (women)
• Trousers (men), slacks or skirt (women)
• Footwear
• Headgear

Gig Line

When the service uniform shirt or blouse is tucked into the trousers or slacks, it forms the gig line. To form a proper gig line, three edges must align:

• Button front edge of the shirt or blouse
• Outside of the belt buckle
• Edge of the fly

Keep it straight and neat.

Men's Long- and Short-Sleeved Shirts

Name Tags

• Centered on, but not over, the top edge of the right pocket.
• During BMT, wear the plastic name tag. After BMT, you may purchase the epoxy name tag.

Ribbons

• Centered on, but not over, the top edge of the left pocket between the left and right edges.
• All, some, or none of the ribbons and devices may be worn.

Badges

Once earned, Air Force members are highly encouraged to wear their current occupational badges.

• Mandatory: aeronautical, chaplain, space, cyberspace, and missile operation badges.
• Optional: all other badges.

Placement:

• Center the aeronautical, occupational, or miscellaneous badge ½ inch above the top row of ribbons — or ½ inch above the pocket if not wearing ribbons.
• Center additional badges ½ inch above the first one.

Insignia (Chevrons)

Long-sleeved shirt:

• Enlisted personnel center 3½-inch or 4-inch chevrons halfway between the shoulder seam and elbow when the elbow is bent at a 90° angle.

Short-sleeved shirt:

• With the arms bent at 90°, sleeves should barely touch or come within 1 inch of the forearm.
• Enlisted personnel center 3½- or 4-inch chevrons halfway between the shoulder seam and the bottom edge of the sleeve.

Tie

Long-sleeved shirt:

• Must wear a tie.
• The tip of the tie covers a portion of the belt buckle but cannot extend below the bottom of the buckle.
• Tie tack or clasp is optional.
  • Center vertically between the bottom edge of the tie knot and the bottom tip of the tie.
  • Centered on the width of the tie from left to right.

Short-sleeved shirt:

• Tie is optional.
• Same rules as the long-sleeved shirt when worn.

White Undershirt

• Must be worn and tucked into trousers.
• V-neck or athletic styles. Crew-neck only authorized when wearing closed-collar uniforms.

Women's Long- and Short-Sleeved Blouses

Name Tags

• Centered on the right side, even with — to 1½ inches higher or lower than — the first exposed button.
• During BMT, wear the plastic name tag. After BMT, you may purchase the epoxy name tag.

Ribbons

• Centered on the left side parallel with the ground.
• Align the bottom of the ribbons with the bottom of the name tag.
• All, some, or none may be worn.

Badges

Same mandatory / optional rules as men.

• Center the aeronautical, occupational, or miscellaneous badge ½ inch above the top row of ribbons — or parallel to the name tag if not wearing ribbons.
• Center additional badges ½ inch above the first one.

Insignia (Chevrons)

Long-sleeved blouse:

• Enlisted personnel center 3½- or 4-inch chevrons halfway between the shoulder seam and elbow at 90°.

Short-sleeved blouse:

• With arms at 90°, sleeves should barely touch or come within 1 inch of the forearm.
• Enlisted personnel center 3½- or 4-inch chevrons halfway between the shoulder seam and the bottom edge of the sleeve.

Tie Tab

Long-sleeved blouse:

• Must wear a tie tab.

Short-sleeved blouse:

• Tie tab is optional.

White Undershirt

• May be worn; tucked into slacks or skirt.
• V-neck or athletic styles. Crew-neck authorized when wearing closed-collar uniforms.

Trousers, Slacks, Skirts, and Belts

Men's Trousers

• Dark blue, trim-fitted, no cuff, straight hanging.
• No bunching at the waist or bagging at the seat.
• Bottom front rests on the front of the shoe with a slight break in the crease.
• Waistband rests on the Airman's waist.
• Back of the trousers approximately ⅞ inch longer than the front.

Men's Belt

• Dark blue elastic, solid, or woven material with a chrome-like finish on the buckle and tip.
• Silver tip end extends beyond the buckle, facing the wearer's left, with no blue fabric showing.

Women's Slacks

• Dark blue, full cut, no cuff.
• Fit naturally over the hips — no bunching at the waist or bagging at the seat.
• Bottom front rests on the front of the shoe with a slight break in the crease.
• Back approximately ⅞ inch longer than the front.

Women's Skirt

• Length: no shorter than the top of the kneecap and no longer than the bottom of the kneecap.
• Wear a belt the same way as with slacks.

Women's Belt

• Dark blue elastic, solid, or woven material with chrome-like buckle and tip.
• When the slacks or skirt have belt loops, the silver tip extends beyond the buckle facing the wearer's right, with no blue fabric showing.

Footwear

You may wear:

• Black combat or dress boots (with trousers or slacks)
• Low quarters

Low Quarters

• Plain black oxfords, lace-up, with a plain rounded toe or plain rounded capped toe — no design.
• Men's shoes may come with or without a seam.
• Smooth or scotch-grained leather or man-made material.
• Shined. High-gloss or patent finish optional.
• Wear plain black socks with footwear.

Black Pumps (women only)

• Low cut and rounded throat (the top opening).
• Raised heel ≤ 3 inches.

BMT-specific footwear rules

• Wear only standard issue shoes.
• Boots are NOT authorized with the service uniform during BMT.

Hose (women only)

Hosiery is optional with any combination of the dress uniform.

• Commercial, sheer, nylon in neutral, dark brown, black, off-black, or dark blue shades.
• Color must complement the uniform and the individual's skin tone.
• Patterned hose are NOT authorized.
• Body hair must not be visibly protruding beyond the hosiery or cause a visibly uneven texture under it.

Headgear

Flight Cap

• Worn tilted slightly to the wearer's right with the vertical crease in line with the center of the forehead and nose.
• Front of the cap approximately 1 inch above the eyebrows, with the opening to the rear.
• Do not crush the crown, front, or back.

Men:

• No hair showing below the front of the cap.
• When not worn, tuck under the belt between the first and second belt loops on the wearer's left side. Don't fold over the belt.

Women:

• May have hair showing below the front of the cap.
• Same belt-tuck procedure when not worn.
• May wear the men's flight cap after BMT.

Service Cap

Men:

• Visor-type cap with black front chin strap.
• Worn squarely on the head with no hair protruding in the front.
• Large size hat insignia with circle (enlisted) is centered on the front of the cap.

Women:

• Rounded design; sides form a front brim.
• Worn squarely on the head with no hair protruding in the front.
• Same enlisted hat insignia.

Watch Cap

• Commercially designed, plain, solid black knit or fleece / micro-fiber material.
• Pulled down snugly on the head; bottom edge may be folded for fit, not rolled.
• Back across the nape; front not touching eyebrows or higher than center of forehead. No hair from the front.
• No bunching, no sagging.
• Worn when approved by the installation commander.
• Must be worn with authorized outer garments.
• Not in conjunction with other headgear.
• Rank insignia is not worn on the watch cap.

Service Dress Uniform

The service dress uniform is similar to the service uniform — except the service coat is worn over it.

When wearing the service coat:

• Men must wear a tie on their shirt.
• Women must wear a tie tab on their blouse.
• Men have the option of wearing a tie tack or tie clasp.
• Service dress coat must be the same material as your trousers (men) or slacks / skirt (women).
• Women must ensure the bottom of the blouse is not visible below the bottom of the service dress coat.
• Black scarf or black gloves are authorized.

Service Coat

• With arms hanging naturally, sleeves end approximately ¼ inch from the heel of the thumb.
• Bottom edge extends 3 to 3½ inches below the top of the thigh.
• Do not iron creases in the sleeves.

Service coat accouterments

• Name tag — center metallic name tag on the right side between the sleeve seam and the lapel. Align the bottom with the bottom of the ribbons.
• U.S. insignia with circles — placed halfway up the lapel seam, resting on but not over the seam. The bottom of the word "US" is horizontal with the ground.
• Ribbons — centered on, but not over, the edge of the pocket. All or some may be worn. Must be worn in proper sequence.
• Badges — when authorized, center the aeronautical, occupational, or miscellaneous badge ½ inch above the top row of ribbons. Align additional badges ½ inch above the first.
• Chevrons — center halfway between the shoulder seam and elbow at 90°. Enlisted may use 3½- or 4-inch cloth chevrons.

Outer Garments

Authorized outer garments:

• Pullover sweater
• Cardigan sweater
• Lightweight blue jacket
• All-weather coat
• Top coat

Use good judgment to choose appropriate garments for weather and duties.

• Outer garments are worn outdoors and must be removed indoors — exception: the sweater and the lightweight blue jacket may be worn indoors.
• A black scarf and black gloves may be worn with any of the outer garments — solid black, no logo.
• Scarves and gloves only outdoors when wearing authorized outer garments.
• Don't wear medals and ribbons on these outer garments.

Only the lightweight blue jacket and all-weather coat are detailed below since they're the ones issued during BMT.

Lightweight Blue Jacket

• Partially lined and water repellent.
• Waist length with a zipper front, knitted cuffs, and two slanted pockets.
• May be worn with or without an insulated liner.
• May be worn indoors or outdoors.
• Must be zipped up at least halfway.
• Cloth chevrons sewn on the sleeves in the same manner as the service coat (3½- or 4-inch enlisted chevrons).
• Embroidering the Air Force Symbol on the left side of the jacket is optional.
• Women must ensure the bottom of their blouse is not visible below the bottom of the jacket.
• Women are authorized to wear the men's version of this jacket after BMT.

All-Weather Coat

• Should fit over your service coat loosely enough to accommodate the shoulders without binding at the armholes.
• Sleeves of the all-weather coat extend ½ inch beyond the sleeves of the service coat.
• Length — not shorter than ½ inch below the bottom of the knee nor longer than 6 inches below the back crease of the knee.
• Top button may be buttoned or unbuttoned.
• Place metal rank insignia 1 inch up from the bottom edge of the collar, centered and parallel to the outer edge of the collar.

Summary

You'll soon wear the service and service dress uniforms for the first time. It's an exciting moment — graduation is close. Take the extra time to check your appearance and your wingmen's to ensure you all present the proper image. Whenever you wear these uniforms, take the pride to make sure it's set right.