Air Force Dress & Appearance Standards
Overview Standards of Appearance Personal Grooming Standards Accessories Airman Battle Uniform (ABU) Physical Training Gear (PTG) Service Uniform Service Dress Uniform Outer Garments Mess Dress Part I Part II
Part I
Dress and Appearance Standards AFI 36-2903, Dress and Personal Appearance of Air Force Personnel Airmen are required to maintain serviceable uniforms at all times
Dress and Appearance Standards Pride Respect Professional Military Image Clean & Neat Pressed Properly Fitted & Altered In Good Condition All buttons/snaps zipped, snapped, buttoned, or closed
Grooming Standards: Males Hair Standards Must be clean and well-groomed Grooming aids will not be used excessively (i.e. hair gel) No foreign items will be used Dye should look natural Hair will not touch eyebrows or be visible below the front of the cap Hair must have tapered appearance, block cut, shaved or high and tight Will not exceed 1¼ inches in bulk
Grooming Standards: Males Facial Hair Standards Mustache Sideburns
Grooming Standards: Females Hair Standards No extreme or faddish styles Dye, highlights, and/or frosting should look natural Hair cannot extend below invisible line drawn at back, bottom edge of collar Hair will not exceed 3 inches in bulk Hair style must allow headgear to be worn properly Keep hair in place with conservative pins, combs, headbands, elastic bands, or barrettes that match hair color Professional in appearance
Hair Standards Grooming Standards: Female
Grooming Standards Cosmetics Nail Polish
Accessories Bracelets Rings Necklaces
Accessories Earrings Body Piercing Tattoos Eyeglasses/Contacts Sunglasses
Accessories Pens & Pencils Cell Phone Headphones Umbrellas Religious Apparel
Accessories Backpacks Gym Bags Purses
Part II
Airman Battle Uniform (ABU) ABU Components Accoutrements Wear of the ABU
ABU Components Coat Trousers Tan T-Shirt Belt Coat Belt Trousers Blouse Tan T-Shirt
Accoutrements Functional Badges Badge #2 Badge #1
Accoutrements Rank Rank Insignia
ABU Components Combat Boots ABU Patrol Cap Socks
Wear of the ABU May be worn off-base When off base eating at restaurants where most diners wear business attire or at establishments that operate primarily to serve alcohol, do not wear utility uniforms such as ABUs, BDUs, etc., or the flight duty uniform.
Physical Training Gear (PTG) Reflective footwear Socks PTG jacket PTG running pants PTG running shorts Short-sleeved PTG shirt Optional long-sleeved shirt Optional PTG sweatshirt Undergarments *Commanders determine the required PTG configuration during organized PT events.
Physical Training Gear (PTG). Spandex Headgear Gloves Scarf and The earmuffs man who has confidence in Do not mix/match himself gains the current the PTG confidence with future of authorized jacket and others. pants The lining in the PTG shorts may be removed PTG items - Hasidic are authorized Saying for wear with conservative civilian/personal attire during individual/personal PT PTG jacket with personal shirt/pants/shorts
Physical Training Gear (PTG). Headphones and earphones (IPODS) All personal grooming standards apply while participating in physical fitness activities with one exception: long female hair will be secured but may have loose ends; body art (tattoos) and jewelry standards The apply. man who has confidence in Proper military customs and courtesies honoring the flag during reveille/retreat himself will apply. gains Saluting the due confidence to rank recognition of is not required. others. Exceptions: For accessions, - Hasidic PME Saying and academic training environments (e.g. USAFA,ROTC, OTS, ASBC, SOS, BMT), commanders (or equivalent) will determine which PT events are organized. Wear policy for the PTU in a deployed environment can be further defined by the Air Force Forces commander specific to that area of responsibility (AOR).
Service Uniform Shirt, long or short sleeve Trousers, slacks or skirt Footwear Appropriate headgear
Long sleeve shirt T-Shirt Tie or tie tab Optional tie tack or claps Service Uniform
Service Uniform Short sleeve Optional tie T-Shirt (Not Visible)
Service Uniform Accoutrements Male
Tie Tack/Clasp (Optional)
Service Uniform Accoutrements Female
Service Uniform Trousers/Slacks Back 7/8 longer than front
Service Uniform Skirt Top Bottom No patterned hose
Service Uniform Footwear Shined and in good repair Female-Heels will be no higher than 2 ½
Service Uniform Flight Cap Exception: Female hair can be visible Hat cannot flip over belt
Service Dress Uniform Silver nametag Ribbons - mandatory Badges - optional
Add service coat Tie/Tie Tab required Service Uniform Jacket and trousers/skirt same material
Service Uniform Sleeve ¼ from heel of thumb Jacket 3 to 3 ½ below top of thigh No creases in sleeves
Service Uniform Accoutrements ½ Braid 3 from end of sleeve 5/8 end of epaulet
Accoutrements Male Female
Outergarments Lightweight Blue Jacket Exception to the outergarment rule - Indoors or Outdoors 5/8 from edge Zipper Either way
Outergarments or FEMALE Sweaters Silver Nametag INDOORS or OUTDOORS INDOORS ONLY
Outergarments APECS or FEMAL E Sage Green Fleece
Mess Dress
Accoutrements
Summary Standards of Appearance Personal Grooming Standards Accessories Airman Battle Uniform (ABU) Physical Training Gear (PTG) Service Uniform Service Dress Uniform Outer Garments Mess Dress
It is absurd to believe that soldiers who cannot be made to wear the proper uniform can be induced to move forward in battle. Officers who fail to perform their duty by correcting small violations and in enforcing proper conduct are incapable of leading. General George S. Patton Jr.