New dress & appearance guidelines apply to Mildenhall Airmen

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Kevin Wallace
  • 100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
RAF MILDENHALL, England --  As a recruit takes seemingly her last step of freedom off an Air Force-blue bus and outwardly into her abyss, a barrel-chested non-commissioned officer quickly bounds into what was once her personal space, and begins to bark orders at her.

Trembling, the recruit tries to gather her composure and ignore the knife-hand pointing at her.

She musters the reporting statement her recruiter taught her.

Years later, that recruit ... that Airman, remembers her Military Training Instructor (TI) in a much different manner, and desperately misses the pride and professionalism that his demeanor, grooming and pristine uniform demanded.

The fact is, as each Airman progresses through their career, the standards of dress and appearance should never waiver. Visually, an Airman walking the streets of RAF Mildenhall should not look much different than a TI or professional military education instructor.

The Air Force's instruction on dress and personal appearance just received an upgrade with the release of the updated instruction July 18. Air Force Instruction 36-2903, Dress and Personal Appearance, received the facelift after years of interim updates as uniform items were introduced and phased out.

The last revision to the AFI was in 2006, prior to the release of the Airman Battle Uniform, which replaces the Battle Dress Uniform and Desert Camouflage Uniform Nov. 1, 2011.

Here at RAF Mildenhall, leadership reminds Airmen to comply with AFI 36-2903 at all times, said Chief Master Sgt. Chris Powell, 100th Air Refueling Wing command chief.

"I've recently heard of and seen folks not wearing the correct [physical training] uniform to their PT tests," said the command chief, stressing that black socks are not authorized in Air Force PT gear.

Base first sergeants have also noticed other uniform infractions.

"I see a lot of folks walking around base with their hands in their pockets," said Master Sgt. Tracy Flax, 352nd Special Operations Group first sergeant. "Do not stand or walk with [your] hands in [your] pockets, except to insert or remove an item."

Ear rings seem to be an overlooked item, as well.

"The new AFI specifies the size for ear rings at 4mm, which is less than 1/4 inch," said Senior Master Sgt. Kevin Hawks, 100th Security Forces Squadron first sergeant. "I've seen a lot of young ladies wearing bigger and bigger earrings lately."

Most AFI changes are more about mechanics and clarification than new policy, said Ruth Ewalt, the Air Force Uniform Programs and Policies chief at the Air Staff. They are intended to make the AFI more user-friendly.

"The changes are a result of Airmen in the field requesting clarification, leadership approving more specific policy, and the need to integrate information from the 98th virtual uniform board and other wear policy approved since 2006," Ewalt said. "We added the ABU, green fleece, and physical fitness uniform information not in the previous AFI and corrected instances of conflicting information."

Air Force wide, a more clear and easy to read AFI was needed. For that reason, the chapters were rearranged to eliminate turning back and forth to properly configure a uniform, said Ewalt.

Meanwhile back at RAF Mildenhall, first sergeants noted other commonly overlooked parts of the AFI.

"I see too many purses and clutches with white and cream stitching," said Flax. "The AFI clearly states, 'Handbags for all uniform combinations will be solid black leather or vinyl without ornamentation, with or without plain fold-over flap, with or without single-placed silver or gold-colored clasp, with black stitching only."

Uniforms are not the only dress and appearance details Airmen should remain attentive on.

"There's the new part [in the AFI] about walking and talking on cell phones being prohibited in uniform except in cases of emergency or official notification," said Hawks. "Another thing I highlighted to my unit was the fact that the excessive tattoo and brand policy does not apply while wearing the PT uniform, [however,] unauthorized content does apply."

The revised AFI also added a tattoo measurement tool to standardize the process for Airmen and commanders to determine if a tattoo meets standards.

"The policy regarding what constitutes an excessive tattoo has not changed," said Ewalt. "The standard is still not more than 25 percent of the exposed body part."

For Airmen who tend to push the intent of a professional image, a new statement was added.

The AFI now states very clearly that if it's not mentioned in the AFI, it's not authorized, said Master Sgt. Gordon Evarts, 100th Maintenance Squadron first sergeant.

"So no longer can the excuse [be made that,] 'where does it say I can't (insert you favorite violation),'" said Evarts.

The new AFI is laid out in this manner:

The first three chapters cover basic philosophy, appropriate circumstances to wear uniform items, how and where to purchase them, roles and responsibilities, and grooming and appearance standards.

Chapters four through seven cover uniforms worn and maintained by all Air Force members: dress, utility, and physical training uniforms. Chapters four and five include the dress and utility uniforms. Chapter six explains outer garments, headgear, rank insignia and accessories, and chapter seven covers the physical training uniform.

The remaining chapters customize the uniforms of unique populations and discuss badges, awards and decorations unique to individual Airmen.

The final chapter contains instructions for recommending changes to dress and personal appearance policy or uniform designs.

The revision involved input from individuals of all ranks and components of the Air Force, including Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard members.

"This three-year effort included Airmen from all walks of Air Force life ... [including military] training instructors, recruits, recruiters, first sergeants and Air Force leadership from all levels, professional military education instructors, functional communities, and support organizations to name a few," Ewalt said. "This Air Force instruction was influenced by a huge population of Air Force service members because it impacts the total force."

For online dress and appearance information, go to the dress and appearance webpage on the Air Force Personnel Center's website athttp://www.afpc.af.mil/dress/index.asp.

(Eric M. Grill, Air Force Personnel, Services and Manpower public affairs, contributed to this article.)