The Air Force has toyed a couple of times in the recent past with going back to the future with its service dress. But now that the Army has settled on a modernized version of the World War Two-era optional “Pinks and Greens” Officer’s uniform, perhaps it’s time for the Air Force to take another look.
Interestingly, the Army has adopted two distinctly Air Force affectations with this latest uniform reset.
First, is the service cap complete with crush, an unintentional feature created when Air Corps rated officers wore headphones over their caps while in flight.
Second, is a proposed optional wear leather flight jacket that is laughable referred to by the Army as a “bomber jacket.”
The Air Force has come up with a few throwback ideas of their own which borrow from its Army origins. Anyone remember the Billy Mitchell Heritage Coat trotted out awhile back? It harkens back to the early days of the Army Air Corps, and by early, I mean World War One and the inter-war years.
You may recognize a similar uniform being worn by the Air Force Band.
Another variant on this theme lives on as a rarely seen special ceremonial uniform reserved solely for the Air Force Chief of Staff and the Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force.
Then, came the Hap Arnold, with its more World War Two feel, but still quite Army in style.
Here’s a montage of the USAF dress uniform going back to its first days as a stand alone service. Initially, the Air Force wore the same green Army Air Forces uniform it shared with its ground counterparts. Actual Air Force Blues weren’t a thing until 1949 and even then, weren’t initially seen in great numbers.
The current Service Dress has long been the target of ire amongst Airmen with it initially being referred to as an airline uniform, complete with sleeve braid for the Officer ranks. Former CSAF Gen Merrill “Tony” McPeak designed it himself.
Eventually, the service dropped the sleeve rank, reinstated name tags as well as US insignia, and started wearing ribbons again, but the stigma lives on, almost 30 years later.
This is Gen Charles Q Brown Jr, the current CSAF wearing the latest version of Blues.
So, if you could adopt a “new,” retro-style service dress for the United States Air Force, which one would you pick?
McConnell Service Dress. It’s already in the inventory as it is still used at USAFA as the service dress. It was four button, looked professional, and distinctly Air Force (especially since the Army went away from the green Class A’s. Bring back the oxidized insignia and you’re all set.
+1
But reverting to the older, slightly grayer shade of blue from the 1960’s uniforms.
In the spirit of commonality and national identity, the USAF should switch to the AGSU style in USAF Blue (color of the 1962-1969 era) and with silver USAF buttons.
The Marine Corps already wears a dress uniform of a similar style, so then there would at last be a common style between the 3 branches, but with their own service specific colors and accoutrements. The Navy and Coast Guard should probably also get included too – just to round things out.
No thanks. The Navy Officer and Chief Petty Officer Service Dress Blue uniform is over 100 years old in its present form. Before that, double breasted navy blue frock coats of varying lengths and styles go back to the Revolution.
Joint Service working uniforms like camouflage utilities and flight suits make sense, but dress uniforms should reflect the service’s distinct culture and history.
Agree with Mike, especially the last sentence.
69-94 design, maybe in a darker shade like the current uniform and keep the Hap Arnold buttons (better looking than the old AF seal ones IMO).
Anybody that thinks the AF should go to a similar uniform to pinks and greens is a mouthbreather. The AF wasn’t even a separate branch then and has arguably accomplished more in the eras when blue uniforms were worn, so I don’t see a reason to “throw back” that far.
Just go back to 4 pockets, you don’t need a silly-assed belt like the Arnold prototype or those giant Elvis lapels. And the Mitchell prototype looked awful and people didn’t realize this was supposed to be a replacement for the service coat and would suck to wear all day in that role (for those who wear them). Even the Marines’ high-neck uniform is a dress variant worn for special occasions.
Exactly. Keep the metal name tag. But get rid of the oxidized insignia: Shiny bright…
DEFINITELY keep the Hap Arnold buttons…
No shiny bright. That was a McPeak abortion. The oxidized finish harkens back to having aluminum aircraft. The USAAF had oxidized insignia in direct opposition to the shiny brass of the Army.
This. USAF going back to pinks and greens one to many steps back.
I can count on one hand the number of times I’ve HAD to wear service dress in the last five years. Whatever they decide wait until I retire so I don’t have to pay for it. A four button would be the way to go though.
No need for any changes IMHO. What we have now already looks good and serves its purpose. I don’t see the value in having most of the AF spending out of pocket for cosmetics blues changes. Your Average Airman in many AFSC’s will only wear his/her blues a handful of times after BMT/Technical school.
Looks like crap on women. The covers are just bad on the women. ?????
A regular business suit with a sign on it that says “Air Force service member of what was formerly known as the United States- brought to you by World Government”
You know, Steve Carell in “Space Force” didn’t look too bad. Current uniform with a black shirt. The show wasn’t great, but the uniform was OK.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/paultassi/2020/05/29/netflixs-space-force-with-steve-carell-is-getting-savaged-by-critics/?sh=7a2829814ae2
The AF should have the crush cap and the AGSU should have gone with the garrison cap/berets for the 900 units that are now authorized berets. The crush cap doesn’t make much sense for the Army, and the Garrison cap has a long history with the Army.
Current service dress is crap. Go back to the LeMay and, like one commenter said, more of a grey-blue. The pleated pockets and scalloped flaps have more tradition than the current “hanky pocket”.
Also, btw, USSF should go with black jacket and pants with a steel grey shirt, or vice versa.
Why only go back to WW1? Tricorn hats, britches and quillings I say!
How about a fitted, zippered, flight suit, in…leather? With a unit color-coded ascot. And riding boots, with the tops turned down to expose a flash of lining matching the color of the ascot. Distilled essence of several eras, with a certain extra flamboyance’, if you will…
Great lets waste as much money as the Army…….
How are you wasting money? The AF is a uniformed service, meaning it’s members wear uniforms.
Go back to the 1950s era 4 pocket blouse in Shade 1683.
Give us the same service dress the Army just adopted, but let us keep the blue and white chevrons and blue headgear.
Historical vibes that everyone is obsessed with, while still keeping us distinct as a branch.