New Air Force Dress Uniform?

[Red Flag 1]

Originally Posted by swpa19

Out of respect of our sister service and the three nephews I have currently serving in the AF, I'll gladly retract the "Bus Driver" statement and offer my humble apologies.

I dont want to be the cause of some "Army Grunt" missing a good meal.

Thank you Amigo!

My best to your kin in AF blue, whatever shade it may be today.

RF 1

Originally Posted by lksteve

WWI Army Air Corps...

NO, they looked much better. I am sitting here looking at a photo of my father in his WWII Army Air Force dress uniform..

New uniform is so far past ugly it transcends into just plain fugly..

[Trip_Wire (RIP)]

I spent some time in both the Air Force Reserve and the Washington Air Guard. I can recall being issued a Kaki uniform that consisted of shorts w/stocking that came up to the knees, a bush jacket and pith helmet as a tropical summer uniform. I thought that was a little strange.

In looking at the pictures of the high collar belted blouse, I wasn't impressed. Indeed it looked like something out of the WW I era. I just can't imagine why anybody would choose this blouse for a dress uniform. I didn't like the loose material at the belted waist much either! At least the WW I blouses were worn with a leather 'Sam Brown.'

[Trip_Wire (RIP)]

Originally Posted by armymom1228

NO, they looked much better. I am sitting her looking at a photo of my father in his WWII Army Air Force dress uniform..

New uniform is so far past ugly it transcends into just plain fugly..

The WW 1 uniform, IMO wasn't as nice as the 'Pinks & Greens' of the WW II Officers uniforms, especially the Army Air Corps with their '50 Mission crush,' hat.

In fact, I wish the US Army would have chosen the 'Pinks & Greens' of that era. instead of the Blues.

[Utah Bob]

Originally Posted by Trip_Wire

The WW 1 uniform, IMO wasn't as nice as the 'Pinks & Greens' of the WW II Officers uniforms, especially the Army Air Corps with their '50 Mission crush,' hat.

In fact, I wish the US Army would have chosen the 'Pinks & Greens' of that era. instead of the Blues.

The WWI uniform looked like a horse blanket unless it was privately tailored. But of course it was a dress/combat uniform. The Army never got rid of the dress blues for ceremonial/formal dress. Blue has been the official Army color since the revolution.
The Pinks & Greens did look sharp though.

But that new AF thing......butt ugly.

[AngelsSix]

The AF has big problems all across the board, much of it points directly to the individuals that have managed to work themselves into leadership positions. Many of them are incompetent and no one wants to question anyone in the politically correct military anymore, so it's like a bunch of sheep running around aimlessly. I, for one, am tired of it and intend to finish my last couple of years and get gone.

[Richard]

When things get boring - the bored need a distractor and repetetively seem to focus on inconsequential matters - like uniforms - your typical piss ant and june bug foofarah over nothing.

Richard's $.02

[afchic]

My opinion, the new uniform discussion is a brilliant tactic by the AF leadership. As it was when McPeak was at the helm.

The AF has huge problems right now. What better way to keep the rank and file preoccupied with something other than the true issues, than to give them another shitty looking uniform to complain about.

This was first being "tested" when Gen Mosley was the CSAF, pictures got leaked of him wearing it, and it wasn't flattering. I heard a couple of folks got fired over the "leak".


The new uniform board results came out a couple of weeks ago, and if I remember correctly, there was nothing about the new service dress in it.

Hopefully I will be retired before the new uniform becomes mandatory.

[Utah Bob]

Originally Posted by AngelsSix

The AF has big problems all across the board, much of it points directly to the individuals that have managed to work themselves into leadership positions. Many of them are incompetent and no one wants to question anyone in the politically correct military anymore, so it's like a bunch of sheep running around aimlessly. I, for one, am tired of it and intend to finish my last couple of years and get gone.

The same can be said about many organizations (and I assume you use the term "work themselves" loosely into leadership positions" loosely. )
Right now it seems to be the AF's turn.
I had a police chief who would re-design the badge or give us a new hat when morale got low. He'd introduce the new shiny thing with appropriate fanfare and bombast. Unfortunately for him most of the troops were a tad more educated than the natives who sold Manhattan for some beads. He eventually got politically guillotined.


And nothing wrong with being mistaken for a bus driver. It's an honorable profession.

[Monsoon65]

Everyone in the AF is having fits about the new uniforms. No one liked the first model (the blue Tiger Stripes). And what was funny was that this was to be a "garrison only" uniform; if you deployed, you were to wear either woodland BDUs or DCUs.

When they came out with the ABU, I think the common thought was, "Hey, isn't that what the Army is wearing?"

AF actually had a good idea and put out a survey on the likes/dislikes of the ABU. Everyone wanted pockets on the sleeves, and no one liked the green boots. Guess what? No pockets and green boots.

I'm not impressed with either of the new Blues they are pimping to us now.

[Red Flag 1]

In the early 90's, around 1993, there was a class A uniform that was nearly the same as Naval class A's. Same shade of blue, no shoulder rank....piping on the cuff for rank. Was silly, and the officer corps had to pay out of pocket for the uniform change.

In the end, this all slight of hand. As afchic noted, there are tons of issues the USAF leadership has to come to grips with. Seeing a combat wing go uncertified for nuke violations last year is the tip of the iceberg. There was also a senior JAG officer that spent his entire career as a USAF Jag officer with no active license to practice, had been disbarred in Texas in fact.

I do hope the USAF can find reason to return to simpler times. It really is unfortunate to see all this going on, especially with a war to prosecute.

My $.02.

RF 1

[Richard]

In the early 90's, around 1993, there was a class A uniform that was nearly the same as Naval class A's. Same shade of blue, no shoulder rank....piping on the cuff for rank. Was silly,..

That was Tony McPeak - and his TAC-umsizing the Air Force initiatives. He was not a popular guy around the USAFE/17th AF AO during those times.

Richard's $.02

[Defender968]

Originally Posted by Richard

That was Tony McPeak - He was not a popular guy around the USAFE/17th AF AO during those times.

Richard's $.02

He wasn't popular and still isn't around any part of the AF, up until the day I left less than a year ago I still heard MSgt's cursing him.

[Red Flag 1]

Originally Posted by Defender968

He wasn't popular and still isn't around any part of the AF, up until the day I left less than a year ago I still heard MSgt's cursing him.

Guess I was lucky. Things had not yet begun to spool out of control until I left..........hmmmmmmmm

RF 1

[Sigaba]

Originally Posted by Red Flag 1

The USAF seems to be thrashing about trying to figure out what it should look like; I have to wonder if this reflects a deeper crisis?

RF-1

IMHO, this observation is brilliant. I've been shaking my head in green-eyed admiration since I read it.

Your musing could be a line of departure for a study linking cultural history, social history, aerospace history, and military history.

Unfortunately, this crisis is happening in the here and now, while the country is at war. Thus, while academic part of me wants sit back in contemplation of your observation, the civilian part of me is leaning forward with deep concern.