Air Force officials release uniform board results, focus on current inventory

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Amaani Lyle
  • Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs
WASHINGTON (AFPN) --  Air Force officials here have released the results of the 98th Virtual Uniform Board. While the board did not introduce new uniforms, the majority of the uniform-wear policy results improved upon existing uniforms.
 
The service's senior leaders said they intend to provide fully functional and appropriate uniforms to support all Airmen both stateside and deployed, with emphasis on the current uniform inventory, in response to Airmen feedback. 

"We remain committed to fix, improve and upgrade uniforms in our current inventory," said Lt. Gen. Richard Y. Newton III, deputy chief of staff for Manpower, Personnel and Services and chairman of the Virtual Uniform Board. "Our goal is to provide the optimal uniform and equipment to Airmen in order to allow them to best carry out their mission," he said. 

The general explained that the uniform team is committed to ensuring Airmen have a fully functional uniform at the right time and at the right cost to support the joint mission worldwide. 

The Air Force's top enlisted Airman underscored the importance of ongoing analysis and constant response to wearer feedback. 

"Our Airmen spend their hard-earned money on these uniforms, and we owe it to them to do the research, development and quality assurance necessary to guarantee every uniform item put on the shelf is right the first time," Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force Rodney J. McKinley said. "The Virtual Uniform Board is essential because no one knows better than Airmen serving today what uniform changes are needed." 

The board convened in 2008 with Airmen voting members from all major commands and most functional communities.  Representatives from the Army & Air Force Exchange Service, Defense Supply Center Philadelphia, Defense Logistics Agency, Air Force Uniform Office, Air Force Logistics and Air Staff members acted as non-voting advisors. Board members forwarded their recommendations to the Air Force chief of staff for a final decision.
 
Board members recommended and the chief of staff approved the green fleece formerly worn only as the All-Purpose Environmental Clothing System liner to be authorized Air Force-wide as an outer-wear garment. Senior leaders also approved adding the name, rank and service designators to the green fleece when worn as an outer-wear garment. 

Other uniform enhancements include the addition of a small surname tape to the pocket flap of the APECS left sleeve. 

While General Newton delegated the authorization of black-boots in industrial areas to MAJCOMs in February, the concept, like many changes, originated from a Virtual Uniform Board input.
 
"We rely on feedback from Airmen about a wide variety of uniform issues.  As such, the Air Force uniform team created the Virtual Uniform Board. The virtual uniform board capitalized on available technology that Airmen are familiar with, the Innovative Development through Employee Awareness (IDEA) Program," said Ruth Ewalt, chief of Air Force uniform programs and policy. 

The intent of the Virtual Uniform Board is for Airmen to identify a problem and suggest an improvement, Ms. Ewalt said.

"Unlike an open forum board, it's an avenue to voice an input and recommend a solution to resolve the issue," Ms. Ewalt said. "It is an opportunity for everyone wearing the uniform to bring well thought out and substantive issues, along with solid recommendations to resolve those issues, to the attention of Air Force senior leadership." 

General Newton shares Ms. Ewalt's sentiments.

"We heard the feedback from the field and will continue to tailor our uniforms to their operational needs," General Newton said.

Airmen can provide uniform recommendations by going to the Air Force Innovative Development through Employee Awareness (IDEA) Program Web site at the Air Force Portal, https://www.my.af.mil/gcss-af/USAF/ep/globalTab.do?command=org&channelPageId=-
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Airmen also can access uniform information at the Air Force Portal by typing "uniform" in the search box in the page's upper right-hand corner.