Forum: Air Force Life

I have enlisted and will be leaving for Lackland, TX February 24th, 2009. Just curious, what are the current uniforms like for general work on the job/in the field? Not formal dress (Blues), but the regular Airman Uniforms, is it still Tiger/ACU camo or did the switch go to ACU/Digital camo only? Just curious because my recruitor has been wearing ACU/Digital camo.....anyone know if this change has taken affect yet? Thanks in advance.

Respectfully,

Rob

F-16.net Sponsor

Our new guys have been showing up in issued ABUs, so I'd say you'll be getting them too.

Wearing them on the flightline has its ups and downs. They're easier to care for (wash and wear), but they show every speck of dirt and grease. Common sense says wear your coveralls over them and you won't have a problem. I'm just waiting for the first O-7 or above to say something about the boots going from green to black in less than a month...

Personally, I think the tan boots go best with ABUs.

Those tiger stripe ones died out a few years back in the test period. All about the digi now. That's what they're issuing in basic and when you deploy. No more DCU's. For flightline mechanics, they suck, no getting around that. Even if you're wearing coveralls, unless they are winter, hydo, fuel and oil still gets throught them. Good luck finding a top and bottom that are not 2 differnet shades than each other. I think they are in the works of authorizing flightline guys to wear the black boots in the work center, but you have to change back to the green (or tan) prior to leaving the shop. I'm still in my greens for now since I am getting my ABU's free for my deployment in Jan. Still not to fond of them. Every other branch uniforms still blend the in with their surroundings, ours makes us stick out like easy targets. Oh well.....

Mush

They are a tiger stripe, but it's a digital tiger stripe. I'm one of the holdouts. Since I hardly ever wear BDUs anyway, I haven't seen the need to switch my uniforms over to ABUs until I absolutely have to.

Never fear. You will not be issued BDUs anymore at Lackland. You may see your TI wear them every now and again, but you will never wear them.

You also won't have to participate in Blues Mondays until you enter Tech School.

Mushmouth is correct. Shortly before I returned home from my deployment in September, AFCent changed the regs, so that all new incoming deployments to any AOR location will be required to wear ABUs. So, essentially, I own a set of DCUs, with all of my patches, tapes and insignia, that was never worn. They hang in my closet collecting dust.

Good luck at Lackland Rob. You get to do the long BMT! Thumb

Mushmouth wrote:

Every other branch uniforms still blend the in with their surroundings, ours makes us stick out like easy targets. Oh well.....
Mush

I think ACUs look okay in the desert, but are inferior to BDUs in a foliage setting. There's not enough green on them! And correct me if I'm wrong, but the ABU's shades are almost exactly the same as the ACUs, we just have the digital tiger stripes. As far as blending in, I think the Marines two different shades are best: one for green, one for brown. The one camo pattern fits all mentality just dosen't work if you're actually trying to blend in. Ask any sniper! And good luck at BMT!

Welcome to the AF! No worries you will recieve all your uniform combinations at basic. You will get ABU's issued to you as well as dress blues. Your job dictates what you will be wearing to work. Office jobs normally wear blues and mechinics normaly wear ABU's. Let me know if you have any questions, and good luck! BDUs or greens will be phased out by 2011. You will see a mix at all the bases untill ABU is November 2011.

Here is a link to the ABU page http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123017545

Forum: Air Force Life

Question about current Dress/Uniforms