Chapter 23 - Dress and Appearance Flashcards
Are established to ensure every Airman reflects pride in personal appearance, professionalism, and esprit de corps
Dress and Personal Appearance Standards
Hair Standards
Hair will be clean, well-groomed, neat, and present a professional appearance.
Men’s Hair
Men’s hair must have a tapered appearance on the sides and back, both with and without headgear. Hair will not exceed 11⁄4 inches in bulk regardless of length, and will not exceed 1⁄4 inch at the natural termination point.
Men’s Facial Hair
Beards are not authorized unless for medical reasons when authorized by a commander on the advice of a medical official and maintained within acceptable standards. If authorized by the commander, members must keep facial hair trimmed not to exceed 1⁄4 inch in length
Women’s Hair
Hair cannot extend below an invisible line drawn parallel to the ground at the bottom edge of the shirt collar, regardless of length. Hair will not exceed 3 1⁄2 inches in bulk. Bangs and side-swept hair will not touch the eyebrows
Cosmetics
Cosmetics must be conservative, in good taste, and will not be worn in field conditions. unauthorized colors include purple, gold, blue, black, bright red, and fluorescent colors
Fingernails
Fingernails must be clean, well-groomed, not exceed 1⁄4 inch in length past tip of finger, and not interfere with duty performance or hinder proper fit of prescribed safety equipment or uniform items. unauthorized colors include purple, gold, blue, black, bright red, and fluorescent colors
Body Piercing and Ornamentation
On Duty
While on-duty, in uniform or civilian attire, on or off a military installation, with the exception of authorized earrings, all members are prohibited from attaching, affixing, or displaying objects, articles, jewelry, or ornamentation to or through the ear, nose, tongue, eye brows, lips, on the teeth, or any exposed body part (includes visible through the uniform)
Body Piercing and Ornamentation
Off Duty
While off-duty, in civilian attire, on a military installation, with the exception of wear in areas in and around military family and privatized housing, and with the exception of earrings, all members are prohibited from attaching, affixing, or displaying objects, articles, jewelry or ornamentation to or through the ear, nose, tongue, eye brows, lips, or any exposed body part
Body Piercing and Ornamentation
Female Earrings
Women may wear small (not exceeding 6 millimeters in diameter), spherical or square, conservative white diamond, gold, white pearl, or silver earrings as a set with any uniform combination
The Air Force defines a tattoo as
A picture, design, or marking made on the skin or other areas of the body by staining it with an indelible dye or any other method, including pictures, designs, or markings only detectible or visible under certain conditions (such as ultraviolet or invisible ink tattoos)
The Air Force defines a brand as
A picture, design, or other marking that is burned into the skin or other areas of the body
The Air Force defines a body marking as
Pictures, designs, or other markings as a result of using means other than burning to permanently scar or mark the skin
Though the Air Force has lifted tattoo size restrictions, tattoos, brands, and body markings on
All remain unauthorized
- The head
- The neck
- The face
- The tongue
- The lips
- The scalp
Body Alterations and Modifications
Intentional alterations or modifications to a member’s body that result in a visible, physical effect that disfigures, deforms, or otherwise detracts from a professional military image, are prohibited
Body Alterations and Modifications
Examples
- Tongue splitting
- Tongue forking
- Tooth filing
- Acquiring visible disfiguring skin implants
- Gouging (piercing holes large enough to permit light to shine through)
When to Wear the Uniform
During Travel
When traveling in an official capacity on commercial air in the Continental United States (to include Alaska and Hawaii), the service dress uniform (Class A), blue uniform (Class B), ABU, or OCP may be worn, as appropriate. Wear of the FDU/DFDU is not authorized on commercial air
When using frequent flyer miles to upgrade to business or first class, Air Force members may
Not wear military uniforms, due t public perception it can create
Wear or use of an earpiece, any blue tooth technology, or headphones while in uniform, indoors or outdoors is
Prohibited
Earpieces/Bluetooth technology
When to Wear the Uniform
Social Functions
Air Force members attending a military event must wear the appropriate uniform or civilian attire, as requested by the host or hostess, or directed by the commander
Uniform Wear Restrictions
When eating at off-base restaurants where most diners wear business attire, or at establishments that operate primarily to serve alcohol, Air Force members will not wear the ABU, OCP, or FDU/DFDU
Uniform Wear Restrictions
Cont.
Air Force members may not wear uniform items to further political activities; for private employment or commercial interests; while participating in public speeches, interviews, picket lines, marches or rallies; or at any public demonstration when the perception may exist that the Air Force sanctions the cause
Accessory Standards
- Jewelry will be plain and conservative
- Eyeglasses and sunglasses will not be worn around the neck, on top/back of head, or exposed hanging on the uniform
- Wear or use of an earpiece, blue tooth technology, or headphones while in uniform, indoors or outdoors, is prohibited
Authorized Occupational Badges
- A maximum of two occupational badges may be worn
- When wearing two occupational badges, wear the one representing the current career field (regardless of level earned) in the top position
- If authorized, the second occupational badge is worn in the top position and centered 1⁄2 inch above the first
