Uniform Wear Updates - Effective Immediately Published Oct. 7, 2009 By Command Chief Master Sgt. Michael Haas 180th Fighter Wing October 2009 -- Below are some highlights and valuable information from the 98th Air Force Virtual Uniform Board regarding the Green Fleece wear with the ABU and the the Blues Pullover Sweater. These messages are effective immediately. Please read these highlights and the messages below entirely. A couple of important factors to note are: 1. The sage green fleece can now be worn as an outer garment. If wearing the sage green fleece as an outer garment, it can only be worn over the ABU Top Coat (shirt). It cannot be worn over BDUs or over the ABU T-Shirt or any Thermal underwear etc. 2. If you are wearing the sage green fleece as an outer garment, at this time you don't need the name tag, U.S. Air Force tape, or the rank, HOWEVER, these items will be required on the sage green fleece by 01 Oct 2010 (see the message below for specifics). 3. The sage green fleece can still be worn under the APECs. If you are going to wear it under the APECs, you do not need a name tag, USAF tape or rank on it. FYI - If you don't know what the APECs is, it is roughly equivalent to the BDU Gortex Jacket. 4. The only time you can wear the black fleece with the ABU is under the APECs. The black fleece will be phased out 1 Oct 10. Some other notes: While this message does not address the wear of the green sleep shirt with the ABUs, previous guidance states that it can only be worn as an undergarment (not an outer garment) under the ABU shirt. Also not addressed in this message is the wear of the IRS (ABU rain jacket). The only item that can be worn as a liner with the IRS is the old BDU jacket liner. It buttons inside the IRS. As a reminder, you can wear the BDU Gortex jacket and/or the field jacket with the ABU until 01 May 2010. Other items you can wear as an outer garment with the ABU are: - Parka - Blue long rain coat Unfortunately, AFI 36-2903 does not address the wear of the ABU yet, so hopefully this will clear up some issues. REF: MESSAGE DTG 0906121835Z (98TH AFVUB RESULTS-CORRECTED COPY) 1. THE 98TH AIR FORCE VIRTUAL UNIFORM BOARD AUTHORIZED WEAR OF THE SAGE GREEN FLEECE AS AN OUTER GARMENT WITH THE AIRMAN BATTLE UNIFORM (ABU). 2. THE SAGE GREEN FLEECE CAN ONLY BE WORN OVER THE ABU COAT/TOP. IT IS NOT AUTHORIZED TO BE WORN SOLELY OVER A T-SHIRT, THERMAL UNDERWEAR, ETC. WHEN WORN AS AN OUTER GARMENT, IT WILL: A. HAVE A VELCRO ABU PRINT LAST NAME TAPE WITH DARK BLUE BLOCK LETTERING CENTERED BETWEEN THE ZIPPER AND SLEEVE SEAM ON THE WEARER?S RIGHT CHEST. B. HAVE A VELCRO SUBDUED CLOTH RANK WITH A SOLID SAGE GREEN BACKGROUND (NO ABU PATTERN ON BACKGROUND) FLUSHED AND CENTERED ABOVE THE LAST NAME TAPE ON THE WEARER?S RIGHT CHEST. C. HAVE A VELCRO ABU PRINT U.S. AIR FORCE TAPE WITH DARK BLUE, BLOCK LETTERING ADJACENT TO THE LAST NAME TAPE AND CENTERED BETWEEN THE ZIPPER AND SLEEVE SEAM ON THE WEARER?S LEFT CHEST. D. REMAIN ZIPPED NO LOWER THAN HALFWAY BETWEEN THE NAME TAPE AND THE COLLAR. E. HAVE THE COLLAR FOLDED OVER RESTING ON THE SHOULDER, CHEST, AND BACK WHEN THE ZIPPER IS NOT COMPLETELY ZIPPED F. HAVE THE BOTTOM LENGTH OF THE GREEN FLEECE MATCH AS CLOSELY AS POSSIBLE TO THE BOTTOM LENGTH OF THE ABU COAT/TOP. G. BE WORN WITH THE SLEEVES DOWN. H. REMAIN IN NEAT AND SERVICEABLE CONDITION AT ALL TIMES. 3. COLD WEATHER ITEMS AUTHORIZED TO BE WORN WITH THE SAGE GREEN FLEECE: BLACK OR SAGE GREEN LEATHER, SUEDE OR KNIT GLOVES; BLACK OR SAGE GREEN WATCH CAPS; BLACK SCARVES THAT ARE TUCKED IN; BLACK EARMUFFS. 4. WEAR OF THE SAGE GREEN FLEECE AS AN OUTER GARMENT WITHOUT NAME TAPE, SERVICE DESIGNATOR, AND RANK IS AUTHORIZED UNTIL 1 OCT 2010. THE SAGE GREEN/BLACK FLEECE WITHOUT NAME TAPE, SERVICE DESIGNATOR, AND RANK WILL CONTINUE TO BE AUTHORIZED AS A LINER WITH THE APECS. PHASE-OUT DATE FOR THE BLACK FLEECE IS 1 OCT 2010. 5. QUESTIONS SHOULD BE ADDRESSED THROUGH YOUR CHAIN OF COMMAND OR BY CALLING AFPC CONTACT CENTER AT 800-525-0102/DSN 665-5000. Blue Pullover Sweater Wear 1. CSAF APPROVED WEAR OF THE NEW 50% ACRYLIC/50% WOOL PULLOVER, V-NECK SWEATER (50/50 PULLOVER SWEATER) CURRENTLY AVAILABLE IN ARMY AND AIR FORCE EXCHANGE STORES (AAFES) MILITARY CLOTHING SALES STORES (MCSS). THE 50/50 PULLOVER SWEATER IS LIGHTER WEIGHT WITH A FLAT KNIT AND MORE RELAXED FIT THAN THE 100% WOOL VERSION. 2. THE INITIAL DISTRIBUTION OF THE 50/50 PULLOVER SWEATER INCLUDED A VELCRO AIRCREW STYLE NAME PATCH?THE NAME PATCH HAS BEEN REMOVED. AIRMEN WHO PURCHASED THE 50/50 PULLOVER SWEATER WITH THE NAME PATCH CAN TAKE IT TO ANY AAFES MCSS ALTERATIONS TO HAVE IT REMOVED AT NO CHARGE. 3. NAMETAGS WILL NOT BE WORN ON 50/50 PULLOVER SWEATER. EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY, NAMETAGS WILL NO LONGER BE WORN ON THE 100% WOOL PULLOVER SWEATER. ALL OTHER WEAR GUIDANCE FOR THE PULLOVER SWEATER REMAINS CONSISTENT WITH AFI 36-2903, FIGURE 2.9, TABLE 2.1, LINE 8 FOR MEN AND TABLE 2.3, LINE 12 FOR WOMEN. 4. PHASE-OUT DATE FOR THE 100% WOOL PULLOVER SWEATER IS 1 OCT 2010. 5. QUESTIONS SHOULD BE ADDRESSED THROUGH YOUR CHAIN OF COMMAND OR BY CALLING AFPC CONTACT CENTER AT 800-525-0102/DSN 665-5000. You can also send an email to Chief Haas if you have questions.