USAF returning to Blues...

[ang1sgt]

I wonder about this. As a prior First Sergeant, when you make a decision like this, people are going to bitch about it. I just hope some Base Commander doesn't get a hair up their arse and decide that even the Flightline guys and the rest of the mechanical folks need to do this also. Talk about a Maintenance Down Day!

http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123113919

Every Monday now blues day for Airmen

9/5/2008 - WASHINGTON (AFPN) -- Beginning Sept. 8, Airmen now will be required to wear a combination of the blues uniform on Mondays.

At a recent four-star conference, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton A. Schwartz discussed the issue with other senior leaders.

"We all agreed that part of our image, culture and professionalism is instilled in our blues," General Schwartz said.

The policy is mandatory for most career fields, with installation commanders retaining the authority to adjust for mission requirements.

Prior to Sept. 11, 2001, blues were the primary duty uniform for most Airmen.

Note: The link above has a PDF file of the Policy Letter. Active Duty Folks might want to print it out and put it into your Continuity Books. Just a thought...

TOP

[soccermark23]

I say that folks in desk jobs down in personnel and commander's support staff should have to wear blues the majority of the time. If they make flight-line folks do this, there will be hell to pay.

[03_SHOOTER]

Yeah, that'd go over like a fart in a diving helmet with the SP's! :rolleyes:

[HairyEyeball]

"We all agreed that part of our image, culture and professionalism is instilled in our blues," General Schwartz said.

In an older version, perhaps, not in the 'business suits with insignia' seen (and 'remaindered') around here (Davis Monthan AFB). It appears the good General may have been breathing the rarified air inside the Beltway too long. Maybe as an outsider I just don't 'get it', but it appears to me that if they want to convey a look of (military) 'professionalism', they might consider going back to a more traditional - and professional - 'military' uniform.

[Billyd]

To my fellow AF brothers, I respectfully disagree. I will concede that once a week is too often for those of us of the wrench turning persuasion. However, that said, I believe that at least once a month, everyone should turn out in blues. This would be a good day to take care of some of those training needs that arise and we all know that EPRs don't write themselves. Additional duties can be attended to and so forth. I know around these parts, they started wearing blues on the last duty day of the month until Gen Schwartz implemented Blue Mondays.

We, United States Air Force, Inc, have had the 9-5 mentality for so long that a lot of us have forgotten, that while we are the premiere air superiority force in the world, we are members of a brotherhood known as the United States Military. I work with several young officers that have no clue what it means to be in the military. What it means to serve. Why some leaders will be followed to the very gates of hell, and why others are only followed out of morbid curiosity and how to tell the difference. We, as NCOs, have failed to train our airman in the Profession of Arms, and for that, we should be ashamed. This is not something that failed overnight, nor can it be corrected overnight.

I don’t profess to have THE answer, but I do try and talk with the young officers and help them understand what it is the young airman and NCOs do and what they contribute to the mission. These young officers are the decision makers of tomorrow and I want them to know that the decisions they make will effect real people.

[ang1sgt]

To Hairy...

When the USAF says Blues or combination there of, they are not saying the Dress Blues. The USAF has a working Blue Uniform that are the Dark Blue trousers with a light AF Blue shirt. This is what the General Staff is talking about.

During the course of my late career as a First Sergeant, I would bring to Drill, or have in my Office my Dress Blues, Working Blues, and at least 2 sets of cleaned, pressed and perfect BDU's. The Shine Bucket was put out every morning, and I tried to maintain that military perfection as I could. I would say that on "MY" normal day, it was 75-85% Blue Work uniform. If I were going up to Headquarters, it would be Work Blues or Dress Blues. If it were to stand in front of a Board, or be a Member of a Board, only Dress Blues would do. Of course this was "MY" personal standard as a SNCO and First Sergeant.

If I were going to walk the Flightline early in the morning like I would do often, of course BDU's and Steel Toes were the order of the day. I felt that I needed to walk the line, and also to do the FOD Walk a few times a month also. Soon after I started this, the Commander and the Maintenance Division Commander started to do the same thing. Part of the reason was to get our faces out there and to offer up our availability to Troops that would not come and see us. To see a Shirt, His Commander O-4, and the Big Boss O-6 walking the line picking up FOD is a pretty neat sight.

Again, as BillyD stated, it is the purview of the SNCO's to see that our Airmen are trained and understand the Mission and their place in that Mission. We need to take extra-ordinary steps sometimes to do that.

[HairyEyeball]

Well said, gentlemen. Both of you exemplify a 'professional military' attitude that has been lacking in the perception - externally as well as internally - of your branch. As, again, an 'outsider' I've seen enough to the '9-to-5 mentality' that appears to have become institutionalized in areas of the AF and the apparent effort to distinguish the branch visually, rather than professionally: Unique uniforms and boots - even without the 'Star Wars meets the Marine Corps fantasy uniforms' may 'make a statement', but say nothing to the 'practical military' perception - that can only be done by the individual leadership at every level.

It would seem that the good General understands the concept, although there may be some question about his first step in the execution.

[soccermark23]

Just wanted to add some first hand information to this. As stated in the article, Unit Commanders make the decision on who will wear Blues on Mondays, and our Wing Commander decided that Maintenance Personnel would be exempt, which honestly makes the most sense to me.

[teejay91b]

When I saw the first post in this thread, I thought that the Air Force was about to take a step away from the "War Fighter" movement that seemed to have gained popularity among the senior brass in recent years. Now, having read more, I'd have to say that it does make sense. Of course, as HE said, this is from an outsiders perspective.

[SAC_Cop]

Speaking as an AF Cop formerly of the Law Enforcement variety. I like the idea of the blues being the daily wear uniform. Obviously maintenance folks and other manual labor and technical AFSCs where the blue uniform would be easily soiled should where cammys and the like, but admin people and others who ride a chair or like Police Patrols etc., blues are perfect.

It may take some getting used to because seven years is a long time to do something one way then change and some first termers in particular may resist it, but in the long run it will be for the best. IMHO.