Posted on Mar 15, 2014
Why are the utility uniforms in the Air Force so similar to the Army?
33K
74
43
1
1
0
I was on Operation Waterfall in Northern Missouri back in 2008 when the Mississippi Levee broke, and we were working with Air Force (nice people). A soldier in the Air Force with the rank that looks like Major in the Army (not sure of the AF ranks) walks up. I was actually confused and wondering, "Why do I not know this person? My unit is a small unit, and I know everyone" because the name didn't sound familiar... Then I noticed the Air Force 'logo'... I did salute, but to this day I'm still confused as to why the Air Forces' uniforms are so similar to the Armys'. Any thoughts/answers?
Uniforms
Air Force
Army
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 10
13
13
0
Because deep down, the Air Force still wishes it was the Army Air Corps..... ;o)
(13)
(0)
(1)
(0)
SFC (Join to see)
2" spikes sir. 2. INCH. But it is also completely valid and hilarious at the same time!
(2)
(0)
6
6
0
SPC Gasho,
Throughout the 80s and 90s all of the services had exactly the same uniforms the BDUs. Most of the other services had other variations, like the Navy's dungarees, the standard everyone worn was the uniform. The only difference was the service tape that said what service you were in and that the Air Force wore blue name tapes.
If you have been following the military news Congress has passed a bill that all of the services will go back to wearing a single uniform. The is the most efficient way for the whole DoD to operate because it saves millions on making different uniforms.
Finally the Air Force officer rank is exactly the same as the Army.
(6)
(0)
SPC(P) Delcina Myers
Major Telesco - Thank you so much for your answer, Sir. I remember the BDU's... Haha! I wore them my first 6 months into the military. Do I miss them? Yes. Do I like the ACUs more? Yes, but the velcro can be non-existent. Do I want all components to wear the same uniform? No. It's easier to tell who is in what component, but the AF should have picked different colors. Although they have tiger stripes and we have digitals, the colors are too confusing. On the rank structure: I wasn't sure, so I just addressed him as Sir, as I do every male officer I come across, and Ma'am for every female. When do you think DoD will be changing everyones uniforms again? And which ones, if you know?
Thank you again Sir. Have a wonderful day!
(0)
(0)
CMSgt (Join to see)
If you are in a Joint environment, you get very used to the difference and can immediately discern between the two, ABU and ACU.
The two patterns are very different. The Army and AF wear different color boots. The very cut and style of the two are different.
AF Officer rank structure is identical to Army and Marines. You can tell AF Enlisted because we wear our rank on the sleeves.
I miss BDUs, too! I wore those bad boys since 1991. :)
The two patterns are very different. The Army and AF wear different color boots. The very cut and style of the two are different.
AF Officer rank structure is identical to Army and Marines. You can tell AF Enlisted because we wear our rank on the sleeves.
I miss BDUs, too! I wore those bad boys since 1991. :)
(2)
(0)
3
3
0
We Air Force cats used to be Army-Air Force and I suspect that and that we love to steal ideas as major reasons. :) l0l
(3)
(0)
MSgt Guillermo Ybarra III
The army does have the right idea sometimes, and the AF does like to copy good ideas.
(1)
(0)
Read This Next
Continue with Facebook 
Continue with Google