Thursday, February 09, 2006
New Air Force Uniform Regs Won't Make Many Happy
We just received the obligatory mass email telling us about the Air Force Uniform Board's latest decision on uniform wear. The items I'm sure many will have a problem with are the Board's disapproval for the wear of US Army Ranger Tabs, Patches, Combat Patches, Joint Service Badges or Patches, and the Army Air Assault Function Badge.
The problem is that many Airmen have served with distinction in Army combat units throughout Iraq and Afghanistan. Some have even completed Ranger training, yet the Air Force will not recognized these hard earned, well deserved patches or devices.
This only sends the message to Airmen that their contributions in Combat, and their joint service in Army (or even Navy) units mean nothing to the Air Force. To the best of my knowledge, the Air Force has no combat medal or ribbon to reflect that an Airmen has fought in a combat environment, yet Pilots (the minority in the Air Force) freely earn combat related Air Medals and other devices.
I'd like to know if there is any effort underway to recognize those Airmen who have fought along with Army or other service units. Wearing the hard-earned Ranger Tab, Combat Patch, or other Army unit devices should have been allowed, and the effort to change this decision needs to be properly and respectfully addressed up the chain.
Telling young Airmen that they can't show pride in their combat experience and Army training, and that none of it is worth more than a certificate of appreciation and a hand shake, just isn't right.
posted by El Capitan at 11:25 AM
9 Comments:
Mauser*Girl said...
That's just ridiculous. *rolls eyes*
5:34 PM airforcewife said...
Hubby started cussing when I read this to him. He hadn't gotten that email and it affects one of his patches.
Grrrrr....
Only $19.95 said...
I agree that it's a dumb idea to dis-allow it. I think that if you're bad-ass enough to earn it, wear it!
I'm especially bummed that females can't wear thumb rings anymore. I loved my thumb ring and now I feel nekkid. It's not exactly a Ranger Rocker, but, hey - it was one of the only ways to express my individuality - just like everyone else. :)
said...
As an Air Force member who served alongside an Army unit for an entire year overseas, this is bullsh*t! Someone needs to get their head out of their posterior.
Tumbleweed
Rude1 said...
Hmmm, and I seem to remember lots of emphasis on "joint" operations in PME (NCOA and SNCOA). I guess it sounds good, just don't expect to be able to prove your joint efforts. Things like this make me not so sad that I retired...
6:28 PM El Capitan said...
Hey Tumbleweed...be honest. Do you agree with the new regs? ;o)
Were you wearing your Army tags on your BDUs? That would suck to have to go buy new crap.
Hey, did you catch the part about not being allowed to walk in uniform while talking on Cell Phones? Who came up with that crap?
said...
I did wear an Area III patch one one of my sets of BDUs in the ROK. I had a Sixth Cav shield too but I never did get around to wearing it. I did get the stetson though, Blackhorse!
You have to remove the Army tags once you return to an AF base anyways so what's the big deal wearing them while you are with the "green" AF?
I guess the cel phone thing came from the fact that since so many folks can't drive and use cel phones, the AF must believe that folks can't walk and use them at the same time too.
Tumbleweed
said...
Here's an idea. If you've earned a ranger tab or a combat badge, wear it on your AF uniform and watch for anyone to tell you to take it off. I'd give you pretty good odds that no one will say a thing...and anyone who does probably hasn't seen combat.
If and when someone does tell you to take it off, tell them you'll be glad to...if they can take it from you. Then put up your dukes and see what happens.
said...
Who knows where to download XRumer 5.0 Palladium?
Help, please. All recommend this program to effectively advertise on the Internet, this is the best program!