DAFI 36-2903: DRESS AND PERSONAL APPEARANCE OF DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR…

DAFI 36-2903 — index record

Number	DAFI 36-2903
Title	DRESS AND PERSONAL APPEARANCE OF DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE PERSONNEL
Published	February 29, 2024
Certified current	February 29, 2024
Guidance memorandum	February 19, 2026
Office of primary responsibility	AF/A1
Issued by	Headquarters, Department of the Air Force
Status on the index	Current
Last index action	UpdateContact, February 27, 2026
Source index	Air Force e-Publishing
Index last read	October 20, 2026

Copied from Air Force e-Publishing (index). The publication itself is the authority; this page does not summarize or interpret it. Verify the current edition on the index before acting.

From the publication itself

Text below is lifted mechanically from the official PDF (103 pages, read October 20, 2026) with no editing or interpretation. Quote the document, not this page.

Purpose, in the publication’s words

This instruction implements Department of the Air Force Policy Directive (DAFPD) 36-29, Military Standards. It provides responsibilities and standards for dress and personal appearance of all Department of the Air Force personnel and, consistent with Department of Defense Instruction (DoDI) 1300.17, Religious Liberty in the Military Services, 9.12.2.14.4.1. provides guidance for religious accommodation requests. This publication applies to Department of the Air Force civilian and contract employees and uniformed members of the United States Space Force (USSF), the Regular Air Force (RegAF), the Air Force Reserve (ResAF), and the Air National Guard (ANG) and retired and separated personnel. In collaboration with the Chief of Air Force Reserve (AF/RE), Director of the Air National Guard (NGB/CF), Deputy Chief of Space Operations for Human Capital (SF/S1), the Deputy Chief of Staff for Manpower, Personnel, and Services (AF/A1) develops personnel guidance for dress and personal appearance programs. This instruction applies

Summary of changes, as printed

This instruction is substantially revised and must be completely reviewed. Policy language updated for clarity, simplification and to reduce redundancies. Graphics were updated to improve visualization and amplify existing policy. It also incorporates policy changes from the 102nd Air Force Uniform Board and out-of-cycle policy memoranda including updates to tattoo/brands/body markings, mustache wear, the religious accommodation request process, no-hat, no-salute areas, specialized nametag, two-piece flight duty uniform, gym bag, backpack, handbag, and flight duty uniform policy. It authorizes female wear of mess dress trousers or slacks, wear of caps for baldness or hair loss due to medical conditions, permanent wear of EPME badge, Security Forces shield on the OCP uniform, beverage consumption while walking in uniform, wear of cold weather headbands, the purchase of commercial cold weather outerwear, wing commander delegation to DAFI36-2903 29 FEBRUARY 2024 3 approve religious regalia, organizational emblems on the back of morale shirt and heritage morale patches on the flight duty uniform. It clarifies sister service and Joint unit patch wear and graduate patch criteria and added guidance for duty identifiers and tabs process. Removes references to Airman Battle Uniforms and authorization for color morale shirts to be worn with the flight duty uniform.

Chapter 1—GENERAL INFORMATIONp. 10
Chapter 2—ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIESp. 14
Attachment 2 (DELETED)p. 15
Chapter 3—GROOMING AND APPEARANCE STANDARDSp. 18
Chapter 4—DRESS UNIFORMSp. 31
Chapter 5—OCP UNIFORMSp. 44
Chapter 6—MATERNITY UNIFORMSp. 60
Chapter 7—OUTER GARMENTS, HEADGEAR, RANK INSIGNIA AND ACCESSORIESp. 66
Chapter 8—PHYSICAL TRAINING GEARp. 81
Chapter 9—FLIGHT DUTY UNIFORMp. 87
Chapter 10—DISTINCTIVE UNIFORMS, ITEMS AND EQUIPMENTp. 102
Chapter 11—RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATIONp. 112
Chapter 12—BADGES AND SPECIALTY INSIGNIASp. 116
Chapter 13—AWARDS AND DECORATIONSp. 130
Chapter 15—UNIFORM POLICY CHANGESp. 137
Attachment 1—GLOSSARY OF REFERENCES AND SUPPORTING INFORMATIONp. 141

All 105 contents entries

Chapter 1—GENERAL INFORMATIONp. 10
1.1. Basic Philosophyp. 10
1.2. When to Wear the Air Force Uniformp. 10
1.3. Optional Wear of the Air Force Uniformp. 11
1.4. When NOT to Wear the Air Force Uniformp. 12
1.5. Acquiring Uniform Itemsp. 13
Chapter 2—ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIESp. 14
2.1. Chief of Staff of the Air Force (CSAF) (AF/CC)p. 14
2.2. Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force (CMSAF) (AF/CCC)p. 14
2.4. Military Compensation Policy Division, Headquarters Air Force (AF/A1PA)p. 14
2.5. Air Force Director of Training and Readiness (AF/A3T)p. 14
2.6. Air Force Personnel Center Special Programs Branch (AFPC/DP3SA)p. 14
2.8. MAJCOM, CCMD and Theater Commandersp. 14
Attachment 2 (DELETED)p. 15
2.9. Army and Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES)p. 15
2.10. Defense Logistics Agency (DLA)p. 15
2.11. Numbered Air Force (NAF), DRU and FOA Commandersp. 15
2.12. Wing Commanders or Equivalentp. 15
2.13. Force Support Squadronp. 15
2.14. Commander (on G-Series Orders) or Equivalentp. 15
2.15. First Sergeantp. 16
2.16. Supervisorp. 16
2.17. Airmen/Individual Responsibilitiesp. 16
Chapter 3—GROOMING AND APPEARANCE STANDARDSp. 18
3.1. Personal Grooming Standardsp. 18
3.2. Tattoos/Brands/Body Markingsp. 27
3.3. Body Piercing/Ornamentationp. 30
3.4. Alteration/Modificationp. 30
Chapter 4—DRESS UNIFORMSp. 31
4.1. Formal and Mess Dress Uniformsp. 31
4.2. Formal and Mess Dress Uniform Accoutrements (Male and Female)p. 33
4.3. Semi-Formal Dress Uniform (enlisted Only)p. 33
4.4. Semi-Formal Dress Uniform Accoutrements (Male and Female)p. 34
4.5. Service Dress Uniform (Class A and B – Male and Female)p. 36
4.6. Male Blue Shirt and Female Blouse (Class A and B)p. 39
4.7. Male Blue Shirt and Female Blouse Accoutrementsp. 40
4.8. Trousers, Slacks, Skirt (Class A and B)p. 41
Chapter 5—OCP UNIFORMSp. 44
5.1. The Operational Camouflage Pattern (OCP), Male and Femalep. 44
Chapter 6—MATERNITY UNIFORMSp. 60
6.1. Maternity Mess Dress (Figure 6.1) and Semi-Formal Dress Uniform (Figure 6.2)p. 60
6.2. Maternity Mess Dress and Semi-Formal Dress Accoutrementsp. 60
6.3. Maternity Service Dress Uniform (Class A and Class B)p. 60
6.4. Maternity Service Dress Uniform (Class A and Class B) Accoutrementsp. 61
6.5. Maternity OCP Uniformsp. 63
6.6. Physical Training Gearp. 65
Chapter 7—OUTER GARMENTS, HEADGEAR, RANK INSIGNIA AND ACCESSORIESp. 66
7.1. Outer Garmentsp. 66
7.2. Headgearp. 72
7.4. Footwearp. 79
7.5. Undergarments (Mandatory)p. 80
Chapter 8—PHYSICAL TRAINING GEARp. 81
8.1. Physical Training Gear (PTG)p. 81
Chapter 9—FLIGHT DUTY UNIFORMp. 87
9.2. Authorized FDU/DFDU Wearp. 88
9.3. Restrictionsp. 88
9.4. Flight Clothing Accoutrementsp. 89
9.5. Over Garmentsp. 91
9.6. Headgearp. 94
9.7. Undergarmentsp. 94
9.8. Socksp. 94
9.9. Footwear (Male and Female Flight Boots)p. 94
9.10. Glovesp. 94
9.11. Cell phone, Pager, and Personal Digital Assistantp. 94
9.12. Two Piece Flight Duty Uniform (2PFDU)p. 95
Chapter 10—DISTINCTIVE UNIFORMS, ITEMS AND EQUIPMENTp. 102
10.1. Organizational Clothing and Equipmentp. 102
10.2. Informal Uniformp. 102
10.3. Security Forcesp. 103
10.4. Flight Attendant Uniformsp. 105
10.5. Medical Scrubsp. 107
10.6. Equestrian Competition Service Dress Configurationp. 107
10.7. Miscellaneous Uniformsp. 108
Chapter 11—RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATIONp. 112
11.2. Dress and Appearance Waiversp. 112
Chapter 12—BADGES AND SPECIALTY INSIGNIASp. 116
12.1. Badgesp. 116
12.2. Placement of Badgesp. 116
12.3. Placement of Duty and Miscellaneous Badgesp. 117
12.4. Duty Badges and Special Insigniasp. 123
12.5. Occupational, Qualification or Skill Badgesp. 127
12.6. Additional Badge Informationp. 127
12.7. Establishing a New Occupational Badge, Patch or Tabp. 128
12.8. Duty Identifier Patches/Tabsp. 129
Chapter 13—AWARDS AND DECORATIONSp. 130
13.1. Wear Instructionsp. 130
13.2. Foreign Decorationsp. 130
13.3. Non-Air Force Service Awardsp. 130
13.5. Description of Medals and Ribbonsp. 131
13.6. Devices on Medals and Ribbonsp. 131
13.7. Placement of Medals on Civilian Dress Coat or Jacketp. 133
14.1. Reserve Personnelp. 134
14.2. Air National Guard (ANG) Personnelp. 134
14.3. Retired Personnelp. 135
14.4. Medal of Honor Recipientsp. 135
14.5. Separated Personnelp. 136
Chapter 15—UNIFORM POLICY CHANGESp. 137
15.1. Supplementsp. 137
15.2. Air Force Uniform Board (AFUB)p. 137
15.3. Out-of-Cycle Requestp. 138
15.4. Functional Clothing Itemsp. 138
15.5. Exception to Policyp. 138
15.6. Air Force Academy Uniform Boardp. 139
15.7. Test Uniformsp. 140
Attachment 1—GLOSSARY OF REFERENCES AND SUPPORTING INFORMATIONp. 141

Other DAFI publications nearby in the series

500 DAFI records on the Air Force index. Search the full index.

Works of the United States Government are not subject to copyright (17 U.S.C. § 105). This site is not affiliated with the Department of the Air Force or any government agency.

DAFI 36-2903

DAFI 36-2903 — index record

From the publication itself

Purpose, in the publication’s words

Summary of changes, as printed

Contents

Other DAFI publications nearby in the series

Calculators for the subject of this series