Posted on Aug 14, 2021
SMSgt Bob Wilson
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After reading the recent uniform board changes for the Air Force and the way they decided the changes, I’ve come to one conclusion—“…the inmates are running the asylum…” Some of the changes are good; however, most of them are ludicrous. A few of the changes are: [1] “…allow airmen to wear morale patches on certain days, [2] put hands in their pockets, [3] tattoo their scalps as part of an upcoming revision to dress and appearance standards and [4] allow airmen with piercings to wear transparent spacers, so their piercings don't close up…” What is your view of the recent changes? Reference: https://www.military.com/daily-news/2021/08/10/air-force-allow-scalp-tattoos-and-morale-patches-part-of-raft-of-changes-appearance-rules.html
Posted in these groups: 4276e14c UniformsIncreasingmoraleretention Morale
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Responses: 14
SGT Joseph Gunderson
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I think, just as I did when the army started lowering the standards, that these moves are indicative of a force falling into disrepair. Good order and discipline require that service members abide by strict standards, and the loosening of those standards leads invariably to a drop in discipline. I see absolutely nothing good coming out of such moves, and, frankly, I see the entire military falling apart at the seems as it tries its damnedest to become softer, more accepting, and easier for the very kinds of people who shouldn't be wearing the uniform in the first place. These changes, in conjunction with the various other issues that have recently caused a stir within the ranks--i.e. Marxist teachings in service academies, "diversity and inclusion" initiatives, and transgender acceptance policies--will indubitably cause our military to, at a minimum, become weaker as a whole, if not crumble entirely, as those who would have once made our branches the strong powers they have historically been choose not to serve due to the new and "improved" conditions. But then, one might infer from recent developments that this is entirely the purpose.
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SSG Edward Tilton
SSG Edward Tilton
3 y
WOW ???
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SSG Stephen Arnold
SSG Stephen Arnold
3 y
I'm inclined to agree. Then I realized we were discussing the Chair Force.

Are these really changes?
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SGT Joseph Gunderson
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SMSgt Bob Wilson
SMSgt Bob Wilson
3 y
SSG Stephen Arnold - According to the article, they are; however, interpretation of the changes have not been written yet.
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MSgt Dale Johnson
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Hands in Pockets??? Scalp Tattoos??? Morale Patches??? Really??? Transparent spacers in an Ear I could live with, Not in your Nose, Not in your Lip, Not in your Eyebrow. I could care less what you put in your Nipples or other Private Parts that don't show. The rest is BS, yes the Inmates must be running the Asylum.
If you can't keep standards for sharp appearance maybe the military isn't for you, Snowflake.
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SMSgt Lawrence McCarter
SMSgt Lawrence McCarter
3 y
We always took pride in squared away Military appearances, this doesn't fit at all and I agree is complete BS and should NEVER be allowed !
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Maj John Bell
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The Air Force had/has grooming standards? Next thing you'll be telling me they PT.

Sorry.. had to do it Semper Fi.
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SMSgt Bob Wilson
SMSgt Bob Wilson
3 y
John, wake up!! The Air Force HAS PT. It is call Play Time.
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Maj John Bell
Maj John Bell
3 y
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SMSgt Bob Wilson - Or Putting Time.
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What are your views to the recent changes to the Air Force Uniform and Grooming Standards?
SFC Intelligence Analyst
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OH GOD NOT HANDS IN THEIR POCKETS!!! AHHHHH!!! IT'S THE END OF THE AIR FORCE - JUST LIKE THE PONYTAILS AND BRAIDS FOR FEMALES IN THE ARMY ENDED US!!

Oh wait - that's right nothing happened. I say good for the Air Force. It ultimately doesn't affect me so I don't really care but I don't think it's going to be any downfall of the service.
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MSG Intermediate Care Technician
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After this, the Coast Guard is gonna get taken more seriously than the Air Force.
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Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen
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Whatever they may be let us know because they'll change again soon.
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SMSgt Bob Wilson
SMSgt Bob Wilson
3 y
Very true. reminds me of the Admiral Zumwalt Days and authorizing beards (sideburns, mustaches, and longer groomed hair were also acceptable) and introducing beer-dispensing machines to barracks. That was the early 1970s.
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Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen
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SMSgt Bob Wilson
SMSgt Bob Wilson
3 y
Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen - Jack, have you read: LINEBACKER II: A VIEW FROM THE ROCK? The account has a lot of true to life occurrences of events on Guam. Being on the ground, I saw things I never so anywhere else. The BUFFs leaving Guam to join up with the BUFFs from U Tapao to drop their loads over Vietnam.
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Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen
Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen
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SMSgt Bob Wilson Yes I read it a while back, pretty accurate.
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SFC Michael Hasbun
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The hands in pockets and patches are fine. The transparent spacers seems practical...
I don't really like the new scalp tattoo policy, but I also say this. I have 5 tattoos. It's not lost on me that not long ago, my tattoos would have unofficially labeled me in a negative light.
I don't like the scalp tattoos, but I also understand that, years from now, they may be just as normal as my current tattoos...
So I don't like them, but I also refuse to be the old man who refuses to acknowledge cultural shifts and changes
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MSG Thomas Currie
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Edited 3 y ago
Like nearly all uniform and grooming standard changes in any service, the main impact of this change will be to open up promotion opportunities by creating vacancies in the top enlisted ranks due to the number of E8's and E9's lost due to heart attacks, annurisms, and cases of appolexy.

[1] applies only to morale patches approved by the local command -- it should have been all the time (or as directed by the local command) not limited to just Fridays. Having a Casual Friday uniform standard makes no sense at all. Of course ever since its founding the Air Force has frequently worked to eliminate the misconception that it is a military organization so maybe casual friday uniforms fits well with the It's-Just-A-Job recruiting campaign of a few years ago.

[2] is long overdue for all the services. For once the Air Force is leading the way in a rational direction.

[3] scalp tattoos are limited to those for prosthetic purposes - which means they shouldn't be very noticeable and cannot be any sort of symbols, images, or tribal designs. This is a big yawn.

[4] if the Air Force is going to accept people with piercings or allow members to get piercings, then this makes sense. If not, it doesn't matter.
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SMSgt Bob Wilson
SMSgt Bob Wilson
3 y
Tom, thank you for your editorial. I love people who know more than the writers of the article.
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SSG Edward Tilton
SSG Edward Tilton
3 y
Patches should be for Combat Arms Chain of Command Brigades, Divisions, Seperate Regiments, Corps, and Army's. Rear Area Units do not need them.
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SMSgt Bob Wilson
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The military has the "I want to play nice and give you some 'beads' if you re-enlist" attitude since Congress screwed-up the retirement system. I foresee much change within the next 15 years in the military, much of which will not good. The changes will be [1] no grooming standards [2] no 'general discharges' [3] weaker UCMJ [4] incentive pay for hard to keep MOSs and [5] unionization.
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SPC David Roberts
SPC David Roberts
3 y
If you're right, that's the death of US military power.
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SPC David Roberts
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Edited 3 y ago
I worry generally that the military is moving away from its mission of defeating America's enemies towards trying to become an instrument of a some woke politician's idea of social justice and that this is just one more spot of grease on the slippery slope. But after all, we are talking about the Air Force here, so maybe no one will notice the changes.
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SMSgt Bob Wilson
SMSgt Bob Wilson
3 y
Dave, I agree. I believe the only branch that has not changed their standards is the Marines and they have eased up in certain areas. In the 1960s, "Project 100,000" was a social program to give "underprivileged" a skill if they would join the military. The program was a BUST. Yes, it helped a small minority of participants; however, the majority were discharged for cause. Today's "entitlement" generation and Congress wants everyone to be "equal". Guess what, people ain't equal and it has nothing to do with race, nationality, sex, etc.; it has to do with EDUATION and the DRIVE to SUCCEED. We have plenty of low cost, free education programs, but everyone wants to be a professional athlete or a computer operator or working 8-5 Monday thru Friday in an air-conditioned building and earn $1,000,000 a year. Success doesn't happen that way. With most of us, it is 5:30am until 6:30 pm and result in working one weekend day for an hourly wage.
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SPC David Roberts
SPC David Roberts
3 y
The Marines have gone pretty far too. A friend of mine, a Marine E8 who did 6 deployments and who won a Bronze Star in Iraq, was basically forced to retire after saying somewhat non-PC stuff (not racist or sexist) that would have been perfectly normal in the old Corps.
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