Uniforms of the United States Space Force

The uniforms of the United States Space Force are the standardized military uniforms worn by U.S. Space Force guardians to distinguish themselves from other U.S. uniformed services.

History

Since becoming an independent service on 20 December 2019, guardians have continued to use the Air Force’s uniforms. The first Chief of Space Operations, Gen John W. Raymond, has stated the service will adopt its own distinctive uniform,[1] and the first Chief Master Sergeant of the Space Force Roger A. Towberman announced in September 2020 that two of its first unique uniforms will go through a testing period conducted by 120 guardians.[2]

Service dress uniform
General John Raymond in Space Force service dress wearing the USSF lapel insignia and Space Staff Badge.

The Space Force's interim service dress uniform was inherited from the U.S. Air Force, which was adopted by Air Force chief of staff General Ronald Fogleman in 1994, replacing earlier blue service dress uniforms, and will continue to be used until the conclusion of the uniform tests.[3] The Space Force service dress uniform is distinguished from Air Force service dress by a distinctive U.S. Space Force lapel insignia.[4]

The uniform coat is single-breasted with three buttons and has one welt pocket on the upper left side and two lower pocket flaps. The buttons are silver-oxided, featuring traditional "Hap Arnold wings". Officer coats feature epaulets for the placement of rank. General officers wear a 1 1⁄2-inch-wide (3.8 cm) blue sleeve braid, while all other officers wear a 1⁄2-inch-wide (1.3 cm) blue sleeve braid. Like the Air Force, mirror-silver "U.S." insignia are worn on the collars, however Space Force guardians also wear a pair of U.S. Space Force lapel insignia. A silver name tag with blue detailing is worn on the right side of the uniform, while ribbons and occupational badges are worn on the left side of the uniform.[5]

Combat utility uniform
A Space Force general's OCP uniform.

On 17 January 2020, the Space Force announced that its combat utility uniform would be the same OCP uniform as when it was Air Force Space Command. The full-color United States flag is worn on the left side of the uniform. The name tape, branch tape, and rank are embroidered in navy blue, distinguishing it from the OCP uniforms worn by the Army and Air Force. (The Army uses black thread for embroidery and wears the full-color flag on the right arm, except in combat areas where a subdued black flag is used. The Air Force uses spice brown embroidery thread and wears a subdued spice brown flag on the right arm of the uniform at all times.)[1] The OCP uniform was first introduced by the Army in 2015 and adopted by the Air Force in 2019.[6][7]

The Space Force also authorized the Airman Battle Uniform as a combat utility uniform, which was introduced by the Air Force in 2007 and is scheduled to be phased out in 2021.[8]

Cadet uniform
Space Force cadets, showcasing their distinctive parade dress at the Air Force Academy's graduation for the class of 2020.

Space Force cadets at the United States Air Force Academy wear the standard parade dress uniform with a platinum sash for graduation. Air Force cadets wear the same uniform, but with a gold sash.[9]

References
  1. Hodge Seck, Hope (17 January 2020). "Space Force Offers First Peek at Camouflage Uniform". Military.com. Retrieved 19 January 2020.
  2. Pawlyk, Oriana (15 September 2020). "The Space Force Will Soon Let Some Members Test Out Dress, PT Uniforms". Military.com. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
  3. Harris, John F. (4 November 1994). "New Chief Shoots Down U.S. Air Force Uniform". The Washington Post. Retrieved 19 January 2020.
  4. https://www.spaceforce.mil/News/Article/2448510/space-force-updates-uniform-policy-guidance/
  5. Manasco, Shon J. (15 April 2019). "Air Force Guidance Memorandum to AFI 36-2903, Dress and Personal Appearance of Air Force Personnel" (PDF). Washington, DC: United States Department of the Air Force. Retrieved 19 January 2020.
  6. https://www.military.com/kitup/2015/07/soldiers-line-buy-camouflage-uniforms.html
  7. https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/1520066/air-force-transitions-to-a-single-combat-uniform/
  8. https://www.spaceforce.mil/News/Article/2326885/space-force-issues-service-specific-uniform-guidance/
  9. Golightly, Chase. "Select group of AFA graduates assigned to work with US Space Force". KRDO.com. KRDO. Archived from the original on 29 April 2020. Retrieved 19 April 2020. Those headed to Space Force will be wearing platinum and silver sashes instead of gold for Air Force.
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