For years, airmen have been telling Air Force officials that they don’t like the service dress uniform. In fact, one comment is that it “resembles a cheesy business suit.” Ouch! So, the service is taking a look at some alternatives—digging into its history for a couple of possibilities. Two airmen at the Pentagon recently adorned themselves in prototype Billy Mitchell (high-neck) and Hap Arnold (belted) uniforms. Don’t line up to buy them, because the service plans to do a survey and run them through the standard uniform board review process.
While the Pentagon has signaled its intent to scale technology, field new systems faster, and work more with nontraditional vendors, a new report identifies persistent manufacturing capacity, resourcing, workforce, and modernization challenges that could hinder its ability to deliver on those goals.