Although the Air 
Force has not made a decision yet whether to adopt the Heritage Coat, the airmen who sampled it during a wear test gave it high marks. According to feedback from some 350 male and female airmen who wore the coat on a trial basis at various bases and locations nationwide, 92 percent of the participants deemed the coat suitable as a military uniform, 72 percent preferred its overall design to the current service coat, and two-thirds thought the Air Force should adopt it. Three versions were tested: fabric belt and slide buckle, honor guard style belt and buckle, and four-button, no belt. The no-belt style was most popular with about 71 percent preferring it. (For more on the Heritage Coat and USAF uniform issues, read In Search of the Perfect Uniform from January’s issue of Air Force Magazine.) (Air Force report by TSgt. Amaani Lyle)
Airmen basic rarely go on to become four-star generals, but one who did retired last week after a 42 year career that saw him rise from a lowly slick-sleeve to the head of one of the Air Force’s most important major commands.