Most airmen at Air Force Space Command have been told they can no longer wear flight suits and leather “bomber” jackets.
The move, which affects about 1,800 airmen, is meant to save Space Command about $670,000 a year and eliminate a caste system of “haves and have-nots,” Gen. William Shelton, head of the command, said in a statement.
“There has always been a kind of envy of those who flew from those who didn’t regardless of what command,” said retired Gen. Lance Lord, who was in charge of Space Command from 2002 to 2006.
Affected airmen have to start wearing camouflage Airman Battle Uniforms or their dress uniforms on Oct. 1.
In other news, Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force James Roy has sent an email to all airmen that is much softer in tone than one he sent a week prior about decorations and enlisted performance reviews.
Instead of having hard and fast rules about how many airmen can get a 5 on their EPRs, “We need to have bold leaders to set high standards and help airmen achieve them,” Roy wrote.
Roy was writing for a wider audience, not toning down his message or recanting any of his points, Roy’s spokesman Senior Master Sgt. Christopher Vadnais explained on Monday.
And the Defense Finance and Accounting Service says airmen will have to wait until fall to use the Thrift Savings Plan’s new Roth option, while Defense Department civilians will get the option in early summer.
The new investment option allows service members and civilians to invest after-tax earnings into funds that will grow without tax liability on future earnings.
