Leaders want more guidance for PT wear - Air Force News | News from Afghanistan & Iraq - Air Force Times

Leaders want more guidance for PT wear

In or out?

The debate about whether you should tuck your physical training T-shirt is still going on — and will until the Air Force issues its new PT uniform wear rules.

Major command leaders agreed in June that airmen need “to reflect a more professional image” when they’re in service-issued workout clothes. Four months later, though, the mandates are still in rewrite.

The leaders said the current Air Force instruction addressing uniform wear, AFI 36-2903, leaves too many PT uniform decisions up to airmen: The shirt “may be tucked in or out”; the jacket “may be zipped or unzipped”; and socks must be white, though “any length” is acceptable.

The AFI — to the commanders’ dismay — tells airmen they’re not required to salute more senior service members in their PT uniforms because the outfit has no rank insignia. Some higher-ups want that bit of etiquette restored.

A few commanders haven’t waited for the new rules.

At Spangdahlem Air Base in Germany, base leaders issued new PT wear rules in August.

Now, airmen there must salute when approaching an officer whose rank is shown on his uniform, as well as tuck in their shirts — untucked is OK for training events with the permission of the squadron commander — and zipper their jacket at least half way.