New uniform items approved

Air Force officials recently released the results of the 96th Air Force Uniform Board held June 18 and 19.
The chief of staff approved a number of changes, affecting everything from cell phones to scarves. Among the changes are:
wEstablish a standardized Air Force physical training uniform
wRedesign the female lightweight blue jacket
wAuthorize the lightweight blue jacket to be worn indoors
wAuthorize, as an option, to have the Air Force symbol embroidered on the lightweight blue jacket
wOffer the A-line skirt as an optional item
wRedesign and revise maternity uniforms
wAuthorize the black scarf only with all Air Force uniforms, eliminating white, gray and olive drab options
wAuthorize conservative ornamentation on nonprescription sunglasses and eyeglasses
wAuthorize one small, black, nondescript personal digital assistant, pager or cellular phone at a time to be worn on the uniform belt
wAllow females to wear small, black spherical earrings when in uniform
wAllow black web belts or black riggers belts with nondescript buckles as an optional item with the battle dress uniform
wRemove the requirement to wear a tie or tab with short-sleeved shirt or blouse while traveling on a commercial airline
wAuthorize wear of a backpack over both shoulders
wAuthorize only a solid-color black backpack with blue uniform combinations and solid black, olive drab or woodland camouflage backpack with battle dress uniforms
wRedesign the security forces beret
wAllow the wear of plain black conservative hairpins, combs, headbands, elastic bands and barrettes with all female hair colors
wAllow males to cleanly shave their heads or have military high-and-tight haircuts; females are not authorized to shave their heads or wear high-and-tight haircuts
More information about these and other uniform board decisions will be included in the next update of Air Force Instruction 36-2903, being released this summer.
Questions should be addressed to local military personnel flights.