Cold weather gear do’s and don’ts

  • Published
  • By Corey Dahl
  • 21st Space Wing Public Affairs
PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. --  Cold, winter weather is coming to Colorado, and that means cold weather gear is coming to Peterson.

As Airmen start digging out or buying their winter gear for the season, it's a good idea to keep the Air Force's outer wear guidelines in mind. Here are some general do's and don'ts for the months ahead:

- Do stay warm by wearing desert sand-colored turtlenecks and white, cream or desert sand-colored thermals with the Airman Battle Uniform.
- Don't wear watch caps (beanies), earmuffs or scarves without outdoor weather gear. Gloves are an exception; they can be worn with uniforms alone.
- Do wear leather, suede or knit materials.
- Do pay attention to colors. Gloves and watch caps must be black or sage green. Earmuffs and scarves must be black.
- Don't worry about mixing and matching ABUs with the Battle Dress Uniform's
- gortex jackets. Because of a shortage of ABU jackets, Airmen are authorized to wear the BDU gortex jackets with their ABUs on Peterson AFB until May 2009. However, do keep mixing and matching to a minimum.
- Do buy the right kinds of garments. Gloves must be leather, suede or knit material. Scarves must be wool or cotton simplex, must not exceed 10 inches in width and must be tucked into jackets.

For more information about proper wear of cold weather gear, visit the Air Force
Uniform Program web page on the Air Force Portal, or review AFI 36-2903 and the 21st Space Wing supplement to AFI 36-2903. If an item is not listed as authorized in the guidance, it is considered unauthorized.