Reserve Component receives exception to uniform policy

  • Published
  • By Jaimi Chafin
  • Air Force Reserve Command Public Affairs
ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. --  The Air Force has authorized an exception to policy for the Air Reserve Component regarding the April 1 mandatory wear date of Operational Camouflage Pattern uniforms.

In a memo signed on March 28 by Lt. Gen. Brian Kelly, Air Force deputy chief of staff for manpower, personnel and services, the Air Force cited funding challenges and stresses in the domestic textile industry to COVID-19 as reasons for the exception to policy. The memo grants authority to allow ARC personnel to wear the Airman Battle Uniform beyond the Air Force’s mandatory wear date when units are unable to obtain the required OCP inventory.

“We understand that many of our Reserve Citizen Airmen have not yet received their new Operational Camouflage Pattern uniforms, otherwise known as OCPs, due to setbacks caused by the global pandemic,” said Chief Master Sgt. Timothy White, AFRC’s command chief master sergeant. “Those Airmen who do not have OCPs have been granted permission to continue wearing their ABUs past the mandatory wear date of 1 April until the OCPs are made available.

“No matter what uniform you’ll be wearing come April. I want to thank all of our Reserve Citizen Airmen and their families for continuing to exercise strength and resilience while we continue to fly, fight and win.”