21st SW cold weather policy amended Published Feb. 5, 2008 By Senior Airman Stephen Collier 21st Space Wing Public Affairs PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- Leadership from the 21st Space Wing recently clarified the unit's cold-weather gear policy, stating the issued battle dress uniform field jacket or Gore-Tex cold-weather gear is not to be worn with the airman battle uniform. The clarification is in response to the Air Force deputy chief of staff for manpower and personnel at the Pentagon authorizing commander's discretion to alter unit cold-weather gear policies on wear of BDU outer garments over the ABU. The only exception to this policy is for Airmen who were only issued ABUs at basic military training. In this instance, the wing will issue parkas for the duration of the winter. Parkas will also be issued to members performing gate guard duties. Chief Master Sgt. Timothy Omdal, 21st SW command chief, pointed out the goal of the current wing policy is to minimize the mixing and matching of uniforms as the base awaits the continued arrival of the all-purpose environmental clothing system, or APECS cold-weather jacket. "Our goal is to be able to issue these Airmen a cold-weather parka until the APECS becomes more available," the chief said. "I applaud our Airmen who have purchased the new ABU, but during the cold weather season, it may be prudent to wear BDUs until the APECs jacket becomes more readily available." The policy also clarified the wear of wool caps and gloves during the colder months of the year. According to the policy, "... wool caps are only authorized for wear with an outer garment or with the service dress uniform; they cannot be worn with BDUs only and no outer garment. Gloves are an exception and may be worn with BDUs without an outer garment." Lt. Gen. Richard Y. Newton III recently authorized commanders to use their discretion to authorize deviation from policy for wear of cold-weather battle dress uniform outer garments with the ABU during the coming winter months. "The original guidance was based on the fact the mandatory wear date for transitioning from BDUs to ABUs was 2011," said General Newton. "I decided it was time to re-look our wear policy based on the limited availability of the new all-purpose environmental clothing system jacket, the fact we have new Airmen joining our Air Force who have been issued nothing but the ABU, and the overwhelming response from Airmen in the field to the new ABUs," the general said. Commanders are now authorized to permit Airmen to wear a woodland-patterned camouflage Gore-Tex coat or field jacket with their ABUs if the new APECS jacket is unavailable at their location and other approved cold weather options are unavailable or unsuitable for duty. APECS jackets are projected to become more widely available this month. The top priority for APECs distribution has been for Airmen deploying to Iraq, Afghanistan and Kuwait. As their needs are met, the supply will be directed to cold-weather locations around the world. The Air Force policy is a temporary solution and expires June 1. Airmen with Air Force Portal access will find more information and details regarding the ABU cold-weather outer garment policy change. Airmen assigned to North American Aerospace Defense Command or Northern Command should call NORAD Public Affairs at 554-4071 for the latest uniform wear guidance. (Information for this article was compiled from an Air Force Print News release.)