Air and Space Forces Magazine: Unique Mess Dress Concept Unveiled, Design Pending
About a month after the top Guardian made headlines for sporting a distinctive black mess dress uniform at an event in Los Angeles, California, the Department of the Air Force revealed that the Space Force is in the process of developing its official mess dress design. Chief of Space Operations Gen. B. Chance Saltzman attended the 50th Annual “Salute to Space Systems Command” event on June 7, hosted by the Gen. Bernard A. Schriever Los Angeles chapter of the Air & Space Forces Association. The event was also attended by other prominent Space Force figures, including Lt. Gen. Philip Garrant and 15 other Guardians, Airmen, and civilian Space Force employees who were acknowledged for their contributions to Space Systems Command.
While most of the uniformed Guardians at the event donned blue mess dress coats reminiscent of the current Air Force mess dress, Saltzman stood out in an all-black coat and trouser set. This unique attire sparked speculation among social media observers about whether it could be the new signature mess dress for the Space Force. However, Sarah Fiocco, a spokesperson for the Department of the Air Force, clarified that the uniform is still in the developmental stages, emphasizing the Space Force’s desire for its top Guardian to be easily distinguishable.
Fiocco emphasized the importance of establishing a distinct culture within the Space Force, stating that developing a new mess dress uniform is a step towards creating an identity that the service can take pride in for years to come. She highlighted the ongoing efforts to shape the Space Force’s unique identity as it approaches its fifth anniversary. Additionally, she mentioned that various potential mess dress variations, including the grey trousers worn by Garrant and Chief Master Sergeant Jacqueline Sauvé, are currently being tested by senior Space Force leaders and selected wear testers.
The design process for the Space Force mess dress is still in its early phases, with plans to gather feedback from Guardians, conduct fit and wear testing, and complete other necessary development and production procedures once a design is selected. Fiocco acknowledged the keen interest among Guardians in having distinctive, professional, and comfortable uniforms that reflect the identity and culture of the new service.
The Space Force garnered attention in 2021 when it unveiled its service dress uniform, which featured a dark blue coat with a futuristic design. The prototype service dress uniform entered its final stage of wear testing in September, with over 100 Guardians participating in the trials worldwide. The Space Force anticipates a full rollout of the uniform to Guardians globally by 2025.
In the meantime, Guardians can take pride in their unique physical training gear, which was officially designated as the Space Force’s first service-specific uniform earlier in the year. The PT gear includes black shorts, a dark gray T-shirt, black sweatpants, and a black windbreaker adorned with distinctive Space Force insignia, providing Guardians with a sense of identity and unity within the service.