The era of full color insignia on the Blue Air Force Uniform, specifically the Operational Dress (OD) fatigues, officially concluded on December 31, 1980. For many, including myself, the vibrant patches, name tapes, and chevrons were worn proudly until that final day. However, the shift to subdued insignia had been underway since 1979, marking a significant change in the appearance of the blue Air Force uniform. By early 1980, full-color insignia were becoming scarce in military clothing stores.
My squadron, the 62nd Tactical Fighter Squadron, issued subdued patches in the summer of 1980. By mid to late 1980, a clear majority of personnel had adopted subdued insignia. Yet, a minority still sported full-color, either due to their imminent departure from service or a reluctance to invest in uniform modifications. Personally, I waited, knowing a promotion to E-4 was coming on January 1, 1981, and I preferred saving money rather than buying subdued E-3 stripes I would soon discard.
During this transition, a mix of full-color and subdued insignia on the blue Air Force uniform was a common sight. While not strictly regulation, this “crazy-quilt” of uniforms was tolerated. Many individuals wore subdued name and USAF tapes alongside colored patches and chevrons. Even after subdued chevrons and name tags became prevalent, the lack of subdued patch replacements meant many still wore color patches. This created a diverse landscape of fatigue uniforms during that period.
However, the December 31st deadline was strictly enforced. After the new year, full-color insignia on OD fatigues vanished entirely. Upon returning to work in January 1981, everyone was in subdued uniforms. Those lacking a subdued squadron patch removed their color patch, opting to go patch-less rather than remain non-compliant. This marked the definitive end of full-color insignia on the OD fatigue version of the blue Air Force uniform and ushered in a new era of uniformity.
