The United States Space Force is diligently moving forward in the development of its own Service Dress Uniform. Following initial design reveals and feedback gathering, the Space Force completed crucial fit tests in March, marking a significant step towards equipping Guardians with a distinctive uniform.
Space Force News
These fit tests, conducted at both Peterson Space Force Base in February and the Pentagon in late March, are vital for refining the sizing and fit of the prototype service dress uniform. One hundred Guardians from around the globe participated, providing essential feedback to ensure the uniform meets the needs of the force. Colonel James Jenkins, director of the Office of Change Management Team, emphasized the importance of this input, stating, “From the word ‘go’ we have been committed to keeping Guardian feedback at the forefront of developing the service dress.” This commitment underscores the Space Force’s dedication to creating a service dress uniform that Guardians will be proud to wear.
The Space Force’s approach to uniform development has been highly collaborative. After unveiling the initial service dress uniform prototype in September 2021, the Office of Change Management Team embarked on a “uniform roadshow” to actively solicit feedback from Guardians. Wade Yamada, U.S. Space Force Director of Staff deputy, highlighted this process: “We used Guardian focus groups and roadshows to narrow service dress design options. We listened intently to Guardian design and fit requests. In many ways, Guardians helped select our current service dress design.” This iterative process ensures the final service dress uniform reflects the preferences and practical requirements of the Space Force personnel.
Looking ahead, the next critical phase is the wear test, scheduled to commence in summer 2023. This phase will assess the durability, functionality, and comfort of the service dress uniform prototype in real-world conditions. Guardians participating in the wear test will wear the uniform three times per week, providing detailed assessments on its performance. Catherine Lovelady, Office of Change Management Team uniform lead, emphasized the ongoing importance of Guardian input, stating, “We are passionate about ensuring our members continue to have a voice in shaping a unique Space Force uniform.”
The Space Force anticipates delivering the finalized service dress uniform to the force by late 2025. This timeline reflects the meticulous andGuardian-centric approach taken throughout the development process, ensuring the Space Force ultimately adopts a service dress uniform that is both functional and representative of its unique identity. The ongoing feedback loop and rigorous testing phases demonstrate the commitment to providing Guardians with a high-quality, distinctive uniform they can wear with pride.
