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AR 670-1: Chapter 6: Aircrew Uniform

Aviators and aircrew train for Kuwait via SGT Sebastian Nemec

Authorization for wear

The aircrew uniform is authorized for year-round wear by aircrew members, as specified in CTA 50–900, when prescribed by the commander.

Occasions for wear

a. All-purpose wear

Soldiers may wear the aircrew uniform on duty when prescribed by the commander for flight operations. The aircrew uniform is not intended for wear as an all-purpose uniform when other uniforms are more appropriate.

b. Approved wear

  • The aircrew uniform is prescribed for year-round wear for all Soldiers, unless otherwise directed by the commander. Soldiers may wear the aircrew uniform off-post, unless prohibited by the commander.
  • Soldiers may wear the aircrew uniform for commercial travel per paragraph 3–7b through c.

c. Restrictions on wear

  • Personnel may not wear aircrew uniforms in off-post establishments that primarily sell alcohol for consumption on the premises. If the off-post establishment sells alcohol and food for consumption on the premises, Soldiers may not wear the aircrew uniform if their activities in the establishment center on the drinking of alcohol.
  • Aircrew uniforms are not normally considered appropriate for social or official functions off the installation, such as memorial services, funerals, weddings, inaugurals, patriotic ceremonies, and similar functions.
  • Commanders may further restrict wear of the aircrew uniform per paragraph 2–6c.
  • The aircrew uniform is not appropriate for parades, reviews, and ceremonies.

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6-1: Classification

a. The Army Aircrew Combat Uniform (A2CU) in the UCP or OCP is a daily work, utility, and field uniform for aircrew members (see figs 6–1 and 6–2). The UCP A2CU may be worn until the wear out date of the UCP ACU.


b. The Fire Resistant Environmental Ensemble (FREE) is designed to be worn with the prescribed duty uniform to provide aviators and combat vehicle crewman with modular, flame resistant protection (see para 6–11).

Section I: Army Aircrew Combat Uniform

6-2: Army Aircrew Combat Uniform

The A2CU consists of:

  • Coat, A2CU (see para 6–8).
  • Trousers, A2CU (see para 6–9).
  • Undershirt, foliage green, sand, or tan 499 (100% cotton or flame-resistant material) (see para 20–28e).
  • Undergarments (see para 20–28).
  • Belt, rigger, sand or tan 499 (must meet flash/flame criteria for aircrew members performing aircrew duties) (see para 20–2a).
  • Socks, tan, green, or black, tan; cushion sole (see para 20–24a).
  • Boots, combat: tan or coyote leather (see para 20–3a).
  • Headgear (see para 4–10).

6-3: Accessories

The following accessories are normally worn with the A2CU.

  • FREE (see sec II).
  • Chaplain’s apparel (chaplains only) (see para 20–6).
  • Gloves.
  • (1) Nomex®gloves, or summer weight flight gloves (green/black or green/sand).
  • (2) Maximum grip NT (Nomex®), friction fighter.
  • (3) Other gloves may be worn when not performing crew duties.
  • Handbags (females only) (see para 20–12).
  • (1) Black, clutch-type, optional purchase.
  • (2) Black, shoulder.
  • Neckgaiter, optional purchase or OCIE (see para 20–16).
  • Scarf, olive green 208 (see para 6–7c and 20–21b).
  • Coat, cold-weather (field jacket). The coat is lined, hip length with a bi-swing back, convertible stand-up collar with concealed hood and a slide-fastener front closure, with two breast and two lower pockets (see fig 4–2). FREE items should be worn, when available.
  • Fleece cap, foliage green or black (see para 4–10c).
  • OCIE as determined by the commander in accordance CTA 50–900 or CTA 8–100 (medical personnel).
  • Silk-weight undergarments (see para 6–7f).
  • Personal hydration systems (see para 6–7h).
  • Army combat shirt (see para 4–7m).

6-4: Accessories

The A2CU fabric is made of flame resistant materials.

6-5: Materials

The following insignia and accouterments are authorized for wear on the A2CU:

  • Identification badges (see para 22–17).
  • Combat and special skill badges (see paras 6–7q and 22–16).
  • Special skill tabs (see para 22–16).
  • Brassards (see para 21–30).
  • Branch insignia (chaplains and chaplain candidates only) (see paras 21–10b(10) and (12)).
  • Grade insignia, embroidered (see paras 21–5 through 21–7).
  • Headgear insignia (see paras 4–10 and 21–3).
  • SSI, current organization (see para 21–16).
  • SSI–FWTS (see para 21–17).
  • Insignia, distinguishing, U.S. Army tape and nametape (see paras 21–25a through b).
  • U.S. flag embroidered insignia (see para 21–18).

6-6: Insignia and accouterments

Foreign badges are not authorized for wear on the A2CU. Pin-on badges are not authorized in a field or deployed environment. See paragraphs 6–7q and 22–16 for wear of combat and skill badges on the A2CU.

6-7: Combat and skill badges worn on the aircrew uniform

a. Soldiers are authorized to wear the sand undershirt, sand rigger belt, and tan combat boots with the UCP, OCP, and/or OEF-CP A2CU until the wear out date of the UCP ACU. The tan 499 undershirt, tan 499 rigger belt, and coyote boots are not authorized for wear with the UCP A2CU.

b. The standard headgear for this uniform is the patrol cap (see para 4–10). The patrol cap will be worn when Soldiers are not performing flight duties.

c. Soldiers may wear gloves with the AC2U without the cold-weather outer garments (for example, Gore-Tex jacket or field jacket).

d. When the cold-weather coat or other authorized cold-weather outer garments are worn, Soldiers may wear the olive green scarf and gloves, but are not required to do so. Soldiers may wear the hood of the cold-weather coat at their option. However, when the hood is not worn, Soldiers will tuck the hood into the jacket with the zipper closed.

e. The black or green fleece jacket (ECWCS) can be worn as an outer garment when authorized by the commander.

f. Soldiers will not starch the A2CU under any circumstances. Using starch, sizing, or any process that involves dry cleaning or a steam press will adversely affect the treatment and durability of the uniform, and it is not authorized.

g. The silk weight (cold-weather) moisture-wicking undershirts are not authorized to be worn under the AC2U in place of the sand, tan 499, or foliage green undershirts. The silk weight (cold-weather) undershirts will be worn as undergarments only as authorized by the commander.

h. Female personnel may carry purses/handbags with these uniforms only while in a garrison environment. Such bags must comply with standards set forth in paragraph 20–12 of this pamphlet and AR 670–1, paragraph 3–7f.

i. Commanders may authorize using a camouflage, black, or solid color (in a similar color to match the shade of uniform) personal hydration system only in the following situations: in a field environment, in high-heat areas, or on work details. Soldiers will not wear hydration systems in a garrison environment unless the commander has authorized it for one of the situations described above. Soldiers will not let the drinking tube hang from their mouths when the device is not in use.

j. Soldiers are authorized to store headgear when it is not worn. Soldiers may store headgear in the cargo pockets. When stored, the headgear must be folded neatly and not present a bulky appearance.

k. The following insignia are not authorized to be worn on the AC2U: blood types, combat lifesavers, medic, allergies, Arabic nametapes, no known drug allergies, no known allergies, penicillin, and so forth.

l. Commanders may authorize other uniforms for wear during administrative flights after performing the proper risk assessment.

m. Elbow pads and knee pads are authorized with the A2CU.

n. Care instructions are the same as the combat uniform (see para 4–7k).

o. Any pin-on badges will be removed by all aircrew members prior to entry onto the flight line or working in and around aircrafts.

p. The tan, temperate-weather, Army combat boots and the tan, HW flyer’s insulated boots (when authorized according to CTA 50–900) are the authorized footwear for the A2CU.

q. Soldiers may wear gloves with the A2CU when not performing crew duties. They may wear the gloves without cold-weather outer garments.

r. When personnel sew on badges, the following must also be sewn on the AC2U coat: nametape, U.S. Army tape, and grade insignia. If a nametape, U.S. Army tape or rank is sewn on, then personnel must sew all of these items on the uniform coat. This requirement does not apply to the patrol cap.

6-8: General guidelines

a. The A2CU coat is worn outside the trousers for all duties, to include flight. The sleeves will be worn down at all times (not rolled or cuffed). The coat will not extend below the top of the cargo pocket on the pants, and it will not extend higher than the bottom of the side pocket on the pants. The sleeve cuffs on the AC2U coat are not authorized to be rolled inside the coat.

b. The foliage green or tan (100% cotton or flame-resistant material) is worn underneath the coat and is tucked inside the trousers at all times.

c. Soldiers are required to wear rank, nametape, U.S. Army tape, and the SSI, current organization. However, they have the option of wearing the SSI–FWTS and authorized badges in the same manner as for the combat uniform. All optional insignia must be removed from the A2CU prior to returning the garment to organizational stock. Badges or insignia not approved by the Institute of Heraldry are prohibited.

6-9: Aircrew combat uniform coat

a. The trousers have a covered front slide fastener fly closure, two adjustable waist straps, hemmed legs, and seven evenly spaced belt loops with a 2 1/4-inch opening. The waistband has a button and buttonhole closure. There are single layer patches at the knees and seat. The trousers contain nine pockets: two side-hanging pockets, two thigh pockets with narrow pleats, two calf (lower leg) pockets-the left calf pocket only has an internal bellowed pocket and both pockets have external tool pockets, and one knife pocket with lanyard (on the left thigh). All pockets (except the side hanging pockets and the internal left-calf pocket) have flaps and slide fastener closures. The left thigh pocket has a front edge opening while all other pockets have a top opening. The leg pocket slides closed as follows: upward for the left thigh pocket and toward the outer seam on all other pockets. The knife pocket has bound edges and an integrated flap with a snap closure. The side hanging pocket closes with two strips of hook-and-loop fastener tape. For blousing purposes, there are tabs with hook-and-loop tape closures on the lower legs.

b. Soldiers are not authorized to blouse the trousers inside the boots while executing flight crew duties. When not performing flight duties and the trousers are bloused, Soldiers will use the hook-and- pile straps (if the trousers are not tucked into the boots). Personnel will not wrap the trouser legs around the leg tightly enough to present a pegged appearance. Soldiers will not blouse the boots so that the trouser leg extends down to the ankle area. When bloused, the trousers should not extend below the third eyelet from the top of the boot.

Section II: Fire Resistant Environmental Ensemble

6-10: Composition

The FREE is composed of:

a. Jacket.

  • (1) Light weather outer layer.
  • (2) Intermediate weather outer layer.
  • (3) Extreme weather outer layer.

b. Trousers.

  • (1) Light weather outer layer.
  • (2) Intermediate weather outer layer.
  • (3) Extreme weather outer layer.

c. Undershirt.

  • (1) Underlayer, next to skin, foliage green.
  • (2) Base layer, lightweight, cold weather (foliage green).
  • (3) Mid-weight fleece, cold weather (foliage green).

d. Vest, intermediate weather outer layer.

e. Parka, extreme weather outer layer.

f. Parka liner, Extreme weather outer layer.

g. Boxer brief (foliage green).

h. Drawers.

  • (1) Underlayer, next to skin (foliage green).
  • (2) Baselayer, lightweight, cold weather (foliage green).
  • (3) Mid-weight fleece, cold weather (foliage green).

6-11: Accessories

The following accessories are normally worn with the FREE:

  • A2CU or improved combat vehicle crewman’s coveralls.
  • Headgear.
  • Boots.
  • (1) Hot weather flyers (tan or coyote).
  • (2) Temperate weather (tan or coyote).
  • d. Belt, rigger (must meet flash/flame criteria for aircrew members performing aircrew duties) (see para 20–2).
  • e. Socks, fire resistant, foliage green.
  • f. Chaplain’s apparel (chaplains only) (see para 20–6).
  • g. Gloves.
  • (1) Nomex®gloves, or summer weight flight gloves (green/black or green/sand).
  • (2) Maximum grip NT (Nomex®), friction fighter.
  • (3) Other gloves may be worn when not performing crew duties.
  • h . The OCIE, as determined by the commander in accordance with CTA 50–900 or CTA 8–100 (medical personnel).
  • i. Army combat shirt (see para 4–7m).

6-12: Materials

FREE is made of a combination of Nomex, flame-resistant rayon, wool, and nylon, Lycra, and spandex.

6-13: General Guidelines

a. The FREE is for use by flight and combat vehicle crews and personnel in other selected military occupational specialties. Wear and appearance of the headgear, skill badges, rank insignia, branch insignia, last name/U.S. Army tape, shoulder sleeve insignia, U.S. flag insignia, skills tabs, and identification badges are the same as outlined for the A2CU (see paras 6–5 and 6–6). This uniform is designed to be slightly loose fitting; alterations to make it form fitting are not authorized. The jackets are worn outside the pants for all duties, to include flight. The sleeves will be worn down at all times, and not rolled or cuffed. The pants are worn with the FREE or standard rigger belt. Soldiers are not authorized to blouse the trousers inside the boots.

b. Soldiers are required to wear grade insignia, nametape, U.S. Army tape, and the current organizational SSI on the duty uniform worn with the FREE. However, they have the option of wearing the SSI–FWTS, and badges. The SSI, SSI–FWTS, and badges (unless badges are sewn on) will be removed by all aircrew members prior to entry onto the flight line or working in and around aircrafts. When personnel sew on badges, the following must also be sewn on the FREE jacket: nametape, U.S. Army tape, and grade insignia. If a nametape, U.S. Army tape or rank is sewn on, then personnel must sew all of these items on the uniform jacket. This requirement does not apply to the patrol cap.

c. The patrol cap will be worn when Soldiers are not performing flight duties, unless otherwise prescribed by the commander.

d. Care instructions are the same as the combat uniform (see para 4–7k).

e. Soldiers are authorized to wear the sand undershirt, sand rigger belt, and tan combat boots with the UCP, OCP, and/or OEF-CP FREE until the wear out date of the UCP ACU. The tan 499 undershirt, tan 499 rigger belt, and coyote boots are not authorized for wear with the UCP FREE.