Indian air force uniforms
First of all Uniform plays a significant role in assigning a distinct identity of armed forces. Also, Uniform is an important feature in the life of a soldier. Further To have a sense of uniformity there cannot be any deviations from the laid down specifications. Let us understand the overall dresses worn in the Indian Air Force
DRESS NO. 2 SUMMER CEREMONIAL DRESS
This dress is worn on occasions such as Ceremonial Parades, Independence Day Parade, Republic Day Parade and various other parades. It is also worn during formal reception of President of India, Foreign Heads of States/Prime Minister on State Visits only or Chief of three services.
DRESS NO. 2A SUMMER CEREMONIAL DRESS
This Uniform will be worn on specific occasions like while receiving/seeing off President of India, Head of States, Royalty and other dignitaries of foreign countries. Also during specific functions at Rashtrapati Bhawan/Raj Bhawan or when instructed by Air HQ/ Command HQ.
DRESS NO. 4 SUMMER SEMI CEREMONIAL DRESS
The uniform is to be worn on occasions which are formal but not ceremonial. In addition This is worn at the discretion of local commanders who feel that the event requires a dress between working and ceremonials.
DRESS NO. 6 SUMMER WORKING DRESS
T
his uniform is the general working dress of Indian Air Force.
DRESS NO. 8 SUMMER CEREMONIAL MESS DRESS
This dress is worn on occasions such as State functions, eg Banquets, Dinners, Reception, formal entertainment at Rashtrapati Bhawan/Raj Bhawan/residence of the Prime Minister or Similar function when held at the residence of COAS, CNS, CAS, AOsC-in-C and at Diplomatic missions.
DRESS NO. 8A SUMMER MESS DRESS (PRE & POST NATAL DRESS FOR LADY OFFICERS)
Occasion Same as Dress No. 8
DRESS NO. 10 SUMMER MESS DRESS
This is to be worn on occasion like mess functions when specified.
DRESS NO. 10A SUMMER MESS DRESS (PRE & POST NATAL DRESS FOR LADY OFFICERS)
This is to be worn on occasion like mess functions at the discretion of local commander
DRESS NO. 12 FIELD DRESS
The period and occasion to wear the field dress within the jurisdiction of a Command is decided by the respective Command HQ. For units under Air HQ, it will be at the discretion of the Commanding Officer. Lastly This uniform is worn while performing guard duties, range firing duties, QRT, crash crew, fire piquet duties and field deployment/activation.
Unless you show the dress in mention in pix,nobody would understand it.
IAF ultimately copies everything( belt,collar tabs,kamarbund,beret,epillepts etc from the Army as uike the Army,there is no tradition atd to the IAF uniforms.
With every change of the Chief,the uniform,colour of vehicles,no.enclature of appointments changes.
Now in IAF ,varied types of uniforms in different colors is seen.In fact it looks like a fancy dress competition.
The new combat suit ( earlier OG combat suit worn by NC(E)s),copied from foreign Army,with fawn colour boots,the airmen look funny.And how thecombat suit as the name indicates,are to be born by the combatants and not people doing chair duty in AC rooms.
And how come an uniform be without a belt.Rempval of belt for putting on charge/ Court Martial,indicates insult and normally ,you don’t salute without a headdress and a belt.
The heavy brown boots would check poise as well as quick running.
And the wearer can afford to keep the combat suit at will,as dirt can’t be detected and it does not need creasing(ironing),then where would the kit Maint All would be spent
Why not have common uniform for all the three Services for uniformity and supply through single source of the COD.Respective troops could be differentiated through the colour of the cap,lanyard,side shoulder badges.
IAF ranks are not even understood by the DSC guards ,what to talk of the civilians.