• DALLAS
The Army & Air Force Exchange Service’s (AAFES) Military Clothing team played a significant role in getting the new dress uniform that symbolizes the Space Force’s unique identity ready in time for December graduation ceremonies at two military bases.
During these ceremonies, 17 Space Force officers graduated from Officer Training School at Maxwell AFB, Ala., and 120 Basic Military Training graduates at JB San Antonio-Lackland AFB, Texas, wore the new uniform.
The uniforms are significant for the nation’s newest branch of service, which was established in December 2019 within the Department of the Air Force.
Until 2025, Guardians wore Air Force uniforms, and the new uniforms are a big part of making the Space Force distinct.
“About a year ago, the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) released Space Force physical training gear,” said Shawn Martinson, Military Clothing buyer for the Exchange. “That was really the first uniform they had that said ‘Space Force’ on it.
“The rapid rollout of Space Force’s first dress uniform has been extremely well-received.”
AAFES SUPPORT
Military leaders were impressed with the rollout. Lt. Gen. Donna Shipton, Commander of the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center (AFLCMC) at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, sent a note to Exchange Director/Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Tom Shull and other military leaders involved in releasing the uniform, congratulating them on a successful launch.
“My office remains steadfast in our commitment to finalize the remaining rollout and to collaborate with the Army and Air Force Exchange Service to develop an equally exceptional USSF mess dress uniform,” Shipton wrote. “I genuinely appreciate the partnership we fostered over the past 18 months in making this graduation momentous!”
Martinson said the Air Force Uniform Office at the AFLCMC worked with Space Force leadership to design the new dress uniform. “It’s unique and fully aligned with the Space Force’s mission priorities,” Martinson said.
The Exchange then worked with DLA to get the uniform into Military Clothing stores and started fitting Space Force officers, other VIPs, honor guards, Air Force Academy instructors, Lackland AFB drill sergeants and graduates in September.
“Shawn and the team hit every deadline early,” said Military Clothing Divisional Merchandise Manager (DMM) Mark Vessels. “Shawn made calls with Space Force leaders to go over timelines, and then the team at headquarters, with Shawn’s lead, kept the project on track and ahead of schedule.”
Martinson said he worked directly with Lt. Col. Tyler Mann of the Space Force Director of Staff’s Office and Col. Matthew Schmunk, Space Force director of Organizational Change Management, who played key roles in the uniform’s design and rollout.
“We all worked together to rally the troops and get done what we had to get done,” Martinson said. “There was a lot of vendor support with that. There are always challenges when you have new items.”
AVAILABILITY
During the coming months, the dress uniform will roll out to more than 9,000 Guardians. The new uniforms are also available on ShopMyExchange.com.
“And we just found out that we’re going to be helping 100 Space Force Cadets at the Air Force Academy get their uniforms,” Martinson said.
“We will be working with the Logistics Readiness Squadron at the Academy,” he explained. “The LRS will fit them, and we’ll do the ordering through the Air Force Academy Exchange, then the cadets will pick up the uniforms. They’ll be the first Air Force Academy class to graduate with the Space Force uniform.
“It is exciting to know that ‘Team Exchange’ has played a significant role in helping make this historic uniform a reality.”
Source: AAFES
Edited by Larry Lapka
