[Stars & Stripes] Air Force wrench turners will be allowed to wear shorts to beat the heat at work under to an impending rule change.Starting March 15, commanders can authorize maintainers to wear navy-blue shorts instead of Airman Battle Uniform or Operational Camouflage Pattern trousers in maintenance areas when temperatures are forecast to meet or exceed 80 degrees Fahrenheit, according to an Air Force statement Tuesday.
"Authorized areas will include the flight line, hangars and dock areas outside of climate-controlled areas," the statement said.
If a commander OKs shorts, they’ll be worn with a coyote brown T-shirt and uniform green or coyote brown socks with boots.
Some stateside installations such as Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada, Luke Air Force Base in Arizona and Tyndall Air Force Base in Florida rolled out shorts for maintainers two summers ago. Kadena Air Base on Okinawa has allowed members of the 18th Maintenance Group to wear them since early last year.
Four out of five maintainers will opt for shorts on hot days once they have the option, predicted Tech. Sgt. Jerry Sysourath, a C-130 maintainer at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz.