The US Space Force debuted its new utility uniform and service nametape and it’s not at all what the peanut gallery expected.
The Space Force tweeted out a photo of the uniform and nametape Friday, about a month after President Trump signed the sixth branch of the military into existence on December 20, 2019.
‘The first #SpaceForce utility uniform nametapes have touched down in the Pentagon,’ tweeted @SpaceForceDoD.
The US Space Force tweeted out this image of a uniform bearing its new official nametape
Space Force’s tweet about the earth-toned utility uniform and its nametape was mocked
Twitter users were quick to question why the space-themed military branch was using forest-colored camo, forcing Space Force to tweeted a few explanations
Military.com reported that four-star rank on the uniform, as well as the Command Space Operations badge over the new navy blue-embroidered service nametape indicated that the showcased uniform belonged to Gen. John Raymond, the new – and first – commander of the US Space Force.
The uniform in the photo also showed off a United States Space Command patch and a full-color American flag.
Despite its celestial nature of the command, Space Force appears to be using a traditional earth-tone camo pattern for its daily-use, utility uniform.
The lack of a cosmic-themed uniform raised eyebrows on social media.
‘How many trees are you expecting to find in space?’ author James Felton tweeted, prompting a Twitter user to respond with a Star Wars reference: ‘Come on, Jim. You know how difficult it is to defeat Ewoks in battle.’
One Twitter user posted photos of a forest-hued camo and a black swatch, noting: ‘I know this is hard to understand, but on the left there is a picture of camouflage and on the right there is a picture of space. Study these carefully until you can see the difference.’
It’s thought that the Space Force uniform in the picture belonged to Gen John Raymond (pictured January 14), the first commander of the US Space Force
Social media users were quick to offer up their suggestions for what the Space Force uniform should’ve looked like, also also responded to the reveal that Army and Air Force uniforms are being repurposed for the new military branch
‘Have you been to a part of space where this camouflage would blend in?’ tweeted Walter Shaub, the former director of the US Office of Government Ethics.
‘Camo in space? WTF? More wasted tax dollars. Great job!’ wrote a Twitter user, which prompted a response from the Space Force.
‘USSF is utilizing current Army/Air Force uniforms, saving costs of designing/producing a new one. Members will look like their joint counterparts they’ll be working with, on the ground,’ Space Force tweeted.
‘Buried lede: we had a ton of camo,’ snarked actor Michael McKean.
When one Twitter user asked, ‘Sorry for the question but why do we need camo in space?’
Space Force responded by tweeting: ‘We don’t. Space Operators are on the ground, on Earth working with joint partners like the @usairforce and @USArmy. Hence utilizing their uniform.’
The fact that Space Force is repurposing its uniform from the Air Force and Army shouldn’t come as a surprise, though.
Some people defended the the decision to use the earth-toned camouflage uniforms, though
The 2020 National Defense Authorization Act essentially rebranded the US Air Force Space Command, which initially debuted in 1982, to create the new Space Force branch.
The 16,000 active duty airmen and civilians who served in the Air Force Space Command up until the moment the bill was signed, became part of the newly-minted Space Force.
Aside from splintering off personnel to the Space Force, the Air Force is expected to rename some of its ‘principal’ bases – which already house Air Force Space Command units – as ‘Space Bases.’
Not everyone had a quip about the uniform, however.
‘Folks blabbering on out about not needing camo in space is peak civilian. Not everyone is going to be floating around up there, people,’ a Navy veteran wrote.
‘Why is everyone cracking on the fact they’re camo? That’s always been a military thing and you’re not exactly in space yet,’ actress and conservative Mindy Robinson tweeted. ‘Even if you were…what do you think you’re hiding from? If something really is out there…it’s going to find you, moon camouflaged or not.’
Space Force has not yet revealed what its dress uniform will look like.