APPEARANCE STANDARDS

AFJROTC cadets wear the same basic uniform as the active duty Air Force. When you are in uniform, you not only represent Enid High School, but the entire Air Force. You should honor the uniform by wearing it properly and with pride. All cadets must maintain a high standard of dress and personal appearance.

The following standards are derived from DAFI 36-2903, Dress and Personal Appearance of United States Air Force and United States Space Force Personnel; AFJROTCI 36-2010, Air Force Junior ROTC Operations; and the Air Force Junior ROTC Operations Supplement. The AFJROTC instructors have final say on all grooming, appearance and uniform standards!

GROOMING STANDARDS

Hair must be clean, well groomed, present a professional appearance and allow proper wear of headgear.

• Hair will not contain excessive amounts of grooming aids (e.g. gel, mousse, pomade, moisturizer), or appear lopsided.

• If applied, dyes, tints, bleaches and frostings must result in natural hair colors, present a natural appearance and be complementary to facial hair (eyebrows, lashes, mustache). Examples of natural hair colors are brown, blonde, brunette, natural red, black or grey. Prohibited examples (not all inclusive) are burgundy, purple, orange, fluorescent or neon colors. Ombre (a gradual lightening or darkening along the lengths of the hair) or black hair with blonde highlights and blonde hair with black are unnatural in appearance and not authorized for wear.  Other unauthorized examples include instances where hair and facial hair drastically contrast. 

Keep fingernails neat, clean and trimmed. Fingernails must not exceed ¼ inch in length beyond the tip of the finger.

SPECIFIC FEMALE CADET GROOMING GUIDELINES

Nail Polish. If worn, nail polish will be clear or French or American Manicure. French manicures include white tips with a base of clear and American manicures include ivory white or cream tips with a base of clear. Ombre manicure style is not authorized. Do not apply designs to nails. 

Cosmetics. Female cadets may wear conservatively styled cosmetics. Lipstick, if worn, will be a conservative shade that does not detract from the uniform. Eyeliner cannot extend past the corners of eye opening (i.e., winged liner not authorized).

Hair. There is no minimum hair length. Hair will not exceed a maximum bulk of 4 inches from scalp, regardless of length. Choose one of the following options:

• Cut hair so it ends above the bottom edge of the collar and does not extend below an invisible line drawn parallel to the ground, both front to back and side to side.

• Secure hair in a single bun on the back of the head; radius will not exceed 6 inches from the point where the hair is gathered (i.e., no more than 6 inches to the left and 6 inches to the right, 12 inches total width; and 6 inches protruding from where hair is gathered).

• Secure hair in one or two braids or a single ponytail worn down the back with length not extending below a horizontal line running between the top of each sleeve inseam at the under arm through the shoulder blades (see illustration below). The braid(s) or ponytail cannot be worn over the shoulder or pulled in front of the body.

Whichever option is used, hair must be styled to permit proper wear of the AFJROTC headgear. 

Locs, braids, twists, micro-braids, French braids, Dutch braids and cornrows are allowed if they meet the requirements of DAFI 36-2903. Unauthorized Styles: Mohawk, mullet, etched shapes/design, partially shaved sides and/or back of the head with long hair on the top (requiring the wear of a ponytail, bun, or braid).

Bangs, or side-swiped hair, may touch eyebrows, but will not touch or cover eyes. Pinned-up hair should be styled in a manner that prevents loose ends from extending upward on the head. If adding additional hair, it must be a natural looking color, similar to the individual's hair color, and allow for proper wear of the headgear.

Hair accessories. If worn, hair accessories (e.g., fabric scrunches, hairpins, combs, clips, headbands, elastic bands, barrettes, etc.) must be black or match the hair color (i.e., blonde, brunette, natural red, black, gray). Hair must still comply with bulk and appearance standards. Headgear must fit properly. Invisible hairnets that match hair color are allowed. Headbands or fabric scrunchies will not exceed two-inches in width. Ornaments such as ribbons, bows, beads, or jeweled pins are not authorized.

Examples of Authorized Hair Styles

Examples of Unauthorized Hair Styles

SPECIFIC MALE CADET GROOMING GUIDELINES

Fingernail polish is prohibited. Male cadets will not wear cosmetics.

Hair. Hair will have a tapered appearance on both sides and the back of the head, both with and without headgear. A tapered appearance is one that when viewed from any angle outlines the member's hair so that it conforms to the shape of the head, curving inward to the natural termination point without eccentric directional flow, twists or spiking. A block-cut is permitted with tapered appearance. 

Hair will not exceed 2½ inches in bulk, regardless of length and ¼ inch at natural termination point; allowing only closely cut or shaved hair on the back of the neck to touch the collar. Hair will not touch the ears or protrude under the front band of properly worn headgear. 

Cleanly shaven heads, military high-and-tight or flat-top cuts are authorized. Mohawk, mullet, etched shapes/design, dreadlocks, coils, braids, twists, designs, and/or hair extensions are not authorized. Cadets may have one (cut, clipped or shaved) front to back, straight-line part, not slanted or curved, on either side of their head, above the temple. Part will not exceed 4 inches length or ¼ inch width. 

Sideburns. If worn, sideburns will be straight and even width (not flared), and will not extend below the bottom of the orifice of the ear opening. Sideburns will end in a clean-shaven horizontal line.

Mustaches. No portion of the mustache will extend below the lip line of the upper lip. Additionally, the mustache will not go beyond a horizontal line extending across the corners of the mouth and no more than 1/4 inch beyond a vertical line drawn from the corner of the mouth.

Beards. Beards are not authorized except for medical reasons.

TATTOOS, BRANDS AND BODY MARKINGS

Tattoos/brands/body markings will not be on the head, face, tongue, lips, eyes, and scalp. Tattoos/brands/body markings anywhere on the body that are obscene, commonly associated with gangs, extremist, and/or supremacist organizations, or that advocate sexual, racial, ethnic, or religious discrimination are prohibited in and out of uniform. Chest and back tattoos will not be visible through any uniform combination(s) or visible while wearing an open collar uniform. See DAFI 36-2903 for more information.

JEWELRY

Male cadets are not authorized to wear earrings while in uniform. Female cadets may wear small (not exceeding 6mm in diameter) conservative round or square white diamond, gold, white pearl, or silver earrings as a set. If a cadet has multiple holes, only one set of earrings are authorized to be worn in uniform and will be worn in the lower earlobes. Earrings will match and fit tightly without extending below the earlobe unless the piece extending is the connecting band on clip earrings.

When not wearing earrings, male and female cadets are authorized to wear transparent piercing spacer(s) in lower earlobes while in uniform. Transparent spacers are not allowed in ear holes outside of the lower earlobes or any other piercing holes visible in uniform (nose, lip, eyebrow etc). Piercing holes will not be large enough to permit light to shine through. Plugs for gauge holes in the ear lobes are not authorized, regardless of color (including flesh colored).

With the exception of earrings for female cadets, cadets will not attach, affix, or display objects, articles, jewelry or ornamentation to or through the ear, nose, tongue, eye brows, lips, or any exposed body part (including anything visible through the uniform). Cadets may not cover any of these articles with make-up, band aids or wearing clear post pins to hide body piercings.

Cadets may wear one bracelet around their wrist. If worn, the bracelet will be conservative in design, no wider than ½ inch, gold or silver in color, and will not have any inappropriate pictures or writing. Conservative medical alert/identification bracelets are authorized. Bracelets espousing support for a cause, philosophy, individual or group are not authorized. Ankle bracelets are not authorized.

Cadets may wear no more than three rings. Rings will be worn at the base of the finger.

Necklaces, pendants, and other conspicuous adornments will not be visible at any time. If worn, necklaces will be concealed under a collar or undershirt.

Eyeglasses and sunglasses will not be worn around the neck or on top/back of head or exposed hanging on the uniform. Sunglass frames must be conservative. Conservative wrap-around sunglasses may be worn. Conservative, clear, slightly tinted, mirrored or photosensitive lenses are authorized. Do not wear sunglasses while in formation. Sunglass cases will not be clipped to the belt.