Newest Space Force Guardians Will Be First To Receive New Dress Uniform

U.S. Space Force Senior Master Sgt. Brandi Gonzalez walks the Hap Arnold hallway while wearing the branch’s Service Dress Uniform at the Pentagon, Arlington, Va., Aug. 22, 2025. (U.S. Air Force photo by Chad Trujillo)

U.S. Air Force

This month marks the sixth anniversary of the United States Space Force, the sixth and newest branch of the United States military. During the graduation ceremony on December 18, the newest class of guardians will be wearing the service’s newly established dress uniforms, the first to do so, the 37th Training Wing announced last week.

The unit released photos showing trainees getting measured for the new uniforms, Stars & Stripes first reported. It is likely an attempt to ensure that the newly minted guardians look their best in the formal uniform.

To Infinity And Beyond

The new dress uniform has been years in the making, drawing from historic military attire while still evoking some features that seem straight out of science fiction. The prototypes, which were spotted earlier this fall, included an asymmetrical short navy blue jacket with a large flap over the right breast and a diagonal line of six silver buttons, earning comparisons to uniforms from science fiction.

Since the first images were shared in 2021, there have been comparisons to the angled jackets seen in the rebooted Battlestar Galactica and even to the Imperial uniforms from Star Wars. Moreover, asymmetry and metallic elements have been a staple of sci-fi since the days of Flash Gordon.

However, such uniforms have a tradition not in a galaxy far away but rather in our not-so-distant past.

General George S. Patton designed a tanker uniform in the 1930s that also included an off-center, angled jacket. It isn’t likely that Patton’s “Green Hornet” design – as it became known – influenced the Space Force dress uniform in the least, but one could safely assume Patton wasn’t inspired by the Hollywood serials of the day. Instead, he was likely offering a new take on 19th-century cavalry dress uniforms.

“Our service dress uniform represents the unique identity of Guardians, blending heritage with a modern design that reflects our unity and mission,” said Chief of Space Operations Gen. Chance Saltzman in a September statement to the media. “From the start, Guardian feedback shaped its design and fit. I know the force will wear it with pride.”

It was announced a year ago that guardians could expect to begin receiving the new uniforms by the end of this year, with them available service-wide by June 2026.

Although the December 18, 2025, graduation will mark the official public unveiling of the dress uniform, the Space Force began to “wear-test” the dress uniforms last year at eight installations: Camp Smith, NY; Cavalier Space Force Station, ND; Goodfellow Air Force Base, TX; Kirtland Air Force Base, NM; Lackland Air Force Base, TX; Landstuhl Air Base, Germany; Vandenberg Space Force Base, CA; and Yokota Air Base, Japan.

Dress For Success

The Space Force also announced that the first opportunity to pre-order the new dress uniforms would be given to recruiters, training instructors, December ROTC graduates, Honor Guard, White House Social Aides, and senior leaders. Trainees at Basic Military Training and Officer Training School will graduate in the new uniform.

Once the uniform is widely issued, a mandatory-wear date will be announced with at least 12 months’ notice, the Space Force has confirmed.

Once the uniform is widely issued, a mandatory-wear date will be announced with at least 12 months’ notice.

“Our Guardians are our top priority, and this phased approach reflects that,” emphasized Chief Master Sergeant of the Space Force John Bentivegna. “It allows us to proactively address potential challenges in production and distribution while also providing Guardians with ample time to acquire the new uniform.”