The Air Force’s Uniform Office, at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, has teamed up with the maker of Corcoran boots to develop an ABU sage green boot made of a stain-resistant material.

Airmen at Wright-Patterson, Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan and Spangdahlem Air Base in Germany received the boots last year and participated in testing the new boots.  Testing was completed in February, however the Air Force will not release the results until all data has been reviewed.

The Air Force Chief of Staff has authorized airmen to wear black boots with their Airman Battle Uniform while the service tries to field a stain-resistant version of the ABU Sage Green boot.

Major commands will determine regulations for when black boots can be worn with the ABU.  In a Feb message it is made clear black boots worn with the ABU can be worn only in “industrial areas,” such as flight lines, hangars and kitchens.

Airmen should check with their squadron leaders to determine if they are allowed to wear black boots with ABUs.

Airman can continue to wear black boots with the woodland camouflaged BDU uniform until the wear out date in 2011