Air Force Adopted Rust Berets for EOD Airmen

The service will issue new rust-colored berets to explosive ordnance disposal personnel to recognize their combat mission.

Updated on Oct. 3, 2026 in Military

Isometric editorial illustration of a rust-colored wool beret on a clean metal table, representing the new Air Force uniform policy. — The U.S. Air Force has adopted a new rust-colored beret for explosive ordnance disposal personnel to recognize their combat-arms career field mission. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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The United States Air Force has officially adopted rust-colored berets for its explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) airmen. Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force David R. Wolfe announced the change during the inaugural Project MAMBA course graduation.

Why it matters

The new headgear distinguishes EOD airmen as a specialized conventional combat-arms career field. This update formally recognizes their unique contributions and specific hazards encountered while serving the joint force.

The new berets feature a metallic flash containing both EOD and Air Force symbolism. The rust color was chosen to signify the EOD mission and the explosive hazards historically associated with the specialty.

The players

David R. Wolfe

He serves as the Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force and announced the adoption of the new berets.

The details

The announcement occurred at Tyndall Air Force Base, where the first class of the Project MAMBA pre-deployment training pipeline concluded. This move mirrors past Air Force uniform updates, such as the February 1976 decision for Security Police to wear dark blue berets.

February 1976 marked the Air Force Security Police adoption of dark blue berets.
October 2, 2026, was the date Chief Master Sergeant David R. Wolfe announced the new EOD berets.

Political Context

The adoption of these berets follows the structural precedent set by the 1976 Air Force Security Police beret adoption. Critics of uniform changes often argue that such measures risk prioritizing aesthetic distinction over functional, mission-critical equipment upgrades.

The move formalizes the EOD identity within the broader force structure but does not impose new requirements on the general public. There are no immediate changes to tax obligations or local military base access resulting from this uniform update.

The takeaway

This policy change highlights the Air Force's ongoing effort to provide unique identity markers to specialized career fields. The inclusion of metallic insignia and a specific color indicates a commitment to honoring the historical hazards of the EOD profession.