The U.S. Space Force has shared prototype uniforms, and social media users quickly compared them to “Star Trek.”
In a tweet on Tuesday, the Space Force’s Twitter account shared a picture of the prototype, and said, “Today, [Chief of Space Operations] Gen. John W. ‘Jay’ Raymond unveiled the Guardian Service Dress prototype a modern, distinctive, professional uniform.”
Today, @SpaceForceCSO Gen. John W. "Jay" Raymond unveiled the Guardian Service Dress prototype a modern, distinctive, professional uniform during the @AirForceAssoc's #ASC21. pic.twitter.com/tnDJnMkCMo
— United States Space Force (@SpaceForceDoD) September 21, 2021
According to military.com, “The uniform is a marked departure from the dress blues of the Air Force, from which the Space Force was spun off in 2019. It has a dark navy coat that buttons on the right-hand side, unlike the Air Force coat that buttons in the middle, and gray pants.”
“Raymond said the coat’s six buttons — which bear the Space Force emblem — are meant to represent its status as the military’s sixth service,” it added.
Additionally, Lt. Col. Alison Gonzalez, the Space Force deputy chief of strategy who modeled the new uniform at the conference, said the new uniform was designed with women in mind.
Social media users were quick to compare the new prototype to the uniforms worn in the “Star Trek” movie “The Wrath of Khan.”
Is this Star Trek enough for everyone?
— Michael de Yoanna (@mdy1) September 21, 2021
Space Force Gen. Jay Raymond introduced these U.S. Guardian prototype uniforms today. pic.twitter.com/s5jfQKHvOA
Getting some Wrath of Khan flashbacks all of a sudden… #ASC21 #afa #SpaceForce @Jeff_MartinTX pic.twitter.com/wskc9jiaq9
— Stephen Losey (@StephenLosey) September 21, 2021
I mean, with its Star-Trek-esque arrow logo already set, was there any world in which the Space Force service dress would not invoke Sci-Fi uniforms? https://t.co/Jr51DiI992
— Richard Maass (@richardmaass) September 21, 2021
The new Space Force uniform
— Peter W. Singer (@peterwsinger) September 21, 2021
A blend of the Star Trek Enterprise dress uniform, but with the Mirror Universe diagonal pic.twitter.com/2XyGxJN0Tq
Not everyone was enthused about the new uniforms, Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Wisc.) tweeted, “These uniforms are a big ugly reminder that we chose to create a space force in this country before choosing to invest in things like ending poverty or homelessness.”
These uniforms are a big ugly reminder that we chose to create a space force in this country before choosing to invest in things like ending poverty or homelessness. https://t.co/V5QP9RmzuY
— Rep. Mark Pocan (@RepMarkPocan) September 21, 2021
While the prototypes were revealed on Tuesday, there will be several months to collect comments then the Space Force will start “wear-testing” them before they are distributed.
In Jan. 2020, the Space Force unveiled its logo, and social media users compared it to the Starfleet Command insignia from Star Trek.