The only uniform on which the wearing of shirt studs is mandatory is the Men’s Mess Dress; it is an optional-wear item on the Women’s Formal Dress, Mess Dress, and Maternity Mess Dress uniforms. Regardless of the uniform, the finish of the shirt studs must be the same as that of the cuff links.
Such a short list of uniforms for which shirt studs are authorized might come as a surprise because many people associate the wearing of studs with wearing cuff links—and the number of Air Force uniforms for which cuff links is optional is quite lengthy. The reason for the discrepancy is that the slotted openings near buttons that are required to use studs are found only on the
tuxedo shirts worn with Mess Dress and Formal uniforms.
These studs are sometimes referred to as “Hap Arnold studs,” but they do not feature the “Hap Arnold star.” The reference is likely due to the fact that the Hap Arnold star (“wing and star” in Air Force regulations) was used for cuff links prior to the formal introduction of the modernized Air Force Symbol in 2004 and the name simply stuck.
http://www.uniforms-4u.com/p-air-force-cuff-links-with-eagle-device-new-7116.aspx