The USAF Second Lieutenant embroidered subdued cloth rank insignia featured here are worn the Operational Camouflage Pattern utility uniform (OCP), the Airman Battle Uniform (ABU), and various components of outerwear clothing systems. On uniforms with the OCP, spice brown is used for all Officer rank insignia except for 1st Lieutenant and Lieutenant Colonel; these are colored black to differentiate them from the identical designs of the lower-ranking 2nd Lieutenant and Major insignias. This is a mirror-image of the ABU Officer rank insignia system, which uses black for all ranks except 2nd Lieutenant and Major.
Subdued cloth rank insignia are available with three different types of attachment methods. With the introduction of the OCP as a replacement for the ABU, 2nd Lieutenants now wear rank insignia on the chest rather than the collars and can choose between sew-on or Velcro-backed insignia. (Mandatory possession date for the OCP is 1 April 2021.) Here is a brief rundown on the different attachment styles and the uniforms on which they are worn by 2nd Lieutenants:
Sew-on: Worn on the chest of the OCP, the collars of the ABU coat, and on both OCP and ABU Patrol caps. If worn on the OCP coat, the name tape and USAF tape must also be sew-on.
Rank with Velcro: The ABU pattern features a solid Sage Green background is worn on the left breast of the Sage Green fleece; OCP pattern is worn on the chest of the OCP coat with Velcro name tape and USAF tape.
Gortex Loop: Slip-on style insignia worn on outerwear garments with rank tabs; the OCP version is worn on the Woodland Gore-Tex Jacket and ECWCS, while the ABU is worn on APECS and the Improved Rain Suit.
More 2nd Lieutenant Insignias and Devices