The Army-Navy game is a 133-year-old tradition, and since 2016, the teams have unveiled special uniforms ahead of the storied annual rivalry matchup in December. However, the other service academy also hit the jersey battlefield in that time frame.
Every season, Air Force showcases its “Air Power Legacy Series,” and on Tuesday, the program gifted us with the 2024 edition, which honors the Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC).
Will Army or Navy be able to one-up their service academy rival? The Falcons made sure it would be difficult.
Air Force Sets the Tone for Service Academy Uniforms With Recent Release
Despite their air superiority, the Falcons are prone to bringing the heat to the ground. The first version of the APLS featured the Tiger Shark teeth nose art made famous on multiple Air Force aircraft in World War II. Yet, outside of the eye-catching helmets, the rest of the uniform fell a bit flat — not this year.
𝐀𝐍𝐘 𝐏𝐋𝐀𝐂𝐄. 𝐀𝐍𝐘 𝐓𝐈𝐌𝐄. 𝐀𝐍𝐘𝐖𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐄.
𝐀𝐈𝐑 𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐂𝐄 𝐒𝐏𝐄𝐂𝐈𝐀𝐋 𝐎𝐏𝐄𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒 𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐌𝐀𝐍𝐃 pic.twitter.com/yx03NefHrz
— Air Force Football (@AF_Football) August 13, 2024
All-black jerseys never fail to pop on the field, but the Falcons didn’t stop there. The front bumper of the helmet highlights the Special Tactics Combat Control motto, “First There,” while the back bumper is the AFSOC’s motto, “Any Place, Any Time, Anywhere.”
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With “AFSOC” taking the traditional nameplate area on the back of the jersey, players’ names will come on the right chest. The red swoosh on the jersey and pants, along with the red outline of the numbers, are a nod to the scarlet berets worn by combat controllers.
If the jersey and pants didn’t turn your head, the helmet certainly will. It features the AFSOC’s official emblem in jaw-dropping fashion, with the dagger running down the middle and silver wings flaring out from it.
Air Force will don the new kit when it faces Navy on Saturday, Oct. 5, in Falcon Stadium. The contest will be broadcast on CBS.
The Falcons enter 2024 at No. 8 of 12 teams in the Mountain West Power Rankings. Although they have only suffered four losing seasons since head coach Troy Calhoun took over in 2007, they rank dead last in returning production.
KEEP READING: Air Force Falcons Top 10 Returning Players
While new uniforms won’t help them win games on the field, the Falcons’ special kit set the bar for Army and Navy this season.
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