ARLINGTON, Va. — Airmen with ideas for improving their uniforms can now do it via e-mail.

The e-mails are part of a “virtual uniform board” process that will make it easier for airmen who want changes to make themselves heard, and faster for the Air Force to make those changes, Maj. Brad Head, branch chief of the Air Force Uniform and Recognition Branch, told Stars and Stripes on Friday.

Until now, airmen had to cobble together their uniform suggestions into a formal “package” for submission to the Air Force Uniform Board, which meets at the direction of the Air Force Chief of Staff, Head said.

Roughly once each year, the board convened for a week at the Pentagon, where some 35 Air Force representatives reviewed each package of suggestions.

About 90 packages were reviewed by the 2007 board, Head said.

The board develops its own recommendations, which are forwarded to Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. T. Michael Moseley for final approval.

If a suggestion is accepted by the board and approved by Moseley, the airman will get a $200 reward, Head said.

The Air Force has computerized the process so the board no longer needs to meet in person, he said.

The first virtual uniform board will be held May 5-16. The deadline for submitting suggestions is April 15.

Air Force officials announced the new suggestion process on Wednesday using their internal news service.

“Within 24 hours, we had almost 200 inputs, and today [Friday] it’s up to 366,” Head said.

“We knew there was a lot of emotion and ideas out there,” he said.

To submit a uniform change request, go to https://ipds.csd.disa.mil (CAC required) and select “Submit a Uniform Change Request.”

For more information contact the Air Force Personnel Center Contact Center at 800) 616-3775 option 1, 1, 2.