In 1959 Alpha Industries was commissioned by the department of defense to design and manufacture high performance outerwear for the U.S. military. The company quickly became synonymous with developing the iconic MA-1, M-65, and N-3B trusted by soldiers, sailors and aviators to protect them from the most dire conditions across the land, sea and air. Today, Alpha’s mission is to protect and inspire heroism in all forms by outfitting men and women to realize their limitless potential. Alpha Industries Women's Size Guide Alpha Industries Men's Size Guide Introduced by the mid-1950s, the MA-1 became the flight jacket of U.S. Air Force and Navy pilots and ground crew. An addition to the jacket in 1960 was the reversibility to show off an Indian Orange lining. The reason being if a plane crashed, the pilot could reverse the jacket to the orange side to signal rescue personnel. Alpha Industries' first government contract for the MA-1 was awarded in 1963. They started producing the MA-1 flight jacket for the civilian population in the 1970s. Slim-fit flight