His profession and character strictly dictate his look in the movie. His is a stereotyped character. As he plays an air force pilot, he is of a certain age, belongs to a certain economic bracket, and is marriageable.

He is a clean, tough, working guy; an ideal even to DJ. So he is one step above the group of college boys -- he does something worthwhile.

The movie had lines where he talks about his good jackets and therefore it became necessary to give him a great jacket. And his jacket, through the film, is a symbol of manhood.