Tactical uniforms are designed to be durable and functional. They are chiefly worn on away missions when exploring rugged terrain or when an officer is expecting a firefight. They can also be worn as the standard uniform in "frontier" settings where the duty station is a little rough around the edges.

Anyone who gets their hands dirty with heavy machinery, such as infantry/security, pilots or mechanics, might also wear the tactical uniform, as it's designed to take a beating.

Typically, officers see managerial duty from behind a desk and would more often be wearing the service uniform, but that is less the rule in the turbulent times of the 25th century.