AR 670–1 says a male soldier will be ““clean shaven.” For some guys, that's once every three days. For others it could be four or five times a day. My son, while a Midshipman at the Naval Academy, had a very heavy beard, which made it necessary for him to shave twice in the morning before leaving for classes.
Marines are required to shave daily. Mustaches are permitted only after recruit training and only when it's neatly trimmed and contained within vertical lines from the corners of the mouth to the margin area of the upper lip.
Excluding limited exemptions for religious accommodation, the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps have policies that prohibit beards on the basis of hygiene and the necessity of a good seal for chemical weapon protective masks.
AR 670-1 was revised to say you're a Soldier 24/7-365. Apparently this means that you must be cleanly shaven even off duty days and while on leave. This does fall under the punitive sections of the regulation.
Almost immediately after arrival, your hair will be cut so short that it almost feels like you were shaved bald (guys only). After the initial haircut, you'll get a trim at least once per week during basic training.
No you don't need to shave. However, It WOULD behoove you to shave the night before you leave for Basic training.
A doctor, dermatologist, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant must certify that the soldier suffers from a medical condition requiring them to grow their facial hair. A neatly trimmed beard shorter than a one-quarter inch may then be allowed. Wondering if a military shaving waiver is right for you?
The Coast Guard, Army and Air Force allow beards in limited circumstances, including on religious and medical grounds. The Navy's reasoning falls in line with its “cultural twitch” on grooming and uniforms, said James Holmes, who chairs the maritime strategy program at the Naval War College in Newport, R.I.
If their hair does not part naturally, they can cut parts into it if they follow these criteria: Parts can't exceed three millimeters in width (about 1/10 of an inch). Parts must be straight lines, not zigzag or other shapes. Hard parts must be cut into a natural part of the scalp (where a part would naturally occur).
Current military policies require all male members to maintain a clean shave whenever in uniform, unless waivered.
4, 2019, following a series of reviews by the Naval Safety Center that said beard hair posed a safety risk for face seals on breathing devices such as respirators. Beards are typically not allowed in the service except for religious and medical exemptions.
The invention of chemical weapons ended the affair for good. Beards were prohibited across all branches for two reasons: Hygiene and the need for a good seal while wearing a gas mask.
The hair on the top of the head must be neatly groomed and not bulky. The length of the hair must not present a ragged, unkempt or extreme appearance and any form of length or bulk that detracts from a professional military appearance is prohibited.
Hair should be kept neat and well-groomed. Hair should be no longer than 4.0 inches. Hair may not touch the ears or collar. It also cannot extend below the eyebrows.
There is no Marine Corps rule that dictates how often you have to get your hair cut. You cut your hair as often as you need to in order to stay within the regulations.
Simply put, a straight razor is best for a military shave. You get to enjoy its benefits, such as reduces the incidence of razor bumps because it only has a single, sharp blade. There are no extra blades that can tug curly hair and force it even to grow inward.
No PDA. PDA, or public displays of affection, is considered unprofessional, and a big no-no while in uniform. However, each unit, branch, and area treat this rule with different severity. This can include hugging, kissing, holding hands, and even holding children.
For most branches, the answer is no. The military has banned hand tattoos for a long time. However, the Army recently updated their policy on hand tattoos and neck tattoos in the midst of their recruiting crisis. Now, Soldiers are allowed to have one tattoo on each hand so long as it does not exceed 1 inch in length.
The most elite special operations forces in the U.S. are known as the Green Berets, and while that alone is enough to spark debate, there's great reasoning behind it. Training includes harsh mental and physical undertakings, including the school that's widely regarded as the hardest: Combat Diving.
In an administrative message released Friday, the service said that it would now allow retired sailors to have facial hair, including beards, "when wearing Navy uniforms during authorized ceremonial events." The notice added that the hair "must be neatly groomed and be in keeping with a professional appearance."
Trivia answer: Special Operations Forces are allowed to have beards and long hair so that they have the opportunity to blend in with the communities they work in, such as in Afghanistan, where beards are common. Senka Doležal and 156 others like this.
While the standard does not ban beards per se, it does require employers to ensure that bearded employees who are required to wear tight-fitting facepieces trim their beards so that they do not interfere with the sealing surface of the respirator or are not so large that they could interfere with valve function.
For example, “The length of the beard cannot exceed 1/4 inch” (see TB Med 287). Soldiers will keep the growth trimmed to the level specified by the appropriate medical authority, but are not authorized to shape the hair growth (examples include, but are not limited to, goatees or handlebar mustaches).
Though technically your head is not shaved in the military, males are given very close haircuts during basic training. What is this? Such induction or buzz cuts have become a rite of passage in joining the U.S. military, dating back to George Washington's leadership of the Continental Army.
That's especially true if you imagined a military uniform since the U.S. Army requires soldiers to shave. However, men with certain skin conditions may be eligible for a military shaving waiver that excuses them from shaving daily.