Posted on Sep 2, 2020
Can I be forced to shave if I have a shaving profile?
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What’s up everybody I’m pv2 jones and I been in the army a little over 9 months, I love serving until it comes to shaving. I’ve tried everything and my face bumps up terrible man I’m talking about it looks disgusting, plenty of my Drill Sgts in AIT tried teaching me how to shave but it doesn’t work. So I just got to my new unit about 2 and a half months ago and I was still shaving even though it was painful and it looked Terrible, one day an NCO From another unit told me that I NEED to go get a shaving profile because my face just looks terrible and she can tell I was in pain so I promised her I will go get one and have them check it out . After my first appointment the dermatologist gave me a permanent shaving profile and told me that I don’t need to shave atleast until my bumps are clear. So a few weeks go by and I have a little beard (still in regulation 1/4 of an inch) so After pt my squad leader pulls me to The side and starts cursing me out at the top of his lungs saying I need to shave , I told him respectfully I have a shaving profile and it hurts for me to shave he stares at me and replied Under his breath “like every other black person in the army that can’t use razors” I didn’t say anything but it kind of hurt because I don’t want to be a odd ball in my company (I’m in a infantry company btw) so later that day we go into work to clean weapons and he calls me over and apologizes about this morning and I told him it was ok he then said that I need to shave still if I want to make it in the military and I replied and told him I’m not shaving so he can F’ing forget about it he then told me since I cursed him my punishment will be to shave or receive a article for disrespecting a NCO so later I went to my barracks room and shaved during lunch and came back in he then told me that no matter what my profile says I need to listen to him and shave I told my platoon sgt about this whole Situation and he told me I need to listen to my squad leader and shave because the army just gives shaving profiles to anyone. Is this right?
Platoon Sergeant
Platoon Leader
Commander
CCMSgt
NCO Academy
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 254
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People with shaving profiles are generally Latino or African American. The painful bums they have on their face is caused by the use of a double edge or electric razor. This problem didn't exist when men were using single edge safety razors. Try and switch to the older single edge blade, but be warned. You may cut the hell out of yourself, so go slow when shaving.
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PV2 Jones, you did the right thing in not argue with the NCO, but either bring it up to your unit commander or go back to the hospital and inform them of the problem - you must protect yourself. As a First Sergeant, I had several individuals in my unit at any given time that had the same problem. As long as you have a medical excuse for not shaving you are covered. Just don't argue with those that face off on you - that is what some of them want you to do so they can bring you up on charges. I would suggest that whenever your face is clear you try to shave, just don't shave to close. At least that would show you are trying to adhere to regulation. Good luck!
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Not if you have a legitimate profile. Now beards are permitted for religious reasons. Should keep the profile paperwork with you.
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You never heard of Magic Shave? No razor needed and Black Soliders and Saliors have been using it for decades. It is in the PX and every drugstore. I had to teach many of many recruits about it.
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This is a issue that has gotten way out of hand. Your first reply was a good one, and should have settled the issue with that particular NCO. When he approached you the second time you should not have cursed him, but you should have directed him do your platoon SNCO or OIC for further clarification on this subject. Since he interject the racial comment, I would have stepped up to him and informed him that. My shaving issue has already been addressed by upper channels so if you can drop the issue I will drop the issue of your racist comment and we can both go our separate ways. If he’s smart he will go clean his rifle that he was failing to give attention to because he was so busy worrying about why you haven’t shaved.
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I, myself had a shaving profile and I understand how you feel. It’s not easy, and more important you’re looking out for your well-being. When I started looking into shaving profile I wanted the doctor to educate me of my conditions and was clear that I want to meet the Army Regulations as well, the Army standard. The good part is it took 5-8 years of my initial career for my skin to clear up and by taking medication to clear the skin. As long you are making some type effort to better the issue. The more you will feel better for yourself. NOW, with the Squad Leader or whoever they are you need to annotate information and talk to your company EEO about the racial issue. That type gesture was uncalled for. FYI, the colors of the Army is “Green”, and I still see it that way. “Rock on Infantry soldier”.
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Pvt first mistake was going outside your unit for advice. 2nd mistake is cursing the very nco youre trying to get help from. 3rd, even you have a profile you shaved anyway. Now, you have a reason for that profile. We white nco's are uneducated when it comes to your problem. I had a soldier explain it to me where i could understand the situation.
Do you know your chain of command?? If not,learn it and exercise it.
Always carry a copy of your profile in your pocket. No words necessary, just whip it out. Just dont argue with the nco's or curse them because that'll get you in deep trouble...
Do you know your chain of command?? If not,learn it and exercise it.
Always carry a copy of your profile in your pocket. No words necessary, just whip it out. Just dont argue with the nco's or curse them because that'll get you in deep trouble...
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No one can make you brake your profile. Your profile sick slip DD form 689 is a command order by a commissioned officer (army doctor). And anyone including you who is found to brake that order is guilty and punishable under UCMJ OF THE MCM.
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He is wrong, you should not have cursed him, that is YOUR eff-up, , but profiles are there for a reason. I was in Infantry 27 years, as a D I and Gitmo Panama and all the way to Iraq, you can see the bumps,and pain and when I was in Panama, heat and tropics accentuate the cut bumps into open sores risking infection, HE could get into trouble, multiple counts, least of which is damaging Government property, heh heh
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