Posted on Sep 2, 2020
Can I be forced to shave if I have a shaving profile?
94.5K
1.42K
363
118
118
0
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
0
0
0
No, go to medical and tell them you can't follow the rules of your profile because your squad leader is threatening to send you up for disobeying his order. Don't be afraid to mention his name either. You can still wear the gas mask under the profile rules and you can still perform your duties as a soldier. Man I WISH was I was in now just for that shit! I'd flat fuck somebody up for that BS! I'm sorry but I saw that shit in my time in and I didn't let that happen then either. If you're a straight bag of ass, then certainly but fi you follow the rules even if you are a general turd I took care of my folks.
(0)
(0)
0
0
0
For everyone that does not know, a company commander must sign a waiver saying that they accept full responsibility in the condition that the service member under their command will not be following the profile and any further injury from not following this profile will basically be the full responsibility of the commander. The commander will then need to prove and justify the decision as to whether that decision was made in the best judgment to better the unit's mission capability or overall increase in the performance of the unit. This is very hard to prove which usually blowing up a small situation and most commanders are better off just taking the hit and having the soldier just follow the shaving profile. A shaving profile doesn't stop any work anyways so sometimes you get bad luck with personal ideals like previous commanders and NCOs in some of these other comments. Good luck hope you have a good career!
(0)
(0)
0
0
0
0
0
0
Pv2 Jones, first thing's first. Educate yourself on AR 670-1 (if that is still the regulation for wear and appearance... ). Stay within the military regulations as much as possible with all things, actually. Knowing your shit is what will keep you out of trouble. Also, you disregarding your profile is up to you but highly
NOT recommended. Going tit for tat with your leadership is not what I'm saying. In fact that is what you should not do. But a shaving profile, as far as I recall, does not penalize or hold off a troop from awards or promotions. Solution for your painful Nestle crunch of a face and neck (I've been there too so no worries): Get rid of your cheap, nasty bacteria infested ass reusable razors and the shaving cream cuz its obviously not for your skin. Instead, use some hair clippers or hair liners. As for your bumps, unfortunately, you may have curled up hairs in there. Buy yourself some tweezers and remove those hairs that your nasty razor didn't catch. If it's that bad, it'll only get better for you. When you are in the field, use an electrical shaver. Find a black e6 or e7 who isn't bumpy. He can most likely steer you to the best one at the px, closest local Walmart or wherever. Welcome to adulthood, young soldier. This will forever be an issue if you continue using razors. I hope others here decided to mention the other underlining issues here. I just cared to offer a solution to your bumps.
NOT recommended. Going tit for tat with your leadership is not what I'm saying. In fact that is what you should not do. But a shaving profile, as far as I recall, does not penalize or hold off a troop from awards or promotions. Solution for your painful Nestle crunch of a face and neck (I've been there too so no worries): Get rid of your cheap, nasty bacteria infested ass reusable razors and the shaving cream cuz its obviously not for your skin. Instead, use some hair clippers or hair liners. As for your bumps, unfortunately, you may have curled up hairs in there. Buy yourself some tweezers and remove those hairs that your nasty razor didn't catch. If it's that bad, it'll only get better for you. When you are in the field, use an electrical shaver. Find a black e6 or e7 who isn't bumpy. He can most likely steer you to the best one at the px, closest local Walmart or wherever. Welcome to adulthood, young soldier. This will forever be an issue if you continue using razors. I hope others here decided to mention the other underlining issues here. I just cared to offer a solution to your bumps.
(0)
(0)
0
0
0
If you cannot resolve this within the company. Inform the provider that gave you the profile that your first line is making you violate the profile. Get your EO rep involve in the situation make them aware of what was said. Pseudofolliculitis barbae (razor bumps) is a common condition of the beard area occurring in up to 60% African American men and other people with curly hair. The problem results when highly curved hairs grow back into the skin causing inflammation and a foreign body reaction. Over time, this can cause keloidal scarring which looks like hard bumps of the beard area and neck. Shaving sharpens the ends of the hairs like a spear. The hairs then curve back into the skin causing pseudofolliculitis barbae.This can lead to Infections it is not to be taken lightly.
(0)
(0)
0
0
0
My first month in Nam I had a beard. A 2nd LT tried to jump in my S--T but i whipped out my profile and he just walked away
(0)
(0)
0
0
0
First, his comment (like every other black person in the army) was unprofessional. Second, technically you didn't curse him or curse at him. You swore, but still, NOT at him. Sorry this is months late (just appeared in my thread) but I would tell him you don't appreciate his racist remark nor being blackmailed (shave or receive a article for disrespecting a NCO). Take it from there.
(0)
(0)
0
0
0
Your medical provider Trump's your leadership, to a point. A limiting profile is ultimately supported by your Commander. (It is almost ALWAYS enforced by the Commander. Very, very few Commanders will contravention profiles. It's a career risk. )
You MUST be in possession of your profile and be able to produce it. Also a copy must be with your training records (it goes there after your Commander has seen it) and in your medical records. As with everything, if it isn't on paper, it didn't happen. You must also strictly abide by the profile. If it says, for example, you must keep your beard at 1/8 inch, you must do so. Profile expire. Leadership is within their authority to order you to shave off your profile lapses.
Learn the regulations. Regulations are power.
You MUST be in possession of your profile and be able to produce it. Also a copy must be with your training records (it goes there after your Commander has seen it) and in your medical records. As with everything, if it isn't on paper, it didn't happen. You must also strictly abide by the profile. If it says, for example, you must keep your beard at 1/8 inch, you must do so. Profile expire. Leadership is within their authority to order you to shave off your profile lapses.
Learn the regulations. Regulations are power.
(0)
(0)
0
0
0
I also have a shaving profile and ive had it since i was a PFC. I've been through schools, selections, and promotion boards as a white guy with a beard. It hasnt hindered my career yet, and i dont think its going to. Maintain your beard within the limitations of your profile, and you will always be covered. Your commander is supposed to see all profiles to make determinations for unit readiness, mostly concerned with performance limiting profiles. Your profile should have given you a MRC code of 21111 which annotates non performance limiting, giving your commander no reason not to sign it. As far as the blatant unprofessionalism and disrespect towards you, i hope you went to EO with it, as like many have said we dont need NCO's with that mentality in the Army. Maintain your own professionalism when similar issues arise, and they likely will, and you wont be on the side getting punished. Read up on regulations and policies concerning profiles, and memorize what yours entails. A commander can rescind your profile if you move to a CBRN prevalant zone or for CBRN training, so be aware of that. Other than that, keep your beard up and bask in the envy of all the other soldiers not allowed to grow them.
(0)
(0)
0
0
0
You needed a shaving profile, you had reasons for one. Your not slacking or trying to be difficult. The racist comment is more concerning and needs to be addressed at some point. As far as the profile goes, you plt sgt nor your squad leader are qualified to determine whether you need that profile or not. Use the profile, be respectful and if they push ask them to put it in writing. Seems as though there has been a mistaken idea of a power struggle that did not exist from your leadership.
(0)
(0)
Read This Next
Continue with Facebook 
Continue with Google