Does aviation MOSs have relaxed grooming standards?

CSM John Mead - Not my place to question your position; AR-670-3(c) also supports your comments. Merely answering a question based on my experiences in aviation. My personal feelings? It's not something I, as an officer would normally get involved in. If my SNCOs had an issue with it... they'd correct it. If they didn't... I probably wouldn't fall on that particular sword without understanding why they were tolerant of it first. Thank you for keeping us straight.

LCDR Joshua Gillespie - no problem sir. My issue is that an NCO approached a warrant officer to inquire about an obvious discrepancy and received a subpar and totally off base response. Perhaps if he had been a senior NCO, the result would have been different. I would have fired his backside up. I'm not sure how aviators act, but as long as they wear a uniform, they'll conform to regulations.

About to Fly is very vague. Now how long could it possibly take to take her ponytail down and be ready to Fly? Not long I’m guessing. If I was about to get off work in about an hour, does the mean I can start get out of Uniform?

LCDR Joshua Gillespie That was exactly my thought. The hair wouldn't easily fit under the helmet and be an uncomfortable distraction. I suspect it is a commander using discretion to meet mission objectives. As others have pointed out it does raise questions about what "about to fly is" and if it is a problem why have that much hair?

CSM Michael Chavaree Mike, youre just egging me on, aren't you? Just trying to push the envelope to see what it'll take to set me off. Well, I'll tell you this. I won't knuckle under or listen to bullshit how commanders allow this, or allow that. It all falls back on the senior enlisted advisor. That's right, you, the CSM. Evidently too many have gotten wrapped up in the Christmas tree uniform crap. Full colored unit patches, tabs here and there, like participation trophies for five year olds. It's disgusting that in the last 15-20 years that the only thing that the SMA's have accomplished eere to switch from Class A greens to the blue ASU, to a pinks and green service uniform, redo the APFT a few times, fiddle with the NCO-ER, and whatever other useless bullshit comes to town. When I had to brief to the ADC about the different typed of tattoos my troops had during a training brief, I knew that it was time to go. For you to try to justify to me utter nonsense and just shrug it off with it doesn't matter, the old man signed off on it, is utterly appalling. Screw it, you did get me wound up and I don't let that happen often. Anyway, do your time and pursue other pursuits while you can. At least Agent Orange isn't going to wait 50 years to catch up with your ass. Drive on and do great things. Out here.

No agent orange here just gunshot wounds and shrapnel. I am not trying to egg you on, we just dissagree and I am using references and examples. You have no idea the challenges we face during this almost two decades at war, fixing the close minded “garrison” Army that was built by people who had no idea how to fight an endouring war. If everything was great, we would have left it alone. The modern military is more agile and elite than it has ever been because we have leaders that can make common sense decisions and apply critical thinking to outsmart our advisaries. At the end of the day you fail to realize that a commander has command of his/her eliment and has earned command authority over said organization and members regardless of what you think. If the Army wanted a CSM to have command authority they would have granted it. You keep saying thinks like presence and experience as if I have no clue what you are talking about. None of that matters if a commander gives you as a CSM a lawful order to about face and move out. You just dont have that authority regardless of how powerful you think you are. I lead my folks through inspiration not fear. CSM John Mead

CSM Michael Chavaree leadership through a fear based philosophy is the worst form of guidance ever visited on a unit. My father was a career CSM himself with a terminal assignment in Vietnam from 70 to 71. He even influenced the replacement company to assign me to his division when I got there. I was able to convince the SFC in charge of assignments ro change that for me. I could only imagine the crap I'd have faced otherwise. I can sympathize with you if you have a commander who won't listen to advice and tells you to bugger off. I had one like that and our time together was short lived. I repeatedly tried to teach/coach him, but to no avail. He eventually screwed himself. In the course of maintaining continuity in the unit, my only concern were the troops. It was like watching your parents fight. In the end, when I received no assistance from higher, I let the SOB hang himself. Right, not professional, but without higher's help, I couldn't do squat. He was extremely toxic and everyone feared him. I already had 25, so what could he do? All in all, I hear a lot about current commanders who are like that. My assessment of.any crop of senior commander is not as positive as yours. I keep seeing repetitive errors being made, as if no historical data is kept for future leaders. Oh well, my time is long past. You are no doubt correct that our soldiers are the best, otherwise why do they keep enlisting/reenlisting? It's funny how you and I started as antagonists and now we share insights. Perhaps you are correct in your view of how things should be, and I'm no doubt of another era and way of doing things. Whatever gets things done, I imagine. Good talking with you.

Emotion is lost in text, I respect you greatly and would love to pick your brain. I know I am a bit different, but I have different perspectives from my experiences. CSM John Mead

Your analogy doesn't even match the story at hand. A deficiency is just that. the SGT approached the senior member of the corporal's group to address the issue. he did what was right. Though I am sorry to hear of Not-SPC-Foreman's friends passing, that particular case is not of the same fabric.

Exactly what previous post is saying, yours was a whole other situation.