I have a soldier with a shaving profile who shaves his head. He comes into drill with just a beard. Is there a reg or is the soldier correct?

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 07 Aug 2017 15:01:08 -0400

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 7 at 2017 3:12 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 07 Aug 2017 15:12:21 -0400

AR 670-1 3-2 Hair and fingernail standards and grooming policies
(2) Male haircuts. The hair on top of the head must be neatly groomed. The length and bulk of the hair may not be excessive and must present a neat and conservative appearance. The hair must present a tapered appearance. A tapered appearance is one where the outline of the Soldier’s hair conforms to the shape of the head (see scalp line in figure
3–1), curving inward to the natural termination point at the base of the neck. When the hair is combed, it will not fall over the ears or eyebrows, or touch the collar, except for the closely cut hair at the back of the neck. The block-cut fullness in the back is permitted to a moderate degree, as long as the tapered look is maintained. Males are not authorized to wear braids, cornrows, twists, dreadlocks, or locks while in uniform or in civilian clothes on duty.
Haircuts with a single, untapered patch of hair on the top of the head (not consistent with natural hair loss) are considered eccentric and are not authorized. Examples include, but are not limited to, when the head is shaved around a strip of hair down the center of the head (mohawk), around a u-shaped hair area (horseshoe), or around a patch of hair
on the front top of the head (tear drop). Hair that is completely shaved or trimmed closely to the scalp is authorized. (See figs 3–1 and 3–2.)
(a) Sideburns. Sideburns are hair grown in front of the ear and below the point where the top portion of the ear attaches to the head. Sideburns will not extend below the bottom of the opening of the ear (see line A of fig 3–1). Sideburns will not be styled to taper, flair, or come to a point. The length of the individual hairs of the sideburn will not exceed 1/8 inch when fully extended.
(b) Facial hair. Males will keep their face clean-shaven when in uniform, or in civilian clothes on duty. Mustaches are permitted. If worn, males will keep mustaches neatly trimmed, tapered, and tidy. Mustaches will not present a chopped off or bushy appearance, and no portion of the mustache will cover the upper lip line, extend sideways beyond a vertical line drawn upward from the corners of the mouth (see lines C and D of fig 3–1), or extend above a parallel line at the lowest portion of the nose (see line B of fig 3–1). Handlebar mustaches, goatees, and beards are not authorized. If appropriate medical authority allows beard growth, the maximum length authorized for medical treatment must be specific. For example, “The length of the beard cannot exceed 1/4 inch” (see Training Bulletin Medical (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, “Fu Manchu,” or handlebar mustaches).

This seems to be the key point: "If appropriate medical authority allows beard growth, the maximum length authorized for medical treatment must be specific. For example, “The length of the beard cannot exceed 1/4 inch” (see Training Bulletin Medical (TB Med) 287)."

http://www.apd.army.mil/epubs/DR_pubs/DR_a/pdf/web/tbmed287.pdf

tbmed287.pdf

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Response by CPL Randall Crosby Sr. made Aug 17 at 2017 5:50 PM

CPL Randall Crosby Sr. — Thu, 17 Aug 2017 17:50:51 -0400

Check the reg but at one time shaving your head would get you a artical 15

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 20 at 2017 6:19 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 20 Aug 2017 18:19:43 -0400

Unless there's a C/B threat you shouldn't be shaving while deployed.

Response by PO2 Austin Dullum made Aug 20 at 2017 6:31 PM

PO2 Austin Dullum — Sun, 20 Aug 2017 18:31:09 -0400

I'm not sure about Army regs, but in the Navy all medical can do is make recommendations with a no shave chit. Anyone and their mother who is higher ranking can still tell the dude to shave, although most the time they follow medical recommendations

Response by TSgt Marco McDowell made Aug 20 at 2017 7:35 PM

TSgt Marco McDowell — Sun, 20 Aug 2017 19:35:39 -0400

I remember seeing someone with a no-shave once in a blue moon. now, every third guy (of all colors) has a beard. From E-7s on down, but I'm not sure if it's just this base. Airmen, sailors and soldiers with fuzzy cheeks. Apparently razor bumps only bother enlisted because I've never observed an officer with a General Grant. I guess I was fortunate to never need one so I can't comment on the discomfort of the bumps, but most of the guys I see have no bumps, in fact their beards are nicely trimmed and lined up...which baffles me.

Response by SSG Darrell Peters made May 9 at 2019 1:36 PM

SSG Darrell Peters — Thu, 09 May 2019 13:36:28 -0400

As a Medic I have written several shaving Profiles. as a Medic any shaving profile I written was only good for two weeks. This is to give the facial shin time to heal usually from acne. A Medical Doctor can write a shaving profile that can last for a longer duration of time due to a diagnosed medical condition. I will attach a bulletin in regard to the top two reasons a shaving profile is issued. According to the Bulletin the only valid profile now is the electronic profile the E-Profile.
If the soldier has a valid E-Profile for a legitimate Medical Condition their is nothing you can do. As far as him shaving his head. Ordinarily scalp profiles are not issued unless their is a legitimate Medical Condition. IF he continues to shave his head it is possible the condition that led to the shaving profile will manifest itself in the scalp. Remember people generally get a hair cut every two weeks in the Army but shave every day.
I know before I retired paper profiles for any medical condition in the Army Reserve were declared invalid. All profiles must be an E-Profile as this reflects on soldier readiness and deployabablity.
Soldier must have profile in his possession and always check for profile expiration date. Even a Permanent Profile has an expiration date of five years.

https://armypubs.army.mil/epubs/DR_pubs/DR_a/pdf/web/tbmed287.pdf

tbmed287.pdf

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made May 9 at 2019 2:08 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 09 May 2019 14:08:31 -0400

The soldier is correct

Response by SSG James Oliver Nathan Jr made May 11 at 2019 10:40 PM

SSG James Oliver Nathan Jr — Sat, 11 May 2019 22:40:16 -0400

if the Soldiers cuts his hair off and get's sunburned you can give him an ART 15 for damaging Military equipment. so no take his shaving profile from him.

Response by MSG Thomas Currie made Mar 19 at 2023 10:08 AM

MSG Thomas Currie — Sun, 19 Mar 2023 10:08:53 -0400

The reg is quite clear on both halves of your question:
- Shaving his head is perfectly acceptable.
- Any shaving profile MUST state the specific length of facial hair that is allowed. He must comply with that.

Bottom line: you can't do/say anything about him shaving his head, but you can check the profile to see how long is beard can be. Most shaving profiles are written for 1/4" but I've seen 1/2" written by doctors who want to be more liberal.