In Europe, we can't be in uniform off post. Should grooming standards be lowered so we're not easily Identified?

In honor of Yogi, it's deja vu all over again. During the later stages of 'Nam where sailors would get regularly assaulted out in town, the then CNO Zumwalt relaxed the standards greatly including allowing beards. Wigs were allowed too. Apparently you can stuff your long hair under a short rug. It was a combination of safety, morale, and retention dynamics. Folk pretty much polarize on whether or not it was a good idea. By around '81 it was gone. I remember having a beard for my Antarctic tour and then showed up with it at my next duty station MCAS El Toro. The marines were apoplectic. I was getting rid of it anyways as I didn't need it anymore.

Absolutely not plus many times the minute you speak you identify s something other then native. There are military in European countries with same grooming standards as the US military.

Nope. Standards are standards and must be enforced and complied with. The grooming standards in each service should carry a disclaimer of "Compliance with this publication is mandatory" or something very close to that. Leaders need to enforce polices, regulations, instructions, or whatever the specific service calls it. I was in Europe for 7 years (2006-2013) and this was an off and on occurrence. Educate your people to dress smartly, vary their routine, and do what they get training to do. A short haircut or lack of facial hair on a man in Europe isn't alarming, how he carries himself and acts, surely does. Women's grooming can be done smartly as well. Avoid drawing attention to yourself from what you wear (as in clothes) and other things you wear (makeup, nail polish, etc.) It can be done without top commanders needing to spend time adopting a U.S. European Command policy memo on grooming standards for American servicemembers on the continent. Just my two cents.

This argument has been going on since I was E-1 in Germany in 1982. IMHO some of the hair/mustache restrictions could be looked at a little looser than stateside.

I did 12 yrs (Reserve) in Europe. Traveled the trains, around. I never lowered my standards, yet I never had a problem blending in. If you live off post you soon learn how to blend in. If you're never off post, then you'll never learn to blend in. Small things like how you arrange your wallet - what people see first when you open it. Don't have the pompous "I'm better than others" attitude many Americans have. Brand names leave a trail. It's not tough to have opsec.

I'm sure many things come into play in the reason behind this new regulation. I am reminded of my Tour in London. We Couldn't wear our Uniforms outside the Building. 1 day a week we would bring them in, change at work and change back out before we left. The reason behind that while I was there was a carryover from WWI and WWII. US military turned London into a Military Base "Overdressed, Oversexed and Overhere" and since they time they didn't really want to be reminded in their Capital of their dependency on our alliance. I rather liked serving for 3 years wearing a suit and tie too.