Posted on May 12, 2016
Is it time for the Military to allow such things as haircuts, hands in pockets, and beards?
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Look at the role models each Branch Loves, Marines: in some pictures had his hands in his pockets, and no haircut, Chesty Puller, and General Patton, had his hands in his pockets and no haircut as well, SF wears beards over Seas and have their hands in their pockets. Does it really detract from performance? Is it really a Disipline problem? Could it increase unit Morale?
Standards
Grooming Standards
Discipline
Morale
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 57
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I can see some leniency withthe Chesty Puller pic, he is in the field afterall. Although even in his official photos he probably couldnt pass an Alphas inspection today. IMO that is because we spend too much time focusing on the dog and pony show and not readiness. Chesty isnt the best Marine because he looked great in uniform, hes the best Marine ever bc he could fight and lead a unit better than anyone else
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Sgt (Join to see)
I think he is a thorn in the side of every Marine that stresses out about uniforms, haircuts and hands in pockets. How can you say these things make a good Marine when the best Marine wasnt particulary great at any of them? This is the biggest problem in the military, haircuts and uniform inspections are a SgtMaj's biggest worry, but when is the last time a SgtMaj (in a POG unit) asked about the last time you went over fire team and squad formations or weapons handling. Our job is to fight and win but nobody cares if we know that stuff like they care about making sure we all got a haircut on sunday
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SGT Eliyahu Rooff
Before we insist on the importance of a perfect uniform as an indicator of discipline and performance, take a look at this photograph of MoH recipients Daniel Daly and Ernest August Janson and notice that Janson's uniform looks like he slept in it. http://www.homeofheroes.com/e-books/moh_double/doubles_0_cover.html
Double Recipients of the Medal of Honor - E-Book Cover
Photos and information on the double recipients of the Medal of Honor
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Wow just wow. NO. When you hire in at a private company or Enlist in the military, you are agreeing to follow the existing rules. Pot stirrers need not apply.
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MSgt Tim Attenhofer
SSG (Join to see) - I would have to disagree. Leaders ask questions that NEED to be asked and can identify those that do not. Individuals who ask ALL questions are those who wish to count beans and ensure their profile stays in the top 1% of influencers on RallyPoint's site. A major difference.
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Beards and haircuts are hygiene issues and should remain as is. Hands in your pockets? Unless you are inserting or retrieving something or playing pocket pool there's no need for your hands to be there.
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PO3 Chris Scheide
Yep, right after the first case of lice is discovered in a barracks I think these standards wouldn't be questioned.
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My Lord, there really is no comparison between field duty (especially WW II!) and garrison discipline. Standards have to be maintained in garrison to maintain and enforce basic military discipline. I wouldn't want to be in an Army that couldn't even get that straight.
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I see this post a lot. I know service members are pushing for more relaxed grooming standards. But where does it stop? Next earrings in uniform for all hands. Ear gauges that are no more than 1/4 diameter? Lets bring back real old school regs. Wigs and pony tails. It can go on and on.
We are the US military. We stand out with pride in who we are and what we stand for. Uniformity also means discipline. Maybe the SNCO's who keep posting questions to relax standards should be enforcing them with their troops.
We are the US military. We stand out with pride in who we are and what we stand for. Uniformity also means discipline. Maybe the SNCO's who keep posting questions to relax standards should be enforcing them with their troops.
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I don't think it will create morale. I think that discipline needs to be in place. We are the country's military; we need to look presentable; we are ambassadors of our country when we are overseas or in port. Some sections of our branches do things differently yet it shouldn't reflect everyone else. I've seen so many males that have no-shave-chits that it blows my mind. I can understand for a few, but honestly sometimes I think they are just lazy and don't want to do it; just like with females letting their hair touch their collar and not put up or cut it. It creates laziness and it could stop progression through a mission or for a simple task.
For females: when you are in deck dept, do you really want to keep your hair down when you are painting the side of a ship or a p-way? How about catching your hair on fire from sparks from fixing the panels on the ship?
Males: Doesn't it itch more when you don't shave?
For females: when you are in deck dept, do you really want to keep your hair down when you are painting the side of a ship or a p-way? How about catching your hair on fire from sparks from fixing the panels on the ship?
Males: Doesn't it itch more when you don't shave?
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PO3 Chris Scheide
If the hair on my head gets longer than 1/2 inch and I don't get to wash every day it itches like crazy. More than one cruise when the evaporator, for producing freshwater, broke down for a week or more.
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SSG (Join to see) When we were getting 2 haircuts a week while Korea wound down, we were told it was for reasons of sanitation!
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Im all about discpline. When i was told there was 500 SMG on BIAP. Dont forget the pt belt.
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