Posted on Feb 18, 2014

Mens Haircuts

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What do YOU think about haircuts while on active duty? I know a lot of foriegn militarys have much less strict grooming standards. I am just looking for opinions.

Also in regards to the haircut policy / doctrine I will have to question the safety of US Troops all around the world. The military preaches that you need to blend in with the civilian population in order to stay safer. Walking around with high and tights or military standard cuts does not allow for blending in. Soldiers across the world stick out like a sore thumb.

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Army

NCOs

Edited 12 y ago

Posted 12 y ago

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Responses: 11

SGT (Join to see)

Posted 12 y ago

As long as it doesn't impede the SM's abitily to do their job and its not a mullet or something then I find that i dont particularly care.

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SSG (Join to see)

12 y

Haha,

A mullet would be pretty weird. A guy with a mullet might just be a good shot. I am just kidding about the mullet. That would be unprofessional. Thanks for the comment.

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SPC Christopher Smith

Posted 12 y ago

At some point someone said they didn't like seeing men with long hair, and then qualifed their reasoning with dicipline and health concerns. I personally think that open cuts in the field from early morning shaves or open cuts from a fresh hair cut to be put under a helmet is less than healthy. All the sweat and grim has a good chance to turn into infection. In a garrison enviroment I get it, we are less about a life or death mission, and more about looking pretty in public.

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SSG (Join to see)

12 y

Thanks for the opinion. If it had to do with health concerns then it was a foolish decision. I personally dont see the big deal with troops having a little bit of hair. Look at how many overweight troops we have serving in our ranks. I think physical fitness is a much more important concern than haircuts.

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SFC Michael Hasbun

Posted 12 y ago

I've had a high and tight since I was 12, so I certainly don't mind =) Having said that, I do think we can be a bit ridiculous with our "appearance over substance" approach to doctrine and leadership.

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SSG (Join to see)

12 y

Thanks for the response. I hear that. The High and Tight has somewhat of a GI Joe Look to it. I completely agree with you about the rediculous approch to doctine / leadership for haircuts. I do believe a standard should be set. Soldiers should be able to grow their hair out to an extent. The haircut still should have a professional appearance while on duty.

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SFC Michael Hasbun

Posted 12 y ago

Hey, equality means just that, right? Separate but equal has been tried, it didn't go well...

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CPT (Join to see)

Posted 12 y ago

Why all the mullet haters?!?

Of course, that comment is coming from someone who can't go more than two weeks between high fade cuts. LOL

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SSG (Join to see)

12 y

lol Sir. Mullets are pretty hardcore. Thanks for the response.

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SSG (Join to see)

>1 y

Billy Ray Cyrus wold join in a heartbeat, LOL

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1SG Shane Hansen

Posted 12 y ago

My personal opinion, we should not compare our military with other military's. We are the best and need not conform just because they do it that way.

Additionally, as long as the hair style presents a clean professional appearance and not faddish, then I don't see a problem with a less strict standard. By faddish I mean we can't have a bunch of joes running around with mullets or mohawks, now can we.

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SSG (Join to see)

12 y

Top,

Roger that. I appreciate the feedback. We are the best military in the world technically and tactically. Mowhaks and Mullets would be a little bit crazy. Thanks again for the opinion.

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SSG (Join to see)

>1 y

Something that more natrual, I would get behind that

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SSG (Join to see)

Posted >1 y ago

I do think the hair regs could change a bit. Nothing crazy like a mullet, but short and natural. The Army teaches us that we should never stand out in the crowd, but thats hard to do when you are rocking the high and tight.

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SSG (Join to see)

>1 y

Indeed. I agree

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MSgt (Join to see)

Posted 12 y ago

It's not just the haircuts that give us away. When traveling I try to maintain a low profile and not look military, but little things tip people off. I used to let the hair grow out a bit, grow a goatee, and tell people I'm an English teach. People still know!

While backpacking Thailand I had other backpackers ask me if I was military because all of the excess straps on my backpack were duct taped down and didn't dangle like everyone else's. When I was in Bali my French Canadian SCUBA instructor asked if I was military because I said yes sir and followed his instruction better than most students. I've had people ask me in bars and cafes because I orient myself towards the door and size up every one coming in.

Not to mention all the SOFA stamps in my passport!

As for the haircuts, as my hair has gotten thinner I've just embraced the skin tight high fade, 3 on top. Still tell people I'm an English teacher though...

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SSG (Join to see)

12 y

TSGT Dietrich,

Thanks for the opinions and experiences. FYI Thailand has a lot of violent protests at the moment. Recently a police officer had his leg blown off from a grenade thrown at a group of riot officers. The officer stepped out of formation and tried to kick the grenade away but failed. The police have resorted to live ammo on civilians at this point in the protest.

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SSG (Join to see)

Posted 12 y ago

I've had 1SGs that made soldiers have a fresh haircut on Monday, and said that having a low fade was pushing it. Leaders that told me the sideburns could only go to the middle of the ear, and other leaders that would've made fun of me if they had seen with my hair like that. Grooming standards vary greatly depending on where you are or what you do. Just from moving over from artillery to MI there was an obvious difference in standards, and once I got to Group, the only real standard was looking professional. I see the Aussies, who also seem to adhere to the "look professional" rule, and that tapered appearance just looks better when compared to an oval on your head.

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SSG (Join to see)

12 y

SSG Perry,

Thanks for the opinions and experience.

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SFC (Join to see)

Posted 12 y ago

I believe our current grooming standards allow for quite a bit of leeway IRT hair length. It's the culture though that dictates how close to the standard we are. Regular Army - you'll most likely see high and tights more often than longer hair. Special Units/Outside Traditional Army - you'll see longer hair as the norm. We'll see what the new AR 670-1 brings us, if any changes to hair.

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SSG (Join to see)

12 y

SFC,

I do agree that the reg allows for some nice hair on top of the head. I also agree that the culture is what dictates the hair length. When I was a Private at Fort Polk we had a PLT SGT that was fresh from being a Drill. All the PLT was allowed to have was High and Tights. That was not per regulation, but our PLT SGT's standard.

Thanks for the response.

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