Shaved heads in basic training; is this mandatory? If it is, then why and why only for males?

"Breaking the individual down" is a key point of team building. Start from a common point and build up. I personally am not a great supporter of coed training, nor women in combat (ground) roles. No offense intended. I do like the new AFPT standards the Army has adopted, but I also feel they have lowered the standard while making the test more realistic to field performance. I would hate to see a 125 soaking wet in field gear female soldier trying to drag my 6'4" 225 pound grandson out of harms way. Hopefully she wouldn't try to make two trips.
While at The Basic School as a new butter bar, the WM were down the hall. When they were trying to pack their trash for a field march they came out in the hall way and looked to see if any of the men would come to help. Nope, we just watched and laughed.
One of my fellow officers got into a very heated discussion during an HR training session with one of the WM and got to the point of "why don't you and I step outside and the one who walks back in is the REAL Marine". Later, at a new duty station, an unknowing friend tried to line him up with said WM. We all had a good laugh.
I believe one set of physical standards for all, if you are in combat, you need to be able to perform at the same level. While I admire the determination of the young woman who made the YouTube/FB rounds when she collapsed short of the forced march finish, and the support of her fellow Ranger candidates, if you can't pull the load, go home. A male soldier should not be penalized for his run time when a female gets a 100% score for the same time.
Cut their hair, all of them, same length. They want to be on the team, be part of the team. As has been said, it is a right of passage and a badge of honor. I was asked after my basic training at Quantico why my hair was so short when everyone else (1973) had long hair. I replied "I'm a US Marine and I can wear my hair any way I want" (within regs of course. I was a bit of a pompous A in those days and I have mellowed some.

Shoot me for saying so but I am not WOKE and don't think woke is good for the military in the manner being forced on the military as it is now. I have seen some tough ass women. Every one of them broke down when the men didn't. I was in basic with one male that couldn't do 1 correct push up when we started. He never broke down and I am here to say, I felt sorry for him for what they put him through to build him up to Army standards. That being said, I would rather have a well-trained military woman beside me that a civilian.

Love women to look womanly.

Originally, the military cut your hair to maintain and ensure cleanliness. But today, many other reasons can be named for military shaved heads and military buzz cut fades.

If you want true equality, standards must be applied equally across the sexes. That goes for grooming and physical readiness.

An induction cut is the shortest possible hairstyle without shaving the head with a razor.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Induction_cut

Haircuts are a rite of passage during military basic training. Almost immediately after arrival, your hair will be cut so short that it almost feels like you wereshaved bald (guys, only).

After the initial haircut, you'll get a trim at least once per week during basic training. However, during the weekly trim, depending on which branch you're in, your hair may not be entirely cut off again, and the sides and the back may just be evened up.

Tip: You can actually estimate how long someone has been in basic training, depending on which branch you're in, by the length of their hair. Brand new male recruits have virtually no hair at all, those who have been there a week or two have a little bit of stubble, and those who are getting ready to graduate have an inch or so of hair showing.

Except for the Navy, women do not have to get their hair cut. However, when in uniform (which is all the time in basic training), women must wear their hair in such a way that the hair does not protrude past the bottom of the collar, and is not below the eyebrows. If your bangs are grown out, they must be long enough to be tied into a bun.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/http://www.military.com/join-armed-forces/basic-training-grooming-and-food.html/amp@2020

Took effective military writing in kandhar, Afghanistan as an e-4 promotable, received an A+ ..... Lol , but was not awarded a grade because I had signed up when the school lady was on leave - & when she came back she told me I had to be an e-5 or above to sign up for that class , that I would not be seated for an official grade , & that she did not even know how I was allowed to sign up for a five day effective military writing with cct ....

All this talk about haircuts reminds me of the story about one lad that went AWOL, When they caught him they asked him why he took off after only being in the military a few weeks He replied, first they marched us to the BX and insisted we by combs, next they took us to the barbershop and cuto off all our hair. The next week we when to the BX again and they made us buy Tooth paste and brushes, but followed up with a trip to eht dentist where he pulled out my teeth. When in the third week they took su to the BX again and had us buy Jock Straps I knew it was time to leave. :-) yep and old story but with a little truth in it. Hope it brings back some memories.

Deal, but give us SF back too.

If he thinks that is hazing, he shouldn't volunteer. I don't want the little whiner in my Army anyway.

I agree with you on People needing to get over themselves and stop the whining about known standards, I served 21 years and virtually NEVER liked the PT standards, I thought much of what was done was counter productive, but that was just my unstated opinion and my stated view as an NCO to the Soldiers under me was "its required we meet the Army Standards Do your personal best in your efforts and Lets move forward" The Hair cut issue can be given dozens of very valid reasons why, And it starts with uniformity as its cornerstone, The fewer differences between 200 privates the less potential for the exact kinds of questions that always come up... Just like stating We are all the same color here, "Green" It tells you that white black and brown are all covered by the same rules going forward... I once got to overhear a conversation between a Black 1sg and a Black Corporal, The Corporal started his comments, As a Black man I feel this way, The 1sg stopped him dead in his tracks and said Let me explain something to you Specialist, We have NO place for any color except green in my army and your Black Mans opinion is NOT a part of any Army Discussions or Decisions.... You Make Army Green Decisions if you want to continue to wear those stripes.... I learned a Ton from that 1sg and virtually all has transferred to my civilian life

You adapt to the Army. We don't adapt to you.

Any questions!

In 1981 at Ft. Gordon BCT was first HC was a scalping. Every two weeks until grad was cut close but no scalping. AIT was Army standard. That was considered a sign that you were now (almost) a real soldier.

CAPT Dave Woodard - Sir I went to BCT at Ft. Know for 16 weeks during winter. I don’t ever remember having a schedule change due to weather. We ran in rain and snow. My last run in BCT was 25 degrees and that was my best motivation to get the hell out of the cold.

Not everyone.

Not sure I agree with this. From my own personal experience - started basic in late October '92 and had Christmas exodus just before our final FTX. Came back from Christmas with a super-short high and tight that cost me over $20 - which was very expensive for a haircut back then.

Soon as we get back, with 2 weeks to go, the SDS put us in formation and pulls out everyone who isn't bald and says we gotta get it cut because it wasn't Army standard. Didn't have $5 for another cut, so the DS had to pay for it.

I laugh now, but at the time it sure felt more like hazing. They were sure able to find special time in the schedule to help all is delinquent recruits "meet standards."

SPC Dan Phariss - In case you didn't notice, *cough* I'm a female. Last I checked, females don't get drafted. Therefore, your question is null and void.

TSgt Melissa Post - In case you haven't noticed, NOBODY'S drafted anymore!
Too many whiners anymore. Today's "kids" have to be treated with "kid gloves" or they want to cry. They should issue pacifiers in basic training.

I ended up cutting my hair short during reception week because I didn't want to deal with having a bun. It ended up being a smart decision.

In this dam age of women being treated as men they should have their heads shaved and sign up for the draft. All or nothing ladies!

I do.

I was a proud crypto custodian's "honey"clerk, at Ft. Bragg, N.C.~my boss would have given the same response, I believe. When I was aggressively pressured by the battalion CSM for certain favors, against my will ; my CWO pointed to the tiny pips on his rank & said "Mattha, as long as you work for me, you are no PFC, this rank is yours too ; I'll support you following your conscience...now make your chess move & grab a cold one" . Airborne SO's are different, in that the mission is the message not small stuff. I stood up to a high ranking GS civilian & other high ranking military, throughout my career ; I was always lower ranking & yet confident, to live on my own terms & according to my will...serving with pride & very long hair...even after my bosses wore 4 stars.

The short haircut (Not just in boot camp but the FMF too) is for:
1) Discipline-make every one meet the same standard.
2) Field sanitation.
3) It takes longer to put on and seal a gas mask with long hair.
I am not sure how the above three do not apply equally to men and women. This begs another question. Why are there any different standards? The PFT? Weight/Personal appearance? Before I start getting comments about women being physically different and we need to lower the standards for them think about this. There a lots of men that can’t meet the (USMC) PT/weight standards because they are physically different. They are classified Not Physically Qualified (NPQ). I had a roommate that hurt his knee jumping out of a helicopter. He could run just not fast enough to pass a PFT. NPQ and he was separated. He was a good Marine but when the sh@# hits the fan we want the person in the fighting hole with us meeting the minimum standard and vice versa. I know women that can meet the standards. I am not trying to be mean to the men and women that can’t meet the standards. I am just trying to use logic here.

Chief I agree 1000nd precinct hell besides I would rather know she is still a woman just saying

@SFC Stephen P. Korea 1954-after the truce was signed- command was on our case, just to keep we young Soldiers out of trouble. Getting a haircut twice a week by a Korean barber using hand clippers, after him having Kimchee for lunch was harassment! The shower point was three miles down the MSR in a 2 & 1/2 truck!

That's true, Sergeant. I still keep mine Basic-training short...it hides the grey too. lol

Kinky.

Bald for females is eccentric so we have to go short-least I did when in. We should HAVE to go super short-Ego's need to go OUT the window because we aren't there to do anything BUT work and serve our country.

PFC Pamala (Hall ) Foster - Lol. I haven't had a haircut since 4 August 1984... that was the Saturday morning before I left for Basic. And, my hair has only grown only over my shoulders. If I got my head shaved, they'd be furious with me for "having my hair out of regulation" but the darn stuff grows at far slower than a snails pace. I wear the mess in a bun under an octopus clip. My husband says its my "signature look". Little does he know, that if I got it cut, it would NEVER GROW BACK.

A1C Lisa Casserly - Bet I got a way to get it growing. After 1 year using it, my hair that was ear length is now SHOULDER length and healthy. If you want to know how I did it-contact me and I will help ya. We need to stay together and show them boys what WE KNOW

Well said Top but we didn't even know about the timeline you guys setup for training hell with all the yelling and the damn pushups we didn't have time to cry about a haircut I was to busy trying to stop doing pushups because of that darn m60 machine weapon that was my hell in basic lol every thing else was a piece of cake lmao well said again top

SGT Russell Chewning the statements that it would be funny to see women with their head shaved show what attitudes are still out there.

SGT Wanda Shepherd Yes, and the fact that they are not intelligent enough to see how their attitude reflects poorly on the military. The entire point of the military is to protect those who need protection, but these male service members can't seem to even apply that within their own ranks. If it is any consolation, I think a large percentage of them are prior service, and older, so to a certain extent, their opinion just doesn't matter.

I have an interesting theory about why so many young enlisted express such unrefined viewpoints. The military, and especially the Army, out of necessity, recruits enlisted members from lower income/lower class families, often in more rural localities.. Those outside of this demographic tend to have better opportunities in their lives, college, family businesses, etc. The lower class upbringing tends to bring with it lower class viewpoints/behaviors. Ethocentrism, chauvanism/sexism, thievery... It explains a lot of the bad behavior of lower enlisted. The military is able to train out some of this behavior, but not all. In particular, sexism can be reinforced by a sort of male machismo that reinfoces itself anywhere that commanders are not specifically working against it.

Fortunately, society itself is moving slowly away from this viewpoint, but it will take some time to filter down into our lower class.

SGT Russell Chewning thanks for your input. It will be a slow progress to change ingrained attitudes.

SGT Wanda Shepherd - My sister had the same complaint about the Air Force.

LOL. That is true. It would be just as funny to see men wearing buns, bras and panties, and LMAO, high heels with their dress uniform as it would be to see women with shaved heads or super short haircuts. And why is it that we automatically ASSUME that we are all trying to be men, and thus should adhere to THEIR standards? It would be different if we were in combat roles and combat units, where all should adhere to the "higher" physical standards required of men...

PFC Joshua Levinski - And... well, this may surprise you, sir... but I disagree. I feel like men and women are DIFFERENT, and therefore different standards are ok, for the most part. The exception would be for women who desire to serve in combat roles. In those cases, if she cannot live up to the requirements for men, then they shouldn't be in that role. Her "inability" puts her teammates at risk. And to me, that's NOT acceptable. And well... for me its a point of honor. You see, back in the day when I enlisted (1984) they were critically short of females in the mechanical field. I scored very well across the board on my ASVAB and especially well in the electrical and mechanical fields. So, when I went to enlist, there was some excitement, and a PUSH for me to become and aircraft mechanic. (I wish I could insert my favorite "sticker" thing here, an animated slug sticking out his tongue and blowing a raspberry!) Not to blow my own horn, but I understand these things, and can troubleshoot very well, but these fields do not "sing to my soul". I have zero desire to do them. Yes, even ummm, crap, can it REALLY BE 36 years later?? They continued to push, to the point that they tailored my physical to that direction, where one test was whether I could lift a 60 lb aircraft battery over my head and carry it up a ladder. No, I could not do that, not because I purposely failed, but most females are not designed to do such a thing! So when I failed the test, the attendant said he would just say I did, and push me thru. I told him that in all due respect, NO. It wasn't RIGHT to ... you know... lie. There, I said it. LIE. He said it wouldn't matter. All I'd have to do is smile and bat my eyes at some man, and he'd carry that battery to hell and back. And I was HORRIFIED. I told him absolutely NOT, because what if a situation arose where LIVES or the mission depended on me doing so, and if I could not perform up to standards, someone might DIE for it. And that was just beyond wrong. He shrugged and said he admired my ethics, but he wished I'd reconsider. I didn't, and have never ever regretted having HONOR.

I think all the regs should be as gender neutral as possible. Hair cuts same makes me no difference if they have it covered from very short to long flowing if you can hide it under your headgear. maybe pt scores adjusted for different MOS etc.

Sgt Ronald Harris - The only person I know whose hair is actually five feet long is country singer Crystal Gayle. It really does come down to her ankles (but it's not super thick, or she'd have a perpetual headache).