Posted on Apr 12, 2014
Shaved heads in basic training; is this mandatory? If it is, then why and why only for males?
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So I was in basic training land today to help with some medical stuff. I couldn't help but noticed all the shaved heads all over the place and then the females with 20 ft of hair. In an era where we are screaming equal treatment; is this equal?I am also wondering why does a new private have to get his head shaved in the first place? Why not just a haircut within Army Standards?
Have the lines between male and female been erased? Are they trying to be erased or are we picking and choosing which ones we want to erase? Why does a male soldier have no choice in keeping his hair but a female does? If you love Liberty you will vote below.
ADDED: Could this be considered a form of hazing with the crackdown on hazing since this is obviously not a requirement but more of a tradition? I'm not saying I think it is I'm just asking the question. If it's not required and it doesn't apply to everyone.
*****UPDATED******
Well, well, well what do we have here?
http://www.navytimes.com/story/military/careers/2015/01/08/rtc-boot-camp-haircuts-navy/21439483/
Have the lines between male and female been erased? Are they trying to be erased or are we picking and choosing which ones we want to erase? Why does a male soldier have no choice in keeping his hair but a female does? If you love Liberty you will vote below.
ADDED: Could this be considered a form of hazing with the crackdown on hazing since this is obviously not a requirement but more of a tradition? I'm not saying I think it is I'm just asking the question. If it's not required and it doesn't apply to everyone.
*****UPDATED******
Well, well, well what do we have here?
http://www.navytimes.com/story/military/careers/2015/01/08/rtc-boot-camp-haircuts-navy/21439483/
Edited >1 y ago
Posted 11 y ago
Responses: 458
Men should be in standards the way women can, or we could all do what the navy does and women get a super short hair cut so that we still have the "hazing" as the men do. I also feel women should not be allowed to dye their hair in basic. You know your date in advance, get back to natural and dye it again after you get through basic.
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It has been awhile since I was in basic training. The shaving of the head in more out of necessity, you don't have the luxury of getting a hair cut every week to keep a haircut in regs.
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CPT William Jones
Been a real log time since I was in basic (1964)but we got haircuts once a week. And they were pushing more then than now.And too a shaved head is faddish and not allowed under AR 670-1
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I found that for Infantry basic and AIT shaved head worked very good. If the females want to get in the Combat arms then HEAD shaved otherwise within standards.
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I believe in boot-camp both men and women should have their heads shaved for the reason of hygiene and easier maintenance.All the combat and field training a recruit goes through.
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LCpl Jason Clark
There is also a psychological part to the shaving of recruits heads, uniforms and use of last name only. The similar they are with one another the better the unit cohesiveness, during the breakdown phase this helps with teamwork and loyality development.
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I'm shocked this topic has spun up such a massive response! I finally bucked up on hazing topic and disagreed due to it's connection with our mission, WAR COMBAT, along with Civilians on here too! Hazing discussion now, I'm a vet now, but it's huge!
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SGT Shon D. Hill
SSG Roberts this is not to offend you at all, but hear I go Ok! I posted a question 2 days ago about I WANT TO EXPATRIATE THIS COUNTRY TO LIVE IN BELIZE, COSTA RICA OR SOUTH AMERICA AND SOME REASONS WHY! ZERO RESPONSE? I don't want points, I'm asking for dialogue, advice, or thoughts on why I don't belong, can't afford to pay PAIN DR $250 month office visit and $350 Oxycodone prescription cuz VA KILLED PAIN MEDS ON US!
Hair length for Female Soldiers in Basic debate.....? Of course it's obvious I'm referring more to veteran/disabled vet type issues here and thought it would peak some serious interest but hair is on front-page news, lol! I'm sure a few posts will come through on my strange question :).
Hair length for Female Soldiers in Basic debate.....? Of course it's obvious I'm referring more to veteran/disabled vet type issues here and thought it would peak some serious interest but hair is on front-page news, lol! I'm sure a few posts will come through on my strange question :).
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SGT Shon D. Hill
https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/do-fellow-combat-veterans-want-to-expatriate-to-another-country
Awesome! I think I'm getting proficient with I-phone copy, paste, etc, LOL! Thanks for asking Vickie :) yea the link or copy from My discussion above. I know ppl post so many questions and such, I just noticed that the moderators or same folks always get big discussions, I only want a small one ;). I think it may appear like a "dis functional vet" type question, lol, but I'm hoping it can be something more than that. Would enjoy your thoughts as Active duty and you always keep it real! Shon (first name since off-duty, right?).
Awesome! I think I'm getting proficient with I-phone copy, paste, etc, LOL! Thanks for asking Vickie :) yea the link or copy from My discussion above. I know ppl post so many questions and such, I just noticed that the moderators or same folks always get big discussions, I only want a small one ;). I think it may appear like a "dis functional vet" type question, lol, but I'm hoping it can be something more than that. Would enjoy your thoughts as Active duty and you always keep it real! Shon (first name since off-duty, right?).

Do fellow combat veterans want to expatriate to another country? | RallyPoint
I'm going deeper now, Doc Hill here ready for serious discussion here! I don't fit in anywhere, I'm tired of direction much in our country has taken in general, and after spending a lot of time in 3rd world or developing countries, I sincerely desire to move to a place like Belize, Costa Rica, or South America. I worked hard to learn Spanish, blonde blue eyes notwithstanding, do you feel same often? Do many of us lose our "Identity" here...
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PO1 Jeffrey Pennala
SGT Shon D. Hill - Not sure what the original post was regarding becoming an expat or how it relates to boot camp haircuts. I have spent several years living in Central America, and have friends in Panama, Nicaragua, Mexico, Belize, and Costa Rica. My choice would be Costa Rica, they generally like Americans. Life in Central America is more expensive than most would think. We split our time these days between Costa Rica and the US my parents both have health problems and we need to be near to help my siblings with their care. Employment is another problem in Central America unless you start your own company so if you need income plan accordingly. US Dollars usually spend fine (it is one of the official currencies of Costa Rica). My Spanish is bad (Spanglish really) but it adds to the fun and many folks speak English and like to practice their English with native English speakers anyway. We have an apartment we keep in the Central Valley of Costa Rica the people are nice, violent crime is not common it is mostly petty theft and there is a lot of that never put your cell phone down out of reach or sight it will vanish. On the other side I dropped $100 in colonies (Costa Rica's money) at the grocery store and the person in line behind me chased me down to make sure I got it back. They have a love for their families I really enjoy seeing that, it is a Central American Latin country so patience is a requirement, silly rules ad regs are common.
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Since the male standards are stricter, a shaved head will prevent them from having to go to the barber every other week, depending on the rate at which the recruit's hair grows. Females should at least be able to pin/arrange the hair into regulations, but if it cannot then it must be shortened.
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CPT William Jones
Why should there be two sets of rules on hair. Folks that signup now do so because they want to serve for awhile.
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Hair has nothing to do with gender equality, there is more of a psychological effect in forcing women to shave their hair off, than on men. I do not have proof of this, but I'm sure I could if I cared to do the research.
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There should be one standard for a Soldier...male or female...in all things, not just hair.
As to Basic, as a former BCT Cdr, I echo SFC Cardenas in that there simply isn't time to allow for the males getting whatever style they want.
As for female Soldiers in Basic...in my company they were losing half a day of training every three weeks to keep their hair done....sorry but that's a waste of my training time, a waste of their Soldier time, and a definite waste of Drill Sergeant time transporting and baby-sitting them at a hair salon.
After Basic, I don't really care, providing it doesn't look unprofessional and doesn't get in the way of job duties.
As to Basic, as a former BCT Cdr, I echo SFC Cardenas in that there simply isn't time to allow for the males getting whatever style they want.
As for female Soldiers in Basic...in my company they were losing half a day of training every three weeks to keep their hair done....sorry but that's a waste of my training time, a waste of their Soldier time, and a definite waste of Drill Sergeant time transporting and baby-sitting them at a hair salon.
After Basic, I don't really care, providing it doesn't look unprofessional and doesn't get in the way of job duties.
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SSG Elyzabeth Cromer
My experience was the same as SSG Woods; once we unprocessed females did not get to go anywhere to have anything done to their hair.
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