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

Is this really an issue? Wow!

Shaving a guy's head is just a transition from civilian to military life. Women don't look good with shaved heads. After all these years, I still keep mine Basic-training short.

Makes sense for both to be the same

Whatevs. I'd still look good bald.

I believe it's an import aspect of the transition from civilians life, and while my first reaction is that both males and females should get the same haircut, it is also clear that this could adversely impact recruiting of females into the military. Perhaps the shortest possible haircut that is still within regulations would be a better choice.

Most if not all Army Basic is co-ed, there may be some single station training units that are not but I can't think of any.

I was informed, way back when I entered basic, that it was a hygiene issue for when we are doing field exercises. I had a glorious mullet when i enlusted and nearly cried when they shaved it but i got over it. Prevention of critters getting in your hair or something. That said, women should have shaved heads in basic.

I think it is to create a sense of sameness. Everyone looks alike. Same go fasts, same silver sweatshirts, same unbloused / bloused utilities, same shaved heads letting you know that we are all equally worthless no matter if were a dark green recruit or a light green recruit until we graduate with that EGA and our title of Marine.

Outstanding question. Have been asking since first female cadet accepted to military academies. OFFICIAL DoD ANSWER: Degrading to women. Same pay different standards. Same pay with corporate style of advance and promotion due to need to file slots with a female.
During my time very few recruit head shaving was accomplished without blood letting. Recruit requirement head shaved was for primary hygiene. Close cropped hair, high and tight after primary shave to maintain cleanliness free of head lice for long period of time in the field or combat without shower or soap. All ranks to appear the same.

It's a very quick way to bring all male soldiers within Army standards regarding hair length, it reduces the risk of lice, takes away individuality, and ensures uniformity. The "tradition" of shaving the heads of soldiers can also be traced to the ancients that shaved their heads to eliminate a weakness. Enemies could use the hair to control the direction of the head. (Ie: pull your head back to cut your throat)

When I went through (admittedly ages ago) it was a speed and uniformity issue. Men looked uniform and women looked uniform in their own respective groups. If we had kept a reasonable amount of hair I guarantee, people would not be out the barracks in a timely fashion for the next training event.(just want to get that flip just right). Since I was in San Antonio during July and August and temps were 110-115 degrees plus, the wet cap on the head was worth more than gold! loved the breeze through my head bristle standing in front of a big *ss fan!

It's sad that no one any longer questions the actions done to the majority and no one sees the hypocrisy in having two standards. Either everyone's heads are shaved or none have to be. Don't sexually discriminate. I think everyone should be shaved. It is a rite of passage. It's surrendering appearance and common public norms for something greater and more important with a sole focus on toe development as a service member.

Females can't (some did when I was in BCT at Ft. Sill in 2000 and got in trouble). We have to look "feminine". I don't think that men should have to shave theirs though. Just keep it within the regs

Initially shaving the head of new male recruits came about to prevent lice epidemic, the standards now not only keep thing militarily professional, but prevent lice as well. As for the ladies, I don't have an answer and won't try to speculate why.

I say shoulder length mandatory.

There are two reasons why United States Army Soldiers receive q-ball haircuts at Reception upon reporting for Basic Combat Training. The first and main reason is hygiene. The other is uniformity in the process of the Initial Entry Training Soldier's transformation from civilian to United States Army Soldier.

This requirement is a norm in all branches of military service. Part of being a Soldier is presenting a neat uniformed military appearance. While equality is important the anatomy and physical make up of a man is different than a woman. While some females have more of an X-cromazone than other woman scientifically these are rare instances. In the Master Fitness course you learn basic things like how much easier it is for woman to have hip and pelvis problems.

This said Soldier's should be treated equally while understanding that no one person is built the same. We have endomorphic, endomorphic, mesomorphic and other body types where such an example of why having the same hair grooming standards accross the board is mute.

We no longer break Soldiers, Marines, Sailors, Airman or Coastguardsman down and build them back up. We take the pisative and negative from our new brother's and sister's building upon such while teaching, coaching, and mentoring them into technicaly and tactically proficient service members with the tools to be successful in anything they do.

It is not about taking their identity away or being a dictatorship in that Soldiers can still be individuals. We just empower them to be better than what they were and push them harder than they have ever been pushed before. Everyone has a breaking point while it is not to see how hard core they can be in that it is to make them proud of having chose a lifestyle which is a profession where it is no longer about the individual, but the team and that in what is greater than all of us in that we fight for our fellow Soldier's.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with the United States Army hair groin standards so long as a Soldiers hair does not appear unkept, impeding the proper wear of their headgear, or look fadish while ensuring we continue to adhere and abide by TRADOC 350-6 while in unitial entry training status and AR 670-1thereafter.

My understanding is that it was origionally done in early 1900's for sanitary reasons. Head lice was more prevalent back then. Now it is a hold over. Probably just makes in processing more expedient.

SHAVE YOUR FREAKING MUG!!!!!!! If you are a recruit or a boot or whatever you are when in boot camp!

Shaved for male and at least a long fade for females. This would help with not only the hygiene aspect but the transition part from civilian to warrior mode.

Someone else on here already said it, but I will say it again. If the Soldier is paying for the haircut, they should be able to get it cut however they want so long as it is within regulation.

However, in BCT I think that shaving men's heads is more efficient in both time and money. Less haircuts, requiring less time to do, less often. Saves the Army time, and saves the soldier money.

That having been said, I think females should have a set of styles to choose from that would accomplish the same. Something that is well within regulations that will be easy to maintain and wont require trips to the salon as often.

The whole point is to strip the individuality and make everyone face the same hardships together and form a bond, so everyone should have to sacrifice a little something to achieve that end...equally.

I have never been a person of political correctness so here it goes. I think that women are in a lot of roles they don't belong. IE. There should have never been a female prisoner taken from a supply unit lost in a logistical error. She should have never been there. They should have been left in state side and behind lines support. As for the men you will be ordered to do things that require total submission to your superior. The first step in learning this is to get rid of your own identity. I have hair half way to my ass now and I like it. But becoming a raisin as a first sacrifice though small compared to what may come. It's learning how to follow your superiors that is important. So keep cutting it off. I'm proof it will grow back lol.

I understand the reasoning for the males getting their haircut and the manner in which they do it. I just wish I knew before hand that they require everyone to be shaved regardless. I had just gotten my haircut the day before.

Hair standards have to comply within Army regulations at all times. At basic training, how often do you get to get a haircut? With a big company, do you think everyone wants to wait for each Soldier to spend 10 - 15 minutes sitting in the barber's chair. That is ridiculous.

Female hair standards mandate hair can be no shorter than 1/4 inch from the scalp. That means no G.I. Jane haircuts.

Maybe not shave all the female's hair off and make them bald. Maybe just have them all be the same length. If one of the females has shorter hair than the others, she can keep it but it wouldn't be allowed to get farther than a certain length like say a couple of inches above the shoulders

I was instructed at the Cadre Training Course that Basic Training Soldiers cannot be force to shave their head IAW TRADOC 350-6. As long as they get a Hair Cut that's in reg they are fine.

What does hair have to do with it? What about some of our special groups - you see them with long hair and breads (not women although one thread was talking about a female having a moustache)
Funny how we judge people based upon their looks instead of their qualities - for example actors

I got reprimanded because one of my Sgt majors thought my hair was to short. I think if it can stay neat and out of the way it shouldn't matter but the regs give male marines 0 to 3

wow I felt great with a shaved head training in the heat.The DI's do not have time to get everyone in standard without the crash course called the buzzcut.