Posted on Apr 12, 2014
SSG Robert Burns
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Head shaving
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/
Edited >1 y ago
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SMSgt Combat Medic
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You really want to know why there are hair standards for men... c’mon.... figure it out. Ever see a combat head wound? They bleed, they f’n bleed a lot. As a medic I don’t have time to be searching through your matted, blood soak hair to find a wound. Ever try to dress and bandage a head wound with blood soaked hair??? It F’n slips off!!!! So, typically women are not in combat, thus they can have long, beautiful locks of hair. I guess it’s something you don’t learn playing Call of Duty.
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LCDR Tim McKenzie
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They should all get shaved. There should be one PT standard also.
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SSG UH-60 Helicopter Repairer
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Yeah agreed it’s a time thing. You don’t need to be fancy while in basic not enough time. I had it done and I didn’t care. It only takes like 1-2 months to grow it out to a normal look once your out.
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SPC Jerry Doc Daugherty
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I have no problem with males having their hair shaved off. I went into the Army in 85' and that was when hair was still long for men. I had should length hair. I was ready to get it shaved, no big deal! I kept it high and right until I got out and grew my hair back out but then got it cut high and tight. When I started working at a prison, I started out high and tight but changed to shaved head again! The point is it's all right to have your head shaved. It gives the group a sense of belonging! I don't believe it qualifies as hazing!
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SSG Joseph VanDyck
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Males it was to take away individuality for the breakdown of the males. This was done to facilitate the build up of them. Lice was the issue initially. Females should have their head shaved also. Equal pay, equal rights, equal treatment.
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LCpl Jeff Moore
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the shaving of the head is to show everyone they are the same and part of the rebirth into something better. their also medical reason aka get rid of lice issue and such.

as to why females dont have to shave their heads, i doubt many women would view that as a deal breaker and refuse to enlist.
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SGT Barry Mccoy
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It's all about uniformity for the men and the women are cut in unity for there first cut
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SPC Military Police
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I'll bite the bullet and say it out right. Women should have to do it just like the men. Call me a ass but it is what it is. They want and expect/demand equal treatment/duties/responsibilities until it comes to something they don't want. Once out of basic...cool. Basic...break em down ND build them up just like a man. I'll bend on number of push ups or pull ups to pass pt standards but every other aspect...nope.
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SPC Zam Iel
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For basic training there should be ONE standard for haircuts period.
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CPT William Jones
CPT William Jones
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Standard for hair should be the same for both sexes from grade of E1 thru O10.
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MAJ Raymond Haynes
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Head shaving in boot camp serves several purposes. From a personal hygene view a shaved head is simple and fast to keep clean. With the standard 15 sec. shower, the head area can be properly cleaned. From a training schedual view, shaving reduces the barber time per recruit. From a transition from civilan to military view, the removal of a persons hair plays a significant role in removing a persons personal idenity, it is part of the change of mindset toward the 'military is a team' outlook. In essence it removes one of the strongest elements of personal idenity, which removes a large section of the personal outlook, to support planned team building events later in the program.
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