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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CPT Larry Hudson
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It is a matter oh health, first act of being conformed into a soldier,
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SSG Squad Leader
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I know when I went through Basic back in Oct 1985 at Fort Lost in the Woods, Misery, that haircut "A Charlie Special" as our D.I.s called it was demoralizing to most of us. The first swipe on me was forward and down the center with the hair falling down onto my face. I have a big head and after the haircut the D.I.s called "Brain." And other nickname was "Killer", I looked like a serial kill in prison.

I think THE HAIRCUT was to bring everyone down to the same level. "Lower than Whale S**t."

As for the females. There were formations of females in training and they would be marching by once in a while. The D.I.s would yell, "Don"t f**kin look over at them, they wouldn't want you guys with them f**ked up haircuts.
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Cpl Corey Nalley
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We all have had our heads shaved. The last time I knew if a female wanted to have hair below the shoulders it had to be in a bun. Anything above the shoulders it could be worn down.
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PO2 Erik Burns
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To me it symbolized the beginning of becoming a team, an equal to the guy on either side of me.
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SFC Christopher Taggart
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"Shaved heads in basic training; is this mandatory? If it is, then why and why only for males?" Women don't look very good with shaved heads...besides guys...your hair WILL grow back!
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SGT Dental Specialist
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I feel like if we were allowed to have regulated haircuts I would have to get a haircut every two weeks, therefore with the timeline of basic it would be tedious to send a soldier to get a haircut.
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PO2 Hauke Powers
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the reason FOR the famous BUZZ CUT was to quickly treat head wounds in basic, AIT, and in the field of battle....women were not subject to the cut due to the upper brass not wanting to destroy the LOOK of a woman...and through the ensuing years, nothing changed...I have never seen an issue with it...all branches of the military have their hair regulations....my niece, who is a MP, truly loves the FLAT TOP cut from the 1950's...low maintenance, she says !!!! I STILL do the BUZZ CUT on my head to this day....just got used to it through the years...and again, low maintenance !!!!!
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SA Electronics Technician
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The males in my boot camp were required to shave their heads upon arrival and got the sides faded every 2 weeks after. This was explained as to get them into the habit of getting it cut every 2 weeks to keep on standards and to get used to seeing their hair when it was ready for a trim. Females were not required but more emphasis on how to make a proper bun. Shaved head on a female is actually against female regulations. I am a female who keeps my hair short have learned our scalp can not show through our short hair
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SPC John Waterbury
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Not privates, recruits.
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SGT Chemical Biological Radiological and Nuclear Operations Specialist
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Interesting how so many individuals are game for forcing females to shave their heads. How would you feel about the other side of that coin? For example, being told you are restricted from certain opportunities because of your gender. Yes, this still happens
Females have earned their place in a predominantly male occupation we have proved stronger, more resilient and more attentive and knowledgeable than many males (not all, obviously)
I've also seen remarks that simply because a female would be reluctant to shave her head she wouldn't be suited or capable of making a sacrifice. The same individuals may have also had a female save them from a potentially deadly or harmful situation, a female who sacrificed the safety of herself and the emotional well being of children she gave birth to, for your sake. I've also seen remarks that if females don't agree with total equality (shaved heads, ect) She should "get the fuck out" Well, if you don't agree with the CURRENT 670-1 maybe it's YOU who should get the fuck out. I will continue to follow the current policies and adapt to any new policies once they are enforced Until then, I'll continue to follow the regs and you can continue to be a salty bigot in the barber shop once a week
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MAJ Mark Anderson
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It is done to get the young men thinking less as an individual and more like a member of a team.
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1st Lt Clinical Nurse
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Head shaving dates back to 1620s England, when Oliver Cromwell demanded all new soldiers who swore fealty to shave their heads
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SSG(P) Section Chief
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This is tricky. I agree with DS Morgan it takes a long time. However, I will never let my hair return to that style because when I went through we had to take our patrol caps off during specific training times. My head was not used to not being covered and now I have permanent scarring on the top of my head from the burns. Even the sunscreen they gave us didn't help. It's not going to be fun explaining that if I ever start balding.
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SSG(P) Sales And Leasing
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Well I believe woman should have a haircut to at least to the shoulders if possible during BCT. It will have more uniformity. They won't have to get another haircut most likely during the whole period of BCT. Maybe one more before graduation?
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CPL Marc Bailey
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Shaved mine beforehand
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SPC Wade Wheeler
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First of all the haircut is NOT shaving the head. It is a very close to the scalp cut. I'm not sure why females aren't required to get the cut but there are different standards (especially for pt test.)
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SFC Rob Williams
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High and tight you know you're right !
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SPC Andrew Murray
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They already have a hard enough time recruiting females, I don't think requiring them to shave their heads will up those numbers.
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SGT Stephen Robinson
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The haircut is part of the psychology of B CT . Removing the hair removes the individual, we all became the same.
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1LT Dave Jenkins
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When I was in basic at Fort Leonard Wood in 1980 we had a choice of the shaved head or the long cut. The recruits that opted for the long cut looked so bad, that the rest of us just got the shave. We all rubbed each guys head as they ran the gauntlet outside of the barbershop. Since we had to pay for the haircut, the less time we had to go the better. Plus it was one less thing to mess with.
I'm not sure how the female recruits handled long hair, but I am sure it was a pain. Personally, I would not like to see the girls with shaved heads, but maybe with a short bob cut.
The reason why the Army had shaved heads and faces was so the helmet and gas mask would fit properly.
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