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/
Basic Training
Grooming Standards
Equality
Drill Sergeant
Edited >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 458
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To take away all that 'swagger' and I'm special thinking. It's a very small part of changing a civilian into a solider. Women have very different grooming standards, however the changes that are required of them in dress and grooming are often just as drastic from their perspective. Head lice is a problem in 4 star hotels, God knows a barracks can become a nasty place quickly, close quarters and all. Never agreed with joint basic training units, you soften the men to allow women integrated training. Either the standards are the same, or the training suffers.
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The requirement for shaving heads goes back to the public health concerns of housing large groups of people from disparate backgrounds with questionable hygiene practices prior to arriving. Hair and body lice are easily stopped by shaving heads, showering, and taking away infested clothing. (Sounds like day 1 of basic training). Females were always treated like queens. Time to treat them equally. Haircuts for all.
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If your going to break them in . The both sexes should require equal training .
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I believe both males and females should have the option. I asked to have my hair shaved and was told no.
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Let's keep one tradition in the military. So many traditions have been taken away based off what society deems as appropriate or equal. I have been a firm believer in the military separating themselves from our civilian counterparts. Theres a reason why most take a hard look in the mirror before they join. I've already seen some compromises the military has made beginning to spiral out of control. Leave things alone.
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When I was in Basic (1971) we had a choice of shaved or 3”s. Most opted for shave!
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Head shaving in basic training is partially about stripping away individuality. You are no longer an individual, but part of a unit. Haircuts/styles are individual by nature. I am all for everyone having their heads shaved in basic.
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The original reason was two-fold:
It tended to put everyone on the same level in appearance, and
Checked for lice or other potentially infectious skin problems.
With the inclusion of women, an adjustment was made. But I do believe their is cut shorter.
It tended to put everyone on the same level in appearance, and
Checked for lice or other potentially infectious skin problems.
With the inclusion of women, an adjustment was made. But I do believe their is cut shorter.
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Shaving heads is stupid. Regulation hair should be the standard But I couldn't change my vote F* your dervuy. Ehetr my Wild Turleyz!
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I can already tell I am going to get fragged over my response, so here goes. It seems that when I scroll down through all the responses I notice one thing. The question originated from, and has been responded to, by Army. WTF? How does someone in the military get to be surprised that recruits have shaved heads? How do you get into the military at all and never realize what boot camp is like? Or officer candidate school,? Or military school? Next thing is that (in the Marine Corps at least) women have a hair style and length regulation. There is no such thing as 20 miles of hair. It is short. Damn short (at least in boot camp). Third thing is WHO THE HELL CARES ??? It is boot camp. Thirteen weeks (eight for all you others) of a persons life. It isn't as if the military makes you stay that way. As a matter of fact, the Corps does not approve of shaved heads and even tried to go as far as doing away with the "high and tight".
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My thought is, and I've tried to find support but with no luck, that back in the day when most recruits (obviously before the draft system) were from lower income families and depressed areas the creature lice was a prevalent affliction. So, for health reasons heads were shaved in an attempt to rid the recruit and, by such action, anyone he came into contact with of this dreaded ill as lice infestations could be quite unhealthy. Secondly, the shaved head has always been used as a first step in grooming the soldier/airman/boot/recruit into a cohesive unit with everyone beginning on an equal footing. For the women, I don't what today's standards are, but when I first joined the AF the women trainees had their hair trimmed to uniform length during training for much the same reason, then requirements were loosened once trainees were assigned into the regular force.
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As long as each gender has professional appearances there should be no head shaving, but at BT, as a female, I purposely had my hair chopped because it is very difficult to put and keep it in a bun 24/7. I think men don't realize what a hassle it is to keep the hair but as a female, in our society, if your head is shaved you'll be classified as a dike and as a male, you're classified as a male with his head shaved. Think about that... there's more to it then just no hair, unfortunately.
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As has been previously stated by an individual, xaverian, upon entering into service with the military has to realize that they are no longer a civilian. Part of this process of transition is a haircut. It is the initial step to show the civilian that they are now a member of a unit. The initial buzz cut that a recruit gets is only a small part of a process of instilling discipline in the new recruit. the Navy is now interested in relaxing some of the small steps of discipline that a recruit must have in order to understand their role in the US Navy. it is hard for me to say this, but I'm glad I got out of the Navy when I did. I'm ashamed of what it's become. It has become infected with political correctness.
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The only reason I can think of that is good enough to shave either men’s or women’s heads is that it helps them to break out of the civilian perspective. I may be mistaken but I doubt that lice are much of a problem. Otherwise, I think an Army Standards haircut should do the trick.
But note, if my first reason is THE REASON, then I agree with head-shaving. That may just be a way of saying that it had a big effect on me, settling into the idea that this was a whole new way of the world.
But note, if my first reason is THE REASON, then I agree with head-shaving. That may just be a way of saying that it had a big effect on me, settling into the idea that this was a whole new way of the world.
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Equal grooming standards. I'm thinking of how much money is going to be spent on body armor designed for longer hair, as apparently is in work. If all personnel had the same hairstyle differing body armor would be unnecessary......
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Ok here is the deal
1. If you dont want your head shaved then dont join, it's like a company mandating the wear of uniforms, no beard etc if you dint like it dint work there
2. It's an equal thing everyone looks the same so now you can focus on training vice what your hair looks like
And last as adsurb as it may sound it's for hygiene with people joining from all over no telling what's in there hair
So please dont attempt to use the hazing card
1. If you dont want your head shaved then dont join, it's like a company mandating the wear of uniforms, no beard etc if you dint like it dint work there
2. It's an equal thing everyone looks the same so now you can focus on training vice what your hair looks like
And last as adsurb as it may sound it's for hygiene with people joining from all over no telling what's in there hair
So please dont attempt to use the hazing card
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Whether tradition or regulation, having one's head shaved for basic is a great equalizer. The early part of basic is intended, as I understand it, to change the new civilian into a Service team member. To help do this, all traces of civilian life must be erased and all recruits are treated equally. Heads shaved (men), wear uniforms, learn to march in formation, etc., help equalize everybody. Later on I can see allowing recruits to wear their hair IAW Service standards. As for women, I was taught in MANY Air Force and Army training courses I'm not allowed to have or express an opinion.
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