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
I suppose if you're going to nit pick and whine this is as good a subject as any.
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A shaved head makes for faster grooming in the morning. I am not going to way in on the females, except that it didn't bother me 31 years ago, and it doesn't bother me today. Why should it bother anyone else. If it is not an issue of you getting shot, sick or injured, then leave it alone!
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By TRADOC policy, the Army does not shave heads - .the haircut, however is very short. There are two reasons for this: (1) amongst males, this marks the beginning of the transition from civilian to soldier (2) training schedules are full enough without having to bustle Privates off to the barber every week or so for a touch up. Accordingly, haircuts are short, thus minimizing training interruptions courtesy of going to the barber.
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As I read the question: "Shaved heads in basic training: is this mandatory? If it is, then why, and why only for males?" I had to wonder if this question was asked by a civilian. I was shocked to see it asked by a SSG in the Army. Really?
First, I don't know if the current Army regulation on standards of wearing the United States Army uniform, i.e., 'dress code' is still USA Reg 670-1, but it used to be the equivalent to the Air Force's AFR 35-10, which I've learned is now Air Force Instruction 36-2903, Dress & Personal Appearance of Air Force Personnel. [https://www.thebalancecareers.com/air-force-grooming-standards-hair-regulations-3331703]
What I do know is, [male] Basic Training recruits have had their heads shaved for several reasons: one reason, and perhaps the ONLY reason we need to discuss, is that every military branch takes a recruit, and physically, mentally, and sometimes spiritually, breaks them down during this indoctrination and training phase. Whatever physical or mental part(s) of the recruit that is/are seen as 'undesirable', or 'unnecessary' is removed, and replaced with whichever standards the specific training curriculum deems appropriate. It's part of the transition from a civilian to that of a Soldier, Airman, Marine, or Seaman.
Secondly, the rationalization of shaving a man's head as a recruit is this fundamental reason:
you go into Basic as a know-nothing, get-your-shit-together recruit. 'Shape up, or ship out'. You are taken out of your comfort zone, your physical persona broken down, and you become part of something great. You are given standards and treated equally to every other recruit, and if you pass Basic Training, you will become a part of the whole. Before a trainee can transition from the recruit to the full-fledged servicemember they have to leave their identity at the Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS) they took their Oath of Enlistment at. You will be taken out of your civilian clothing and be given appropriate military attire. You will be taught and reminded how to dress properly, how/where/when to wear a hat, and probably with a bit of 'face time' with your Drill Instructor. You will be trained to look like your fellow trainees [uniformity], and to work/train in synchronization with them [conformity] as you learn combat skills, and core values.
Basic Training isn't meant to coddle anyone, and if you think that the military way of life is going to change based on *your* wants and desires, you should ring the quitting bell, or hand in your training slip, and get back on a bus home. If a recruit doesn't like the training standards at their Basic Training facility, I suggest they contact their Recruiter. For Army recruits, they can contact the United States Military Entrance Processing Command
2834 Green Bay Road
North Chicago, IL 60064-309
[http://www.mepcom.army.mil/]
(Let me know how that works for ya.)
The reason female recruits don't get their heads shaved is not an equality/inequality issue. It's because the goal for ALL recruits, and later personnel, is to uphold standards of 'conservative' grooming, and the standards are based on one's gender: male or female. All men will be held to one standard, all females to one standard. Again, I say this is not meant as a equality/inequality issue, rather it's the proverbial "two sides to every coin" in action.
If one truly believes that all aspects of [civilian/military] Life will be equal and fair for all men and women, I am not going to dissuade you of your belief. We can categorize it in the same file as Santa Clause, the Easter Bunny, and unicorns.
First, I don't know if the current Army regulation on standards of wearing the United States Army uniform, i.e., 'dress code' is still USA Reg 670-1, but it used to be the equivalent to the Air Force's AFR 35-10, which I've learned is now Air Force Instruction 36-2903, Dress & Personal Appearance of Air Force Personnel. [https://www.thebalancecareers.com/air-force-grooming-standards-hair-regulations-3331703]
What I do know is, [male] Basic Training recruits have had their heads shaved for several reasons: one reason, and perhaps the ONLY reason we need to discuss, is that every military branch takes a recruit, and physically, mentally, and sometimes spiritually, breaks them down during this indoctrination and training phase. Whatever physical or mental part(s) of the recruit that is/are seen as 'undesirable', or 'unnecessary' is removed, and replaced with whichever standards the specific training curriculum deems appropriate. It's part of the transition from a civilian to that of a Soldier, Airman, Marine, or Seaman.
Secondly, the rationalization of shaving a man's head as a recruit is this fundamental reason:
you go into Basic as a know-nothing, get-your-shit-together recruit. 'Shape up, or ship out'. You are taken out of your comfort zone, your physical persona broken down, and you become part of something great. You are given standards and treated equally to every other recruit, and if you pass Basic Training, you will become a part of the whole. Before a trainee can transition from the recruit to the full-fledged servicemember they have to leave their identity at the Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS) they took their Oath of Enlistment at. You will be taken out of your civilian clothing and be given appropriate military attire. You will be taught and reminded how to dress properly, how/where/when to wear a hat, and probably with a bit of 'face time' with your Drill Instructor. You will be trained to look like your fellow trainees [uniformity], and to work/train in synchronization with them [conformity] as you learn combat skills, and core values.
Basic Training isn't meant to coddle anyone, and if you think that the military way of life is going to change based on *your* wants and desires, you should ring the quitting bell, or hand in your training slip, and get back on a bus home. If a recruit doesn't like the training standards at their Basic Training facility, I suggest they contact their Recruiter. For Army recruits, they can contact the United States Military Entrance Processing Command
2834 Green Bay Road
North Chicago, IL 60064-309
[http://www.mepcom.army.mil/]
(Let me know how that works for ya.)
The reason female recruits don't get their heads shaved is not an equality/inequality issue. It's because the goal for ALL recruits, and later personnel, is to uphold standards of 'conservative' grooming, and the standards are based on one's gender: male or female. All men will be held to one standard, all females to one standard. Again, I say this is not meant as a equality/inequality issue, rather it's the proverbial "two sides to every coin" in action.
If one truly believes that all aspects of [civilian/military] Life will be equal and fair for all men and women, I am not going to dissuade you of your belief. We can categorize it in the same file as Santa Clause, the Easter Bunny, and unicorns.
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if men were allowed to not have their hair shaved, they would spend valuable training time going to the barber. women, in my opinion, don't get their hair cut as often as men.
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CPT William Jones
Bu when they go they spend much more time in the chair,like hour instead of minutes.
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In 75 we got ours (40 or so) straight off the bus, no 180 back log. 20 min and we were on our way to H#ll. :)
As for Girls, I vote shaved.
As for Girls, I vote shaved.
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As stated above. Not practical in BCT for all soldiers to get their haircut of choice. And women have different guidelines altogether. This shouldn’t be an issue.
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We did wear our hair a little longer in the Army of the '80's, but not as long as the VOLAR era of the early to mid 70's. I'm talking about the operational force. In 1981 at BCT the first Hair cut was a scalping but only the first. AIT it was Army standard.
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