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
Originally the shaving of the hair was to remove any possible lice that the recruits might be carrying
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From your article “Women are also required to get first-day haircuts to ensure their hair is trimmed to regulation length, equal to the uniform collar.“
That’s the same in the Army. It’s either up in a gov issued bun or cut/groomed to the standard / not touching the collar.
The question is old and tired. Females are to keep “a feminine appearance.” We do not want to steal femininity from females, this would be prejudicial and seen as another way to discourage women from serving. Feminine is subjective to today’s definition.
That’s the same in the Army. It’s either up in a gov issued bun or cut/groomed to the standard / not touching the collar.
The question is old and tired. Females are to keep “a feminine appearance.” We do not want to steal femininity from females, this would be prejudicial and seen as another way to discourage women from serving. Feminine is subjective to today’s definition.
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Fades and other authorized haircuts would rake too long. Remember units can always make uniform regulations tighter, which is what they do in basic.
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Hair standards create uniform appearance in the military. Women have standards also, but they are different. Different lengths of hair also makes it easier to distinguish between a male and female soldier. There are things I can ask a male soldier to do that I cannot ask a female. Being able to see the difference at a distance makes a difference. Women are eligible for many more duty positions, a move I support. But to apply the same standards across the board to women and men will not work.
You may have seen a woman with long hair. After hours, she may be wearing hair extensions, which are very difficult to identify vs natural hair. She could also have been a civilian employee.
You may have seen a woman with long hair. After hours, she may be wearing hair extensions, which are very difficult to identify vs natural hair. She could also have been a civilian employee.
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CPT William Jones
I haven't stopped and thought and cogitated on this but can not think of anything you can not ask a male soldier to do that you cant ask a female soldier to do. Yes there are some things one gender that the other cannot do. But I don't think a squad leader has much business asking about those issues
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This regulation should apply in all of the branches, not just the Army. I personally like to see men look like men, and women like women. As it is said, separate the sheep from the goats.
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This is a discussion that has been going on for nearly half of a century. In September 1974, I began BCT at Fort Ord. The barber asked how much hair I wanted to keep, one, two, or three inches. I said three inches, and he buzzed my head and handed me three inches of my hair. Three days later I was in the hospital, having shown up to BCT with Strep Throat.
When I got out, they sent me to a new unit. This unit was part of a pilot program that allowed soldiers in BCT to get a military regulation haircut instead of a buzz cut. I was the only one with a full buzz cut. I kept it the entire eight weeks of BCT; it was so much easier to care for, and it did not feel as dirty when we were in the field.
I understand that the haircut is part of the "break them down to build them up" process; my experience it was not necessary. I could see if women were not forced to get short (not necessarily buzz cuts) it could cause resentment with the male soldiers.
I know that when I entered West Point in 1976 as a member of the "Class of '80, Year of the Lady" (the first year women attended the Academy) we men had buzz cuts and the women had a very short haircut to start Beast Barracks. I don't recall any resentment over haircuts from the male Cadets at the time.
When I got out, they sent me to a new unit. This unit was part of a pilot program that allowed soldiers in BCT to get a military regulation haircut instead of a buzz cut. I was the only one with a full buzz cut. I kept it the entire eight weeks of BCT; it was so much easier to care for, and it did not feel as dirty when we were in the field.
I understand that the haircut is part of the "break them down to build them up" process; my experience it was not necessary. I could see if women were not forced to get short (not necessarily buzz cuts) it could cause resentment with the male soldiers.
I know that when I entered West Point in 1976 as a member of the "Class of '80, Year of the Lady" (the first year women attended the Academy) we men had buzz cuts and the women had a very short haircut to start Beast Barracks. I don't recall any resentment over haircuts from the male Cadets at the time.
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Short hair cuts are the simplest way to prevent lice infestations when you throw a group of people with dissimilar backgrounds together in close proximity. It also tends to "level" them all to a common starting point. Why does everything have to become a personal liberty issue? Lace up your boots and STFU.
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Again Rally Point, you need to prune these stupid questions. This one is five years old.
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I went through basic training in a different era before the Womans Army Corps were folded into big Army. The close cropping of hair for males is for several reasons.
Hygiene one. Less likely to transmit some nasty things with closely shorn hair.
Uniformity of appearance, we're still individuals regardless, but the uniformity of appearance, works to have a shared experience with your fellow trainee.
Quick identification, seriously, for the few trainees who may decide to disappear to a main exchange, rather than be with the training company. It becomes apparent very quickly some thing is amiss and you will be herded back to where you belong. Except for Church call, trainees had been escorted everywhere.
So while for male soldiers the close cropping may seem dehumanizing, it is more for building the comradery need by shared experiences, so they can help each other make it through basic training.
As for female soldiers needing equal treatment, I'll leave it to a female NCO to respond.
Hygiene one. Less likely to transmit some nasty things with closely shorn hair.
Uniformity of appearance, we're still individuals regardless, but the uniformity of appearance, works to have a shared experience with your fellow trainee.
Quick identification, seriously, for the few trainees who may decide to disappear to a main exchange, rather than be with the training company. It becomes apparent very quickly some thing is amiss and you will be herded back to where you belong. Except for Church call, trainees had been escorted everywhere.
So while for male soldiers the close cropping may seem dehumanizing, it is more for building the comradery need by shared experiences, so they can help each other make it through basic training.
As for female soldiers needing equal treatment, I'll leave it to a female NCO to respond.
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