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 11 y ago
Responses: 458
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All recruits need shaved heads. Then head lice can be hunted with the small hammer.
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The regulation for women was hair could touch, but not fall below our collars. Mine was waist length so had to be worn up or cut, but my hair never took a curl, so a "short do" would always look unprofessional. I opted to wear it up, but that creates problems of its own. Many women now opt for "buzz" cuts or close to them. If you can, and it works on you, by all means go for it.
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CPT William Jones
The haircut deal is not what works for you but what works for the military and should be the same for all members There are two places folks are the same hair on heads and boots on feet. No reason the rules cant be the same. If women can hide long hair under their headgear the men should also be able to do the same thing.
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LTJG Sandra Smith
CPT William Jones Would you be willing to wear a bun, beard and pinned up or chigmoned hair? Covers come off , but hair still mustn't exceed regulation length.
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when I entered into the U S. Army in 1979 we had our heads shaved as a response to basic military doctrine , the reason was to stop lice ,or sand mites during field training exercises such as rifle range , overnight stay in our tents and a new way of life . your in the army now . time to put up or shut up.
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I was told the reason was that some Men came to boot and they were not very clean. The shaved head was to get rid of lice and any other problems. It has become a Rite of passage since then.
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I wondered the same thing!!! Wtf do I have to shave my head for bootcamp if women don't?? Totall bs!!!! Why do I have to do more push ups or situps or run faster that a female in the same military I'm in??? I love that they are in and respect a few I served with but don't respect the standards!!
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I think since this is the years of equal rights, they should their hair above their ears.
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I don't have a problem with the same standard for all enlistees, regardless of gender. You want to be a llumberjack, then you need to be able to handle your end of the log, whether male or female. If we need to shave heads to begin the integration of enlistees into the force, then it should be he same for all. No one's "feelings" are more important than anyone else's, right?
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The original purpose for the shaving was to prevent lice in the spread of disease and the close quarters that is basic training. And that is just as real a reason now as it was 50 years ago.cupping said I think that a woman's commitment to the military should be just as much as a man's. So if she wants to serve she should give up as much as he does including her hair.
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A close cropped haircut is not head shaving! So the question is somewhat bogus. It's has been many a decade since I got a close cropped haircut in Basic. Back in the 60's my hair was not an issue and I accepted it, to conform with AF regulations. It grow out very well with the next month. Kept it short for 15 years. I still can't accept long hair even on my son, who is 54 now.
But many people had no idea of how to maintain body health standards and it was necessary for some to protect us all. (lice, BO, and general bathing standards.)
But many people had no idea of how to maintain body health standards and it was necessary for some to protect us all. (lice, BO, and general bathing standards.)
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OMG ... it's ONE time, it's ONE haircut. It grows [nearly] back by the time you graduate, then you never have to get it shaved, ever. If you don't like the rules and regulations of the military then why are you enlisting? Do us a favor and don't bother. There are many more serious issues that need to be addressed first.
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If something like this hair cut is bothering you, it should. People love their hair...it's part of what makes you you...how you are perceived by peers, by strangers...and it's the sheer vanity of it that makes the shearing your first step toward a new world. It's part of your first "uniform"... Greek for 'one body'.... Boot Camp is where you learn that what you think you know about yourself is wrong, that you didn't know everything about your capabilities. The hair cut is way of standardizing the training surface...to meld you and your platoon into a common starting point. If this little inconvenience bothers you and you want to wear a uniform....join UPS.
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For males, shaved or short hair is less of a burn hazard than for females. Many boys get super short hair as little boys for the summer. For females who may be having a faster return to civilian jobs-think guard and reserve- a shaved head might make Service to our country unperformable as well as undesirable
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1968, I and other recruits got our heads shaved at Great Lakes Boot Camp. I was told that there was another reason for the head shaving. "Lice." Some of the recruits would have head lice, crabs, etc. NTC Great Lakes had a special area barracks for those who had vermin on their person.
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I only had to go through the Marine Boot.They cut our hair as close as the clippers could get.Later the Corps changed it to around a 1/4 inch.Some people complained about the close cuts.This was way back in 1956.I did not mind the close cut but never understood why.Not sure what Marine boot regs are today
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So much for following the standards set by the Army. We weren't allowed to have shaved head in my basic training. It was considered as a fad and or a racist haircut. The Skin heads and KKK were noted for shaving their heads. 1976
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The original reason for a very short haircut and it is not shaving as 1/4 of an inch is left after the hair cut, is medical. Head Lice. It was employed as far back as I can recall during WWI and WWII. during the draft. Recruits came from every corner of the country and of course, some brought little critters with them. It was thought that women took better care of their hair and were more sanitary than men and to do a very short haircut on a woman was not even considered. They were inspected for headlice but generally, head lice were more prevalent in the males than the females.
When I went through basic you were given the option of a close haircut or a regulation hair cut. Since we were cloistered away for 8 weeks the close hair cut was more practical. Only one opted for a regulation hair cut.
When I went through basic you were given the option of a close haircut or a regulation hair cut. Since we were cloistered away for 8 weeks the close hair cut was more practical. Only one opted for a regulation hair cut.
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Yes, we are picking and choosing what represents equality. If we are equal, why do females still have skirts and pumps in their uniform? The ACFT is supposed to get rid of gender differences? Lots of our traditional little points remain, when will they go away.
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CPT William Jones
The female uniforms also have trousers in all classes of uniforms today. Different parts do seem to have different cuts but that is because girls fit different. But they look very similar. I was in a long time ago but have son currently serving and I never saw a female in a dress in uniform They all had trousers.
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Lice ... I suspect that it originated simply as a practical way to control lice and other head born pests. Would that apply to women? Yes it would but societal rules and expectation makes that most unlikely.
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