Shaving while Off Duty??

Since I've gotten into straight razor shaving, I've found that it's now a hobby vs a chore. No issues with shaving 7 days/week!

I shave four times a day when on leave to ensure that I am fully compliant with AR 670-1. Don't believe me? Find me.

I'm out now, but my rule was: If I'm not going near the Post/Base (where I might be recognized), then it's nobody's business if I shave. If I expect to be in any professional situation where I would be recognized as military, then I would present a professional appearance. Even now that I am retired, if I go to the local AF Base for appointments, the Exchange, or an other reason, I will be clean shaven when I go. I'm still recognized as a representative of the military, so I behave that way. If I re-enter the professional marketplace, I will conduct myself similarly.

Working in the back yard, at the shooting range, in the desert, around the city, or just hanging around the house...scruff it was and is!

I think I have better things to do than to enforce when adults shave when out of uniform. I would hope there are discerning NCOs applying common sense too.

I think I'll throw a little bomb out here...maybe two actually:

First, what is the point of promoting NCOs and Officers, or even having them, if judgement in enforcing regulations and policies is not important? I was always under the impression that the reason we selected certain people for promotion was greater wisdom, experience, and judgement. (While I'm certain there are people around the world who remain baffled at my own terminal rank when evaluated against those standards, I'm talking in general terms here.) Thus, the idea that an NCO (or Officer) would blindly enforce a regulation such as this, without consideration of the totality of circumstances, seems...at odds with even having "leaders".

Second, what respect does our larger military and senior leadership offer these same NCOs and Officers, when they write regulations and policies in such detail as to (attempt to) remove discretion and judgement in their application? We often hear talk about how we depend on our junior leaders to set standards for the force, and to enforce regulations and policies fairly. But do the current generations of regulations and policies actually allow that, or do they demand rigorous adherence without judgement and discretion? When did "setting the standard" become the same as "fanatical adherence to rules and policies and unbending enforcement of the same"? If an NCO uses that judgement in a particular situation, how often is he counselled/punished for deviating from some rule or regulation, and how often is he praised for doing so?

Gotta admit - never did care what the regs stated as far as those regarding facial hair when I was on leave. If I was on leave - I was on leave, period - f&*% facial hair regs. If the Nav wanted to send someone down to check on my facial hair status while I was way out in the boonies - more power to them. I'll admit I was selective about what regs I didn't follow. For instance, I might have gotten drunk, but I never used any illegal substances while on leave. Hell, when I retired and was on terminal leave for nearly 6 months - I still held to that particular reg (well, frankly I've continued that particular reg even in retirement - but that's another subject).

I'm not interested in starting a s@#$ storm over a current regulation - but sometimes regs go waaaaayyy too far.

No work = No razor...period!

Correct me if I am wrong but i believe there was a change in the regulation that stated you had to shave even off duty

In the Marine Corps this has been the case since at least 1995 (when I came in) and I am sure much longer than that. Marines are supposed to present themselves with a clean shave regardless of whether they are on duty, off duty, or even in a leave status. Do i shaev every day no I do not however if I decide to go on base during the weekend for whatever reason you can bet your bottom dollar that my face will be shaved.

While the regulation does state that it is not required, I would ask yourself if it's worth the argument. Pick your battles. If someone above you tells you to shave off duty, I would ask yourself if you really care enough to make an issue of it. If there is a medical reason to need a break, a doc can help you. If not, then it may just be easier to comply.