Posted on Jan 11, 2014
Should the U.S. Army have one grooming standard (i.e. hair) for male and females?
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Should we allow well groomed beards like most Professional Armies in the world.
Posted in these groups: 
Grooming Standards
Women in the Military
Grooming Standards Women in the Military
Posted 12 y ago
Responses: 59
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Sir,
I personally feel that it is a bit biased that when a women (enlisted) comes into the Army she is allowed to keep her long hair or cut it if she pleases but a man with long hair is forced to cut his hair no matter what.
People would strongly disagree with me if I said maybe women should have to cut their hair to shoulder length and many people would disagree with me if I said men with long groomed hair should be able to keep their hair as long as they conform to the standards that women have had to conform to.
It is the social/organizational norm and people will automatically feel against that but to be fair or politically correct it should be that way but, that is just my opinion.
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SGT(P) (Join to see)
There is nothing that gets your blood boiling like emptying out a 80-100 bed barracks of all its contents because someone gets crabs/lice.
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Suspended Profile
Yes one standard, And No beards
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Sir, I think your asking two questions. Cause if we have one grooming standards with beards then... wont that mean that women will have to grow a beard? But if we have one standard with out beards men cant have them...
In all seriousness No, two standards. But the Female standard needs to be enforced, and not overlooked cause its a female.
In all seriousness No, two standards. But the Female standard needs to be enforced, and not overlooked cause its a female.
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Personally, if anything I wouldn't mind makes being allowed to have more hair, rather than force females to cut theirs short. Keep in mind not everyone looks good with long (or short) hair, and as always there will be those who push the envelope and ruin it for everyone else. I also wouldn't mind makes being allowed to have some facial hair, I'm not a fan of big bushy beards or staches, but I like nearly trimmed goatees and such. Of course Big Army swears it would interfere with the wear of a gas mask, but anyone who has been to FCBC knows if we get gassed we're pretty much SOL mask or not, all it does is give us a little longer to suffer and (maybe) continue mission a little longer before we die horribly, lol. Mission first, right?
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SGT(P) (Join to see)
Keep in mind the standards were put in place are for hygiene and uniformity not because you may or may not look good with long or short hair.
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I do not know who said it, but it goes like this: "I have never seen a haircut win a war." Or something similar.
It's important to have certain grooming standards to keep up. Once your in the field, it tends to go out the window depending how long your away from hot showers, baths, etc. But as long as you keep them up you will look good. I just wish someone would come up with something so that men do not have to shave their face every day.
Another thing, I was in Aircraft Maintenance and I was not to thrilled when someone got a scuff (when we still had to polish our boots), and they stopped what they were doing to buff it. We were working on a jet and you do not stop maintenance because of a scuff on your boot. Wait until your back in the shop to do that.
It's important to have certain grooming standards to keep up. Once your in the field, it tends to go out the window depending how long your away from hot showers, baths, etc. But as long as you keep them up you will look good. I just wish someone would come up with something so that men do not have to shave their face every day.
Another thing, I was in Aircraft Maintenance and I was not to thrilled when someone got a scuff (when we still had to polish our boots), and they stopped what they were doing to buff it. We were working on a jet and you do not stop maintenance because of a scuff on your boot. Wait until your back in the shop to do that.
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YEs we should as long as we keep it professional and wel groomed. Ther should not be an issue.
Females and males should have one grooming standard. Females should maintain a feminine appearance no matter what their preference. Males should maintain a manly appearance not matter the preference. We are a professional army and should be portrayed as such. This is discipline and it is what has defined and made our armed forces successfully for many years. We should strive to keep it disciplined and keep it successful for many more years to come
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soldiers need to stop getting high tights. Get a proper mid level fade. That faded equally all the way around or shave it bald.
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SFC Cornelius Walsh
Or, just grow a normal, professional type haircut. But you're incredibly right - the high and tight, the horseshoe, the landing strip, they all need to go.
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Soldier need to stop getting high and tights. That doesn't look professional at all. Get a proper mid level fade equally faded all the way around the head with a proper lining or shave it off.
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I keep seeing this "if you correct a Soldier, EO gets involved" but I don't understand why that's an issue. Does EO forbade leaders from making corrections? Just curious as to what the EO complaint would be.
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SSG (Join to see)
Its a non-issue if you are familiar with the standards and are tactfully making an on the spot correction
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SSG V. Michelle Woods
That's what I thought. I can't imagine (although I'm sure it happens occasionally) an EOL actually substantiating a complaint by a SM who was corrected if that correction is supported by regs and done tactfully.
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