Were you ever forced to shave?

2014-01-21T23:17:59-05:00

When I was in basic the MTI had me shave and commented that I even looked too young,  like 13.   I am like 'shave what' and he said,  'just do it?"  

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 21 at 2014 11:39 PM

2014-01-21T23:39:18-05:00

As a sidenote I did not need to shave to around 25 years old.

Response by SFC James Baber made Jan 21 at 2014 11:43 PM

2014-01-21T23:43:57-05:00

Larry, When I went through basic, the DSs made everyone shave whether we needed it or not, they said it necessary to turn us into men. One of my friends tried to speak up and say shaving had nothing to do with being a man, and the DSs were all over him before anyone could even think about stopping him.

I probably would have been like you and not have to shave until mid to late 20s, currently I have to shave everyday or I get a mini beard started.

Response by SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 11 at 2014 7:46 AM

2014-03-11T07:46:38-04:00

My entire time during high school, I never had to really touch a razor. I continued to pray to have facial hair so I can look good with a sweet goatee or a nice beard so friends and foes alike would stop making fun of my baby face. Through week 1 of Basic, I was discovered by a drill "skipping" the shave during personal hygeine and had some peach fuzz on my chin. From that day forward, I learned that dry shaving in the cold was not the way to do it. Now, I can have a full beard in a week. my prayers were answered, just a couple years too late!

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Mar 11 at 2014 7:49 AM

2014-03-11T07:49:06-04:00

If I want to maintain a "neat, clean shaven appearance", I have to shave twice a day.. Otherwise, I have a 5 o clock shadow by noon...

Response by 1SG Shane Hansen made Mar 11 at 2014 8:30 AM

2014-03-11T08:30:28-04:00

It was noticed by my drill sergeant's that I was skipping shave time.  When confronted, I told them I had no facial hair to shave.  The next day I was presented with a spider man plastic razor and the drill sergeant just said one word - pretend.  Apparently he took his kids play razor from him and issued it to me.  From that day forward my face started growing hair, must have been a mental block or something.

Response by SSG Christopher Settembrino made Mar 11 at 2014 8:34 AM

2014-03-11T08:34:48-04:00

I was never forced to shave because I knew and understood the regulations the Army had set forth. I'm past the point of puberty which means I'm going to grow facial hair regardless of how much or how little. Regulation states I will be clean shaven everyday before first formation and I made sure to make that happen. Why being told to shave is a big deal to some is beyond me. If you can't follow the rules then you don't need to be in the military.

Response by SSG Oliver Mathews made Mar 11 at 2014 8:42 AM

2014-03-11T08:42:58-04:00

I got told to shave at after 21 hours on staff duty.

Our S6 NCOIC came to the staff duty desk at roughly 0600 took one look at me, escorted me outside and gave me a "talknta" about showing up for Staff duty without being clean shaven. Once he was done i was sent to shave. I complied and returned to staff duty.

He didn't figure out that i had been on Staff Duty all night until i was leaving at a few hours later... and he was walking back into the building.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 11 at 2014 8:43 AM

2014-03-11T08:43:07-04:00

I had facial hair until I met Chuck Norris and he told it to go away. Haven't had to shave since!

Basic training 1996 - We were standing next to our bunks for an inspection (60 man bay). I was at the end of the row when I realized I forgot to shave. The DS ducked in to inspect one of the wall lockers and I dove for my razor. Back at attention when he came out. Next time he stepped in for another inspection I began to dry shave. NEVER forgot to shave ever again! Ouch!

Response by CPT Marcus Jeffries made Mar 12 at 2014 12:01 AM

2014-03-12T00:01:59-04:00

I remember being forced to shave in Basic Training even though I didn't have facial hair. I just kept shaving until hair started to appear.

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 12 at 2014 3:52 AM

2014-03-12T03:52:22-04:00

While some women may choose not to shave at all, most of my colleagues tend to shave legs and armpits once a week or so for the sake of personal comfort and professional appearance.

Your mileage may vary depending on operational considerations and local cultural customs.

Response by CSM Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 12 at 2014 9:49 AM

2014-03-12T09:49:32-04:00

I was forced to shave all the time in BCT and AIT, getting up at 0430 then doing to deed for the day; by the time 1700 close out came I had a nice 5 o'clock shadow and was often accused of not shaving. So many, many times I was told to go shave again a second time that day.

Just a hairy dude is all.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 13 at 2014 9:42 AM

2014-03-13T09:42:10-04:00

I never really had to shave until I joined at 24. I guess it
was my genetics but as soon as I got to basic and the DS said shave guess what?
I shaved. After that it was downhill. If I miss a day it is very noticeable.
While we are on the subject… What is with all these shaving profiles? I
understand everyone’s skin is different ect..
However, I know there are products out there for every skin/hair type.
Shaving for males should not be an option.

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 13 at 2014 4:50 PM

2014-03-13T16:50:12-04:00

I went to basic training with a guy who had alopecia, meaning that he did not have any hair at all...no eyebrows, nothing.  He was force to PAY the barber to "cut" his hair.  I was asked at officer training school by an upper classmen if I shaved my face that particular day.  I responded yes and he countered with, "what kind of razor."  He looked like he wanted to kill me when I said "bic."

Response by SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 14 at 2014 12:05 PM

2014-03-14T12:05:19-04:00

Yup, twice a day in OSUT and Airborne. Although I didn't mind because it occasionally got me out of some the more insane smoking's we went though. When I got the 82nd, believe it was "Shave in the field, what, why are you using that light? Don't you have light discipline!? What is that, water? Are you a girl or something? Why are you bleeding all over yourself after dry shaving in the dark!? F' it, chicks dig scars..."

My favorite was how they somehow believe that opening up millions of tiny cuts on your face and then exposing it to a sweaty, nasty, field environment is somehow magically hygienic. Hair is you bodies NATURAL defense mechanism against outside infection!

Response by PFC Nathaniel Culbertson made Mar 14 at 2014 2:33 PM

2014-03-14T14:33:56-04:00

No, but i had peach fuzz. my nickname was babyface. though at ait i got asked if i had shaved a few times before final formation. didn't get full swing until deployment

Response by SSgt Carl B. made Mar 14 at 2014 3:43 PM

2014-03-14T15:43:33-04:00

Same thing happen to me in Air Force Basic Training. I spoke up and replied I have shaved (even though I didn't need to) The training instructor grinned and said just do it!

Response by SGT Bryon Sergent made Mar 14 at 2014 5:01 PM

2014-03-14T17:01:05-04:00

YEs durning basic. Was out on FTX at Harmony Church, Ft Benning GA. Had been out 3 days and the face paint from the stick, had been digging the CP fox Hole and had been rain for 3 days. Drill Sergeant came up aske dif I had shaved that morning I said nope. He handed me one of those white and yellow bic's and said take care of it. While he stood there started shaving! worst feeling of my like. got a shaving profile afterwards because my face broke out in zits and the medic took me to the doc and that was it!

Response by LTC Daniel Rogne made Mar 14 at 2014 9:08 PM

2014-03-14T21:08:38-04:00

Two times in my 24 year career:
1. In basic when I was 18 where I had a whol 3 whiskers and go every 3 days until I needed to shave.
2. While in Iraq in 2003, I grew a mustache which I shaved off at the direction of my leadership.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 16 at 2014 10:43 AM

2014-03-16T10:43:45-04:00

I had a similar situation. I was probably 2-3 weeks into my basic, and my DS were catching on that I haven't shaved. My razer I bought at in processing was still in the package. He asked me am I ever going to shave? I don't need to DS! (didn't even have peach fuzz on my face) He told me to go shave. Sadly I really had no idea how to shave properly... He ended up giving the entire platoon a class on shaving, using me as the example.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 19 at 2014 3:18 PM

2014-03-19T15:18:20-04:00

According to regulation, I am forced to shave everyday. ;)

Response by PO2 David Hagwood made Mar 26 at 2015 3:45 AM

2015-03-26T03:45:31-04:00

I haven't been told to go shave because I always do it. I couldn't even try to get away with not doing it anyway, my beard grows too fast. I frequently send people to go shave, though. We have some people who think their facial hair is too thin to be seen; but I catch it all the time and I don't allow it. I shave my head now; so my thinking is that if I can wake up and shave my head and face every single day, no one should have an excuse to not at least shave their face.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 31 at 2015 6:27 PM

2015-03-31T18:27:50-04:00

Yes even I was forced to shave .. I looked so young my DI asked who brought their kid with them .

Response by TSgt Tim (lj) Littlejohn made Mar 31 at 2015 8:48 PM

2015-03-31T20:48:58-04:00

Only in basic.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 3 at 2015 1:47 PM

2015-04-03T13:47:47-04:00

We had a guy in my basic flight who had never shaved before and had no clue how. The first few times he tried he left the plastic safety cover on it not even knowing it was there. After the TI yelled at him for it he took it off and kept constantly cutting his face with the blade. Every time he shaved he looked like someone had just taken a weed wacker to his face.