As leaders do you take the time to learn both the male and female uniform and grooming standard?

SFC Anabel Cepero — Thu, 25 Feb 2016 15:14:28 -0500

As leaders and Soldiers we should know the regulations for males and females. We may have to assist them with their uniform or do an on the spot correction. This cannot be done if we fail to learn the regs and wait until we are in charge of them.

How many times have you heard the excuse "I've never had a male/female Soldier so I don't know the uniform/grooming standards"? How did you correct it?

Response by MAJ Javier Rivera made Feb 25 at 2016 3:21 PM

MAJ Javier Rivera — Thu, 25 Feb 2016 15:21:20 -0500

I sure do! My first Company Command was composed of 65% females - awesome warriors by the way - therefore I made sure to learn the ins and outs of the female uniforms (and everything else related to females Soldiers) with the help of my XO; thanks Melissa!

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 25 at 2016 3:25 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 25 Feb 2016 15:25:20 -0500

Yes.

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Feb 25 at 2016 3:27 PM

Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS — Thu, 25 Feb 2016 15:27:48 -0500

You "memorize" the regulations which are "most applicable" to your day-to-day job.

I started my career at an Infantry BN, which was on a section of Camp Pendleton which didn't have females. The necessity for knowing female specific regulations was the same as knowing the necessity for knowing air-wing regulations. about zero.

It's not that I didn't care, it's that I only have limited space in my head for everything, and I have to prioritize what I can store. I have to choose what's important. Female specific regulations, at that point in my career were non-essential.

As soon as I PCS'd to Quantico, where there were females, I broke out the uniform regs, and refamilized myself with them, because my chances of running into the issue were significantly higher.

It's not about knowing the information. You can't know it all. It's knowing about where to find the information in case you need it. No one has the full uniform reg memorized. Everyone looks up specifics, as needed.

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Feb 25 at 2016 3:36 PM

SFC Michael Hasbun — Thu, 25 Feb 2016 15:36:04 -0500

Yes, but mostly because my ex wife was in the Army and she made me put her uniforms together ;)

Response by LTC Stephen C. made Feb 25 at 2016 3:54 PM

LTC Stephen C. — Thu, 25 Feb 2016 15:54:19 -0500

SFC Anabel Cepero, I was at one time an OCS Tactical (Training) Officer, and I also did a tour as detailed Deputy IG. Knowing the regulations for both sexes was a matter of necessity and ultimately became routine.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 25 at 2016 4:58 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 25 Feb 2016 16:58:39 -0500

As an AG Officer I have to be read up on both. Eventually we may have gender neutral grooming standards, but until then, I think we need to be aware of both.

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 25 at 2016 5:08 PM

Capt Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 25 Feb 2016 17:08:40 -0500

As a combat arms MOS, I rarely dealt with females who weren't officers so I knew the male regulations only. I had things far higher on my priority list than keeping in check females who weren't wearing their hair completely up to par at the PX. I never heard the excuse. However, once I entered a unit with both males and females, I figured out the regulations for females fairly quickly.
If you're in a combined unit, there's no reason not to learn those regulations, especially if there's both sexes under your charge.

I'd reinforce the need to know the regulations so that your troops know that will be an expectation of them as a leader, even at the lowest level. I'd usually spin it positively if I wanted a very junior Marine to learn something. "I want you to know this so when you're a [next higher billet or rank], we can count on you to make it right".

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 25 at 2016 5:42 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 25 Feb 2016 17:42:12 -0500

Yes

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 26 at 2016 8:41 AM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 26 Feb 2016 08:41:36 -0500

There are no females in my company, and until recently, couldn't be, so I did not make it a priority. Will have to learn them now that it's changed

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 3 at 2016 3:33 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 03 Mar 2016 15:33:36 -0500

As a mixed-gender basic training company commander at Jackson, I familiarized myself with both, but generally let my female drills deal with any issues. (And believe me, the female drills are far tougher on the female soldiers than any male drill.)
The things that I will always consult a female officer or NCO are the areas that can be subjective. A big one is hair - 670-1 states that it "shall not be of excessive length or bulk so as to interfere with the proper wear of military headgear." (or words to that effect; my quoting may be slightly off.)
I've seen more than a few females with softball (or larger) size buns on the back of their heads, and wondered how in the heck they can get a helmet on over that. (Especially back in the days of the old K-pot, which extended a good bit lower than the current MICH/ACH.) Or french braids so thick that their cap was a size 9.

Response by SFC Ernest Thurston made May 26 at 2016 11:44 PM

SFC Ernest Thurston — Thu, 26 May 2016 23:44:16 -0400

Through my entire career I was aware of the different uniform regs. The Military Police was one of the first MOSs that were fully integrated with women doing all the jobs that men did. I can remember being briefed in AIT on the difference between male and female uniform standards. I know when I was a Drill Sgt we had a few Drill Sgts that were from other MOSs (11B) that never had to deal with female soldiers and didn't have a clue other than what was taught at DS School. They didn't know how to approach the females or even discuss military or personal problems with them. Sadly a few of these D/Sgts got into trouble because they saw the women not the soldier in uniform.

Response by SMSgt Lawrence McCarter made Mar 24 at 2017 7:29 AM

SMSgt Lawrence McCarter — Fri, 24 Mar 2017 07:29:00 -0400

If You are a leader You darn sure should know the Regulations that guide the wear of the uniform by any Military member and what is or isn't proper. If You don't know You need to learn and learn fast. If You don't know then read the Regulation or Instruction that deals with that. look it up, it pretty simple esp as both Regulations and Air Force Instructions can all be found on the computer if You don't actually have the publication that applies. I don't buy the excuse, I didn't know !