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The effort originated from a panel of 17 Soldiers who were tasked with assessing a list of proposed changes relating to health, wellness, and professional appearance, among other factors. Included among the panel members was Sergeant Major Jennifer Redding of the U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command's U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research. The final, approved changes to the code were then officially announced by Sergeant Major of the Army Michael Grinston during a town hall-style meeting held via Facebook Live on January 26. The accessory must also be plain or a color similar to the natural hair color of the female soldier. A recent update to grooming standards is the removal of female members having to observe a minimum length of 1/4 inch from the scalp.
AR 670-1 Army Haircut Regulations
This cut allows for more style while still adhering to regulations. The military crew cut haircut involves a slightly longer length on top that gradually tapers down to a shorter length on the sides and back. The Army Haircut Regulations apply to both men and women, though there are specific rules for each gender. “This is not just about hair, it’s about acknowledgement of personal rights, it’s about checking bias," California State Sen. Holly Mitchell previously told USA TODAY. “Some male Soldiers in certain occupation specialties rely on their hands, which are under constant bombardment while working with tools or harsh chemicals,” Sanders said. “A male Soldier would take this opportunity to keep their nails protected."
Army Grooming Standards and AR 670-1
Congressional Black Caucus Urges Rethink Of Army Hair Rules - NPR
Congressional Black Caucus Urges Rethink Of Army Hair Rules.
Posted: Fri, 11 Apr 2014 07:00:00 GMT [source]
It’s a safe and convenient alternative to expensive visits to a laser tattoo removal professional service. Sideburns, on the other hand, are allowed with certain specifications. The only exception is when granted a medical or religious waiver by the U.S. Mustaches must look neatly trimmed, tapered, and tidy at all times.
Army announces new grooming, appearance standards
Highlights in soldiers’ hair are also now in the mix for those who want to add a little color, but they can’t be too stark and have to blend naturally. "This is one of the many facets of putting our people first and recognizing who they are as human beings," said Sgt. Maj. Brian Sanders, senior enlisted leader of Army G-1's uniform policy branch, in a statement. "Their identity and diverse backgrounds are what makes the Army an ultimate fighting force." "This is how we shift the culture and embrace forward thinking," Sanders added. "It is time to dig deeper and use our lexicon and vocabulary to describe what is authorized and what does not conform to a professional military appearance, good order and discipline." Panel findings determined that females attending Ranger, Special Forces, or Sapper training were often encouraged to cut their hair to abide by health and hygiene recommendations while training in an austere environment, Sanders said.
Military Rolls Back Restrictions on Black Hair Styles - TIME
Military Rolls Back Restrictions on Black Hair Styles.
Posted: Wed, 13 Aug 2014 07:00:00 GMT [source]
The Army first allowed some women to have some types of locks in 2017. The changes authorize women to wear earrings in their Army combat uniforms, except in field environments where access to hygiene is limited. The policy for wearing long pony tails “was the only time, out of all of [the policies], where the panel was a little bit split,” Sanders said. The panel agreed to authorize the long pony tail only under specific circumstances, such as physical training and tactical operations. Other updates include removing offensive or racist wording from AR 670-1, and updating the images in the regulations with “specific examples for standards” to clearly show what is and is not allowed. The updated grooming standards will supersede the standards outlined in the grooming and appearance section of Army Regulation until the next scheduled revision.
Religious garments (hijabs, turbans, kippot)
The top hair must still conform to army regulations, i.e., it must not be excessively bulky or fall over the ears or eyes. Women soldiers can also now have short hair; shaved heads are now allowed for women, with minimum hair lengths erased in the latest update. The U.S. Army this week unveiled an updated grooming policy that is set to go into effect in late February. The new policy also removes hair length and dimension requirements and allows ponytails and earrings. The lack of hairstyle options as a result of a Soldier’s hair length or texture can often stress an individual as they try various techniques and devices to secure their hair to maintain a neat appearance, Mitchell said. Under the new policy, medium-length ponytails are only authorized for wear on the back of the scalp and cannot exceed the head's width or interfere with the proper wear of a Soldier's headgear.
Leaders are expected to use good judgment in order to determine if the hair color is considered appropriate. Thus, in the absence of specific procedures or guidelines for gauging if a hairstyle is acceptable, commanders are asked to exercise personal judgment regarding the matter. Women can wear only one earring per earlobe, and they must match. They can not wear earrings on other parts of the ear while in uniform or on duty. A soldier’s medical exemption to the Army’s beard policy must specify the maximum length of the beard. Soldiers can not use medical exemptions to grow shaped beard styles like goatees and handlebar mustaches.
Religious Accommodation:
It also helps foster an environment where soldiers feel proud and respectful about their daily appearance, adding to an overall feeling of self-worth. It’s assumed that when each soldier maintains a “clean-cut” appearance that the military unit as a whole is well organized and detailed. The United States Army has a list of standards and expectations for all members regarding their uniform as well as physical appearance. Soldiers with religious accommodations can wear long-sleeved Army physical fitness uniform (APFU) tops and subdued leggings under APFU shorts. The material of the leggings may not contain logos, patterns or be otherwise obtrusive.
Military Retirement Plans
However, there is some more leeway granted for female authorized hairstyles within the Army. Male soldiers are not permitted to wear cornrows, braids, twists, and locks in uniform or when on duty. If wearing the APFU as a complete uniform, retirees must abide by the standards of AR 670-1, but they can add approved retired shoulder-sleeve insignia and identification badges. Soldiers with religious accommodations can grow their mustaches to connect with their beards, but they must trim or groom mustaches to keep them above upper lip lines.
It shouldn’t only be for school but for women’s identity overall. So now you might be wondering what hairstyles are acceptable and what are not. In announcing the changes, the Army said they're part of its "commitment to improve the wellbeing of all soldiers." The new standards will also remove "potentially offensive and weaponized words and phrases" such as "Mohawk, Fu Manchu, dreadlock, eccentric, and faddish," the Army said in a statement. "If we care about people first and the Soldier as a whole, we have to care about the many aspects to who they are as well. This is a small, but significant change that positively impacts a considerable size of our force."
The panel was made up of 10 Black women, four white women, one Hispanic woman, one Hispanic man and one Black man. Now, the National Guard Bureau action officer is the face of the updated regulation, pictured wearing a formerly unauthorized hairstyle that was approved largely due to her persistent efforts. Among the revisions that will be included in the new AR — last updated in 2017 — include changes that have already been announced such as the Army Green Service Uniform and the Expert Soldier Badge. The U.S. Army is scheduled to enact a series of changes to its universal grooming standards on February 25. The move, which marks a substantial deviation from the Army's previous grooming code, is intended to improve the wellbeing of all Soldiers while incorporating such key themes as diversity and inclusion. U.S. Army hair regulations and grooming standards are comparable to other branches of the Armed Forces.
The push to change the Army's grooming standards proves that the force is evolving and making a concerted effort to make everyone feel included, said Master Sgt. Quintana Mitchell, the uniform policy NCO for G-1. If the headgear does not fit the intended shape or has excessive gaps, female soldiers will be expected to conform their haircut to acceptable standards immediately. In 2015, the Army updated its tattoo policies to open the ranks to the 41% of millennials with at least one tattoo. The newest regulations give women greater freedom to choose hairstyles previously banned by the Army.
Though there has been recent talk of loosening beard policy, the Army has not yet revised its longstanding policies banning beards and restricting mustaches as of the latest round of updates. According to an information paper posted by Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel Lt. Gen. Gary Brito’s office, the update is part of the Army’s efforts to promote diversity and inclusion. The updates reflect the Army’s commitment to fostering an environment that promotes and facilitates diversity, equity, and inclusion. Inclusive policies foster the ability to recruit and retain the top talent. Army uniforms embody the professionalism and commitment to the Army Values. Long hair must be “neatly and inconspicuously fastened or pinned above the lower edge of the collar,” according to the regulations.
Senior leaders recently approved the changes recommended by the panel of soldiers of different races and cultural backgrounds, and from different ranks and career fields, the Army said. The process included dermatologists, a psychologist and an equal opportunity adviser. The U.S. Army will loosen restrictions on lipstick, nail polish and protective hairstyles in an effort to promote gender and racial inclusion. The Army plans to authorize the wear of highlights if it presents a natural appearance and is not a prohibited color, Sanders said. Further, if a Soldier decides to color or highlight their hair, root growth of a different color should not exceed 1.5 inches of the original color.
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