The U.S. Army has announced new grooming and appearance standards to address the disparate impact on female soldiers. The Army Senior Leaders approved hairstyle changes that include optional wear of earrings with Army Combat Uniform, additional colors of lipstick, nail polish, offensive wording change, and updated imagery. The new grooming standards will be reflected in a forthcoming memo (ALARACT) and will go into effect in February.
The Army’s commitment to improving the wellbeing of all Soldiers is evident in the recent changes to its uniform and grooming standards. The move marks a substantial deviation from previous regulations, including guidance on wearing the new Army Green Service Uniform. Additionally, the Army is revising its grooming standards to support its commitment to a more inclusive and respectful environment for all personnel.
The Army’s grooming policy now allows female Soldiers to wear ponytails in all authorized U.S. Army uniforms. Under the current standard, Soldiers are allowed to braid, twist, lock, or cornrow their hair if they are uniform and no greater than 1/2 inch. The new grooming standards also include relaxed hair and makeup rules for female soldiers and accommodations for those who may not conform to certain standards.
In summary, the Army has made significant changes to its uniform and grooming standards to address the disparate impact on female soldiers.
📹 #ArmyROTC: Grooming Standards
U.S. Army appearance and grooming standards have recently changed. CST PAO reporter Carley Stone spoke to 1st Sgt. April …
Why can’t US soldiers have beards?
Most military servicemen are clean-shaven. Gas masks are the main reason military members can’t grow beards. A gas mask needs to form a perfect seal to keep out toxins, radiation, smoke, or other environmental hazards. Hairs on the face create tiny gaps in the seal, which can be deadly. However, the debate is shifting toward allowing beards. The U.S. Army recently changed its rules about beards and headdresses for religious reasons. The biggest argument against beards has changed recently. Companies that make military gas masks are testing beard-friendly versions. Some in the military see beards as camouflage.
Is the Army going to allow beards?
The Army has lifted a 100-year ban on facial hair for soldiers. The King approved the decision on Thursday to allow beards for officers and soldiers. The new policy will take effect on Friday, giving soldiers on Easter leave time to grow beards.
Can men braid their hair in the Army?
Soldiers can braid, twist, lock, or cornrow their hair if it’s uniform and no more than 1/2 inch wide. Each style must be the right size and spaced correctly, and you can only have one style at a time. The new standard removes the size requirements. Mitchell said that by removing some of the restrictions, Soldiers will now have more flexibility while staying professional. Female Soldiers can now choose from more hairstyles to fit their headgear. Ponytails. Female Soldiers with medium-length hair can wear a ponytail if their hair is too long or too thick to put into a tight bun. Medium-length hair must extend more than 1 inch from the scalp and cannot extend below the collar in all uniforms.
Why did the army ban beards?
Growing a beard in the military. A petition on Change.org is asking the U.S. military to let its members grow beards. It’s gaining support. The military has had a love-hate relationship with facial hair.
Chemical weapons ended the affair. Beards were banned across all branches for two reasons: Hygiene and gas masks. Current regulations allow facial hair for those with religious waivers. Those with relaxed grooming standards fall into three main categories. Special Operations, Intelligence, Medical. All have time limits. For the first two, relaxed grooming standards are usually allowed while the service member is deployed to an area where facial hair is normal. For number three, it’s about a service member who can’t shave daily due to a medical condition. Once the condition is fixed, the service member must shave again.
Will the British Army ever allow beards?
Ukraine and Gaza are forgotten. The only news in the last few days has been about beards in the British army. King Charles III has approved a new policy allowing beards for soldiers. This is the first change in over 100 years. Why the change? The ban was seen as old-fashioned and might be discouraging people from joining. With about half of British men growing facial hair, it’s time for the army to allow beards. This article is the author’s opinion, not the UK Defence Journal’s. If you want to write an article on this topic or another, see our submission guidelines.
Why did the Army ban beards?
Growing a beard in the military. A petition on Change.org is asking the U.S. military to let its members grow beards. It’s gaining support. The military has had a love-hate relationship with facial hair.
Chemical weapons ended the affair. Beards were banned across all branches for two reasons: Hygiene and gas masks. Current regulations allow facial hair for those with religious waivers. Those with relaxed grooming standards fall into three main categories. Special Operations, Intelligence, Medical. All have time limits. For the first two, relaxed grooming standards are usually allowed while the service member is deployed to an area where facial hair is normal. For number three, it’s about a service member who can’t shave daily due to a medical condition. Once the condition is fixed, the service member must shave again.
What are the new grooming standards for the Army?
The updated policy says that certain nail shapes, like coffin, ballerina, and stiletto nails, are not allowed while in uniform or on duty in civilian clothes. Unauthorized pigments include purple, blue, pink, green, orange, red, and fluorescent or neon colors. Another update will remove and replace offensive words and phrases, such as Mohawk, Fu Manchu, dreadlock, eccentric, and faddish. Army officials are replacing phrases with alternative verbiage to provide clarity and guidance about a soldier’s appearance. This is based on safety, good order, and military bearing, not the discretion of the commander.
What gun is the Army switching to?
The XM7 is the U.S. Army variant of the SIG MCX Spear, a 6.8×51mm (.277 in) assault rifle designed by SIG Sauer for the Next Generation Squad Weapon Program in 2022 to replace the M4 carbine. The XM7 has a free-floating handguard with slots for accessories.
History In January 2019, the US Army began the Next Generation Squad Weapon Program to find replacements for the M4 carbine and M249 light machine gun. In September 2019, SIG Sauer submitted its designs. The SIG Sauer MCX-SPEAR (the rifles commercial designation) is chambered in the 6.8×51mm (.277 in) SIG Fury cartridge. This is an intermediate caliber 6.8mm cartridge. On April 19, 2022, the Army awarded a 10-year contract to SIG Sauer to produce the XM7 rifle and XM250 light machine gun. The XM7 will replace the M4 carbine and M249 light machine gun. Originally, the rifle was designated the XM5. In January 2023, the Army announced it was changing the name of the rifle from XM5 to XM7.
What is the new beard policy in the Army?
Beards must be trimmed off the cheekbones and neck with no patchy or uneven growth” nor exaggerated colours. *Warrant Officer Class 1 Paul Carney, the most senior non-commissioned officer, confirmed the rule change in a four-minute clip.
What is the new update for AR 670-1?
Breastfeeding Women. The latest update to AR 670-1 allows breastfeeding women to do the following:
Wear an optional T-shirt designed for that purpose (also applies if pumping); Unzip or remove ACU coat or other uniform jackets when breastfeeding; Unbutton shirts when breastfeeding; Breastfeed anywhere; Not cover themselves or their child when breastfeeding.
Who Does AR 670-1 Apply To? AR 670-1 applies to everyone.
Army regulars, Army National Guard, Army civilians, veterans, ROTC, West Point cadets.
What is the new Army g3 5 7?
Mission: The Deputy Chief of Staff, G-3/5/7 oversees operations across TRADOC to support the Commanding Generals’ priorities and objectives. This includes developing and recommending command priorities, managing enterprise accessions, training, leader development, and education operations and requirements.
Organization The G-3/5/7 has 13 directorates, one division, and liaison officers.
Accessions Information Environment (AIE) Functional Team; Accessions Directorate; DOD Warrior Games; G-5 Strategic Plans and Policy Analysis; G-33 Current Operations; G-34 Protection; G-35 Plans; G-37 Training; International Army Programs Directorate; Priorities, Analysis, and Requirements Directorate; Security Assistance Training Field Activity (FOA); Soldier for Life; Training Operations Management Activity (FOA); Organization Management Division; Liaison Officers.
Why did the Army change grooming standards?
They have also changed their grooming policies to meet the haircare needs of service members from different ethnic backgrounds. In 2017, the U.S. Army changed its grooming rules to let soldiers wear more types of head coverings. The new rules also let service members with short or thinning hair use hair extensions and wigs. These changes show the military is becoming more inclusive. The military is working to ensure that all service members feel valued and respected, regardless of their background or haircare needs. Save on your shave with Cut Buddy. At The Cut Buddy, we support those who serve our country. We know how important it is to look your best, so we offer a discount to military and veterans. Check out our top products today, like the Cut Buddy Beginners Clipper and the Trim Buddy for all your military grooming needs!
📹 MAJOR CHANGES: New Army hair and grooming standards allow for ponytails, buzz cuts and earrings
The Army will make major changes to its hair and grooming policy, including allowing long ponytails, buzz cuts, earrings, lipstick …
Super happy to hear about all these changes for females! Let’s help the ranking officials to recognize that these aren’t only healthy changes for women’s self identity, but they encompass the full human self identity. Earings and long hair are historically human forms of self expression, and they can be done professionally by both men and women, and everything in between.
So when I was in the military from 90 to 94, there was always a lot of back room talk about how females can look like women when off duty, while men Got to enjoy the high and tight or block cut. Essentially special treatment for women. Now we have a board that’s put together and a panel that discusses additional ways that women can continue to look like women. However, again who gives a shit about men. Hey, you get to put highlights in your hair And wear some clear finger polish. Well hell, that changes everything for us guys doesn’t it? Sorry guys, you still get to look like tools when you’re off duty while the women get to look like… Women. More Divisiveness. You can say whatever the hell you want to say but this is what the guys were saying back then and this is what the guys are saying now. How are you supposed to present equality when one has special privileges and the other does not. Pssst…The forgotten man. Keep it up it’s been working so far
Best part about this is not even about hair standards (Its a womans choice to have hair in the style the want, not for men though)…its about special BREASTFEEDING UNIFORMS! This is yet another proof that the US military isn’t even pretending to care about the job anymore…carrying babies around during duty hours? Women don’t like the job enough to stay so maybe they should be allowed to look pretty and ‘feel like a female’ while on duty? …just…stop. Technology can’t win the future wars, only soldiers can…and soldiers who can’t be counted on to care enough about the job more than the political feelings of ‘outside panels’ are of very suspect value to our society.
We aren’t even pretending anymore. Soldiers today aren’t even taught to march in formation well either. It seems like small fry to an outsider, but those kinds of things are pretty important in the day to day running an organization that exists solely to kill other humans with great physical violence.
There is no such thing as a disadvantaged Individual in the military. Here is why. We all start out in some kind of initial training. Boot Camp, basic training call it what you will. Thus, we all start out in the same place regardless of where we came from. Then we all go to some skill level training. Everybody gets the same training everybody is on the same standing. Then, you were assigned to your permanent party. How does a disadvantaged individual surface during that all inclusive process? Stop creating victims. If you’re disadvantaged by the time you get to permanent party, you shouldn’t have been in the military to begin with.
I will say if they are going to try out a woman troop in actually warfighting, their hair had better be at least as short as their male counterparts. A pony tail makes a good handle for an enemy to grab in hand-to-hand confrontation as when bayonets are fixed. More head hair in the field leads to more field hygiene problems as well.