Essay On Grooming In The Military

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BEARDS IN THE ARMY…?
USAACE
SSG Mason M. Crites
15ZSLC
17-003
SFC Maradol

To shave or not to shave, a topic of debate for many “barracks lawyers”, at the Section lunch outing, and at countless social gatherings for “generations” of Army Soldiers. Soldiers have often voiced their opinions as to whether the early morning ritual of lathering up before the morning formation really has reason or is just another way to “restore” good order and discipline. Army leaders have voiced their concern over the years and have pronounced a resounding “NO” to the idea of Soldiers sporting neatly groomed facial hair, not to mention, a full-grown beard. This has long been a hot topic for Soldiers, but has recently become a subject of debate for upper echelon leaders, such as, the G-1 Uniform Policy, Sergeant Major Anthony Moore, and even Sergeant Major of the Army (SMA) Dan Daily.

Obtaining a proper seal on a Soldier’s Pro-Mask has been the bullet point of all arguments regarding the male grooming standard in today’s military, with the exception of a few who claim it is for maintaining discipline and camaraderie. Until recently, this has …show more content…

If they make exceptions to policy for Soldiers with skin conditions, why not make the exception for Soldiers with religious reasons as well. Let us not forget to mention the relaxed grooming standards observed by many of the Special Operation Units within the Armed Forces. A lot of emphasis was placed on the Special Forces communities to allow beards with the onus of blending in with the population in which you operate. How are Special Operators and shaving profiled Soldiers sealing their Pro-masks or are they not in danger of chemical warfare attacks? The “Operators” are far more prone to a chemical warfare attack than the conventional

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