I’ve long felt we should make an exception for Sikhs. We are denying our military a lot of fine soldiers be demanding that they adhere to 1950s hairstyles.
I can live with exceptions for Sikhs, provided that if they need to don gas masks, they are prepared to shave if necessary.
But what I can't tolerate are the same exceptions that will be instantly demanded by Muslims.
The military hairstyle of the 20th century had practical purposes. They were intended to minimize lice and allow a seal for gasmasks. Those are still issues, unless chemical gear has changed a lot in the past thirty years.
Why stop there? For numerous Native American tribes, long hair is part of their tradition, so I don't see the difference. There was an Apache officer who was a classmate of mine at Officers Basic Course at Fort Bliss, TX. He spoke of that tradition often, though the farthest he went was a bushy moustache that sometimes went beyond Army regulations.
I fully understand the reasons for the old/current policy, but when you're in garrison, it really shouldn't matter, not when you have tens of thousands of women on active duty.
Forty years ago, I was in ROTC, and our CO allowed the men to wear their hair until it touched the collar. It didn't affect the quality of our training or discipline. However...
It did set the stage for a memorable moment during Spring Camp, 1976 at Fort Lewis...lolol. Our senior advisor suggested that the seniors should cut their hair to standard, as we were on an Army base. Five or six of us were affected by this "suggestion", and we grumbled about it, but finally acceded to his wishes.
I got the idea to make a poster from it, gathering the clippings and with wide strips of masking tape, created "scalps" for the Major. We took a group picture with the poster before we presented it to him. As part of our graduation gift, we gave him a framed copy of the picture.
Several years later after I returned from a tour in Germany, I stopped by to see him in DC. That picture occupied a prominent place on his desk.
Hopefully we'll have a good turnout in May, as we celebrate the 40th anniversary of our graduation and commissioning.
Couching your description in terms like “50’s hairstyles” suggests they are outdated, period. So why an exemption for just one group. Sikhs are great fighters and we should let them have their way. Farmers, Southerners, Blacks, Hispanics, Whites, American Indians, Gurkhas, alcoholics, wife-beaters, are all great fighters, just to name a few deserving of exemption.
Self image is one of the first abandonments one makes upon joining up. It’s now about the team. My self-image was wounded when a squad leader shouted at me and swore. But I’ll be a good fighter. Exemption?
Suggest a limit to exemptions please just so it’s clear where you draw the line and how you wish to re-define the military.