Posted on 06/28/2025 4:36:34 AM PDT by where's_the_Outrage?
The U.S. Army is now rolling out a new policy that disproportionately impacts Black soldiers, and one officer is questioning the motivations behind the announcement.
Military.com reported Friday that the Army is now planning to prohibit shaving waivers, requiring all soldiers to adhere to strict new grooming standards. Previously, soldiers who suffered from the skin condition pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB) were allowed to ask for a waiver to bypass requirements to stay clean-shaven, as PFB patients can often have painful bumps and scarring from the use of a razor.
Soldiers who have PFB — which causes ingrown hairs that lead to skin irritation — may be able to have laser treatments covered by the Department of Defense. However, those treatments are costly and could amount to thousands of dollars per service member, and even laser treatments can cause scarring and may even alter skin pigmentation. Under the new policy, which is slated to take effect in the coming weeks, Soldiers who request shaving waivers for more than 12 months over a two-year period could be kicked out of the Army.
According to the American Osteopathic College of Dermatology, up to 60% of Black men suffer from PFB. And Military.com reported that Black Americans make up roughly one in four new Army recruits over the past several years even though they make up just 14% of the U.S. population......
Typically, the military has required soldiers to be clean shaven in order to maintain the integrity of the seal around a gas mask. However, only a small number of units are at risk of being realistically involved in a chemical warfare scenario, and a peer-reviewed study from a 2021 issue of the Military Medicine journal found that a well-maintained beard does not change the effectiveness of a gas mask.
(Excerpt) Read more at msn.com ...
Of course it’s racially motivated!! Isn’t everything? Race baiting dickwad
Having been a recruit a long time ago.i can say black me do get bumps from shaving and many of them can and did use a nair product for men. But it burns.
So how do most black men I see everyday keep their faces clean shaven without bumps? -
, my point, it is an actual problem that can lead to more severe infections. Iow.. How should the military deal with it?
I’ve had issues with ingrown hairs, and small blisters around my chin when I was in, I agree. Beards should be allowed provided they are kept tight, to maintain a professional appearance. If deployment, exercise, or any other conditions in which usage of MOPP gear is anticipated, then mayo consider having the men shave for the duration.
Maybe. Maybe consider, not mayo.
A short look at Wikipedia will tell you it’s 60-80% of men with curly hair who get this. It’s extremely common.
An stupid. Go look at pictures of civil war soldiers. The policy literally came about in WWI because the gas masks were pathetic and didn’t seal with facial hair. That design is long gone. The policy around because Gillette had ramped up production and wanted to keep selling razors.
Gillette, the company that tells us white men are bad and have to be stopped from sexually harassing women by a black man.
We had a whole class on this in basic training back in 1982. I laughed whenever the burly black seargent used the term because he put in a dramatic pause just before he said barbae.
In the 1980’s this was a thing with blacks. They were allowed to use alternative shaving methods that left small stubble as shaving skin close would lead to their curls hair getting infected.
Not one once of truth on anything at Alternet.
“ So how do most black men I see everyday keep their faces clean shaven without bumps?”
They’re using an electric trimmer set at 1 or .5 mm and you can’t see the hair.
I know this because that’s what I do on my neck.
“”””Geez. We went through this retarded bullsh*t in the 60s and 70s in the Army. It ended up that we had AMERICAN GIs running around like idiots wearing turbans.””””
I don’t know if they are back or not but Reagan ended that turban nonsense when he took over.
And that’s one of the reasons he was such a good leader. Complied, set the example, and expected others to do so, too.
Done from memory ... apologies to Bill Cosby
It’s a medical issue not racial. There is no race in foxhole. Black men with the problem were always treated just fine as far as I recall. We did find one white guy though who habitually wore diapers. He had to be released from service.
“...only a small number of units are at risk of being realistically involved in a chemical warfare scenario...”
What kind of pot are these yo-yos inhaling?
So, following this logic, only certain troops would be assigned to one of these at-risk units?
Idiots. All units are at risk if one is living in a reality-based world.
Can one get a good seal in a protective mask with a beard?
With a beard cut to 3mm or less, yes.
We’re not exactly using WWI equipment these days.
I don’t see the Israelis having trouble and some of their best units have the full Grizzly Adams look.
Agreed. Resume conscription, we won’t have these problems...and the Romney, Trump & Sununu families will finally put men into the fight.
Military has relaxed men and women's grooming and hair so living by a base I see it and have a few observations:
Female Marines can wear their hair slightly longer now. The majority still wore the tight bun, but some wore lose shoulder length hair. It did not detract from their professional appearance. One female Marine looked horrible with a ponytail it was done in a manner that did not allow her cover to fit. Israeli military wear beret's so the ponytail works. Marine five point cover not so much.
Female Marine told me it is really based on MOS. Her MOS takes her to the field and she is around machinery, she keeps her hair in a traditional tight bun for practical reasons. She said most of the females in her unit wear short hair or buns.
Standards are about more than good hygiene. As a young white man I could not grow a mustache to save my life. SgtMaj made me shave off the scraggly attempt after three weeks he said my upper lip looked like a….sorry cannot repeat the rest. Just because beards would be allowed should not mean everyone can grow their peach fuzz.
They enlisted people with neck tattoos, I am thinking a well groomed beard on a Marine would look better than neck and sleeve tattoos.
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