I was an air winger, and that was 1980 or 81 and that is how long we wore it in Hawaii. :)
1980 was not 2001. Things change. Even Marines. When I get a haircut, I get it pretty much the same as I did in 1983, when I was a USAFR Captain. My hair was no longer, nor shorter, than the active duty guys' hair at the time, but it was and is longer than that of the Army officers I now see on a daily basis.
I do let mine get longer than I did back then, but when I first get it cut it's about the same as a new haircut then. Wasn't nearly so hard to get my Korean lady barber just outside the gate to do it the way I wanted, as it was to get the "no military within two counties" barbers to do it that way in 1983. :)
Thanks for being a patriot, speaking boldly without fear.
Our country needs more people like you standing up and being heard.