[sagar]

A vast majority of black women straighten their hair or wear wigs. Just saying.

[wastedyears]

Well that’s a giant can of worms.

[Jonty30]

I think it’s a reasonable concern. As long as the mikitary allows women to express their femininity, it should be allowing all woman that capability, as long as its military needs are not being compromised.

[Eagles6]

High and tight for everybody. Do the same PT, same physical requirements, same haircuts, same everything.

Problem solved.

[eclecticEel]

Crew cuts for everyone then.

[Sloth]

Somehow the Army has managed to survive this long without these regs. I think the black servicewomen have a reasonable objection.

[Theoria]

The military is drawing down and they are looking for any reason to cut down our numbers.

On one hand, the Army is allowing Sikh's to wear their hair in a way that is appropriate to their religion, but females who have worn their hair a certain way for years and it has not been a problem are now asked to compromise.

Garrison warriors have nothing better to do than change uniforms and design ways to wear clothing.

[Secret Agent Man]

we’re done.

the military is not the general public. it is not a democracy.

i strongly suggest learning your own defense tactics and training with like minded people in your area you can trust. we cannot count on the military anymore. it’s just a petri dish for social experiments

[VerySadAmerican]

A third of the women in the military are black. That is racist. And why do they need a National Association of Black Military Women? Is there a white association? Hell no!

[tumblindice]

#2 clipper head, problem solved.

[Jet Jaguar]

Active Duty ping.

[fella]

If it’s equality they want then all GI’s should have the burr cut. No special privilege for ‘special’ people, none.

[Jack Hammer]

One has to suppose that, these days, it would be too much to hope that they might spend their time worrying about the defense of their nationand let the concern for their hairstyles go by the boards?

[egfowler3]

Actually there IS a very practical reason for proper hair styles.

As a former NBC NCO in the US Army I observed one of the biggest causes of failing the 9-sec rule for donning the individual gas mask was hair styling. When the service member complained, no problem. We just took the members into the gas chamber for some quality training time and those unusual hair styles very quickly disappeared. Funny how being unable to establish a good air seal can work wonders on one’s attitude.

[octex]

These women should be required to have hair like Grace Jones, in the movie ‘Conan The Destroyer’. ...Easy to care for, as it was essentially just a little longer crew cut.

[melsec]

No wonder Putin doesn’t seemed concerned about the USA at present - surely these “soldiers” should be thinking about whether they might be going to war anytime soon!

[Altura Ct.]

How can this be? I guess that race does matter after all.

[SkyPilot]

The Pentagon says that all states are now complying with new rules allowing the same-sex spouses of military members to get ID cards in order to claim benefits. Hagel said in an October speech that the states' refusal to comply had created hardship for couples by forcing them to travel long distances to federal military bases to get the ID cards. Under Pentagon policy that took effect Sept. 3, same-sex military spouses are eligible for the same health care, housing and other benefits enjoyed by opposite-sex spouses.

Hungover Hagel, dutifully complying with his master Bathhouse Barry's orders, shoved "same sex" benefits down the military's throat. In a budget where Hagel furloughed aircraft maintainers, nurses, teachers, and low paid secretaries (stealing 20% of the paychecks from May to August) - he spent hundreds of Millions of dollars so that homosexual playthings could collect big bucks playing house.

The Pentagon is going around talking about the evils of tobacco and hairstyles - yet Hagel is paying Millions of dollars to ensure that fisting and anal sex are publicly subsidized.

Meanwhile, this garbage is taking place:

Airmen say Air Force is punishing evangelical Christians

Christians Face Culture of Fear, Intimidation in U.S. Military Today

[xzins]

I agree that braids are not an impediment to service...depending on length, of course. I also agree that braids are predominantly used by African-American women.

As with any style, the real issue is field duty or combat duty. If anything imposes additional hygiene problems in the field, then it shouldn’t be allowed. Another field concern is whether it is more dangerous in combat...a handhold for an enemy. A long braid definitely would provide that.

Any such decision, then, based on hygiene or combat safety, should counter any concern based on race, religion, etc.

The Army does not exist to perform garrison duties. It exists to perform combat duties.

[Iron Munro]

Treat everyone equal.

Make them all wear a Marine Corps* High and Tight.

Don’t like it?

Go back to operating a plastic spatula on civvy street.

” For Obama voters that would be CORPSE