An American artilleryman shaves in frigid cold, using a helmet for a shaving bowl, during the Battle of the Bulge, January 1 1945
Posted on 09/16/2025 3:39:56 AM PDT by fluorescence
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is targeting beards and facial hair in the military to establish a new "grooming standard," as the Pentagon announced Monday that leadership will be required to conduct a review of how service member grooming practices have changed over the past decade.
The "rapid force-wide review of military standards," requested by Hegseth, according to a Pentagon statement issued Monday, includes "grooming standards for facial hair."
"The grooming standard set by the U.S. military is to be clean shaven and neat in presentation for a proper military appearance," Hegseth said, according to the statement by Chief Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell.
"Commanders must apply consistent criteria and appropriately consider the department's interests in safety and uniformity when authorizing individual exceptions," Parnell added.
According to Hegseth, shaving waivers will be allowed under a written recommendation by military medical officers, as long as there is a treatment plan. Hegseth also said service members who require a shaving waiver after more than one year of medical treatment will be considered for "separation."
"As I stated when directing the Rapid Force-Wide Review of Military Standards, the strength of the military is our unity and our shared purpose," said Hegseth. "The department must remain vigilant in maintaining the grooming standards which underpin the warrior ethos."
Both President Donald Trump and Hegseth used the term "warrior ethos" earlier this month when renaming the Department of Defense to the Department of War.
"Words matter. Restoring ... the warrior ethos. Restoring victory and clarity as an instinct," Hegseth said Sept. 5, as Trump signed the executive order. A permanent department name change will require Congress to act.
In addition to grooming, Hegseth's new requirements extend to body composition and physical fitness.
"We must remain vigilant in maintaining the standards that enable the men and women of our military to protect the American people and our homeland as the world's most lethal and effective fighting force," Hegseth wrote. "Our adversaries are not growing weaker, and our tasks are not growing less challenging."
The rule had been changed for Sikh/Muslim faiths.
Warriors!
President Reagan removed the Sikh special treatment, but some later president brought that stuff back.
Hegseth has been a breath of fresh air as SECWAR.
Whatever the origin, I respectfully disagree with this rule.
Itge “no beard” rule came in place as a “temporary” measure in WWI due to gas masks. Modern masks are not hindered by a close cropped beard.
Beards have a long history of military significance.
They are useful and protect the face from Sun.
“The rule had been changed for Sikh/Muslim faiths.”
Bye Bye Beardos!
In the past black men have asked for waivers due to ingrown hair issues from shaving.
What you mention is reality. In 1975 I worked on an anhydrous ammonia pipeline. I had a full beard. One of our jobs was to repair any blowout if the pipe. We got to the site up in Kansas, donned masks, and mine didn’t close. In rural Kansas I had to shave with a pocket knife and no water. I decided right then that I would never have facial hair again.
I note in passing that the New York Yankees even discarded their generations lasting ban on facial hair a year or two ago. It is now allowed, but must be well kept.
Gwjack
Religious dress and religious beards had started being allowed but Reagan ended all that, it has since been brought back in.
Shaving exceptions for medical reasons remained.
My pop was a career Coastguardsman, we live in the Seattle area for a short back in the early 60s and we would go down to the piers quite a bit. One day I asked pops about these navy sailors walking around with beards. He told me that personnel could wear a beard only if they had officially crossed the equator underway on deployment and once they left the fleet they were slick faced again. It morphed from there.
I did my time in service as a stewburner I had to shave. Hated the razor.
Admittedly, it’s been awhile since I’ve read 4 different books on Alexander The Great, but it does strike me that I remember it is thought that he made his army shave. This practice goes back millenia.
I suspect that some modern-day superheroes staying at Fort Bragg near Fayetteville; Coronado by the warm sunny beach, and Little Creek and Dam Neck near not-so-sunny beaches may not be 100% excited by this.
Although I’d expect they will all get quick exemptions.
Meanwhile, the Phillies looking like a bluegrass band ...
Male and female?
There is no question at all that they will be exempted when required.
Anyone who disagrees with what he has said obviously does not understand the importance of discipline to the military and the importance of the military to the USA, the American People, the world, Western Civilization, the American Dream, and all that is true and good.
The New York Yankees went to beards and turned into losers, so the military should take notice.
The current Yankees spend most of their energy growing beards, not hitting or pitching.
There are reasons why the military wears uniforms. Beards are no different.
First, it was relaxed grooming standards for the special operations units in the Gulf War
Then it became for more units.
Then it was carried back to the US.
Then the homosexuals adopted it as part of their uniform look.
It stayed as homosexuality was pushed onto everyone.
When I see a man in a trimmed “5 O”, I know he is queer as a three dollar bill.
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