In brief
In an effort to uphold grooming standards, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has announced new policies regarding facial hair exemptions in the military. A memo states that service members requiring an exemption for more than one year will be discharged unless they provide a medical treatment plan. This change aims to address conditions like pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB), prevalent among certain demographics. The memo lacks clarity on the treatments offered by the military and raises questions about existing exemptions for special forces and extreme climates.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has enforced new regulations for military personnel concerning the exemption from shaving facial hair beyond one year. In a memo made public on August 20, Hegseth stipulated that although commanders can still issue exemptions, such waivers must include a detailed medical treatment plan. If service members continue to seek exemption after a year without progress, they will be discharged from the military.Hegseth emphasized the significance of maintaining grooming standards that align with the military's warrior ethos in the directive. The majority of shaving waivers pertain to service members diagnosed with pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB), a condition where hair curls back into the skin post-shaving, resulting in irritation. This condition frequently affects Black men disproportionately.The recent memo does not clarify the medical treatments the military will provide for affected troops or cover the costs associated with these treatments. Furthermore, the memo does not address whether existing policies for broad shaving exemptions, such as for special forces in active operations or soldiers stationed in extreme Arctic environments where shaving may be hazardous, will remain unchanged.This announcement aligns with the Army's own recent update on grooming standards, which has notably revised regulations for female soldiers, including changes to appearance standards related to nails, hairstyles, earrings, and makeup.
