Military Hair Cuts

[digitalghost]

ok all this is funny/confusing to me. In Basic Training, you get the "high and tight" or whatever the heck you call it-- 1/4" on top and clean shaved on back/sides.

http://www.goarmy.com/basic/video/week00/01wk00ql.htm

What is the purpose of this? Proper fixature of the gasmask correct?

If that is so then why do SF keep their hair long? Wouldn't that prevent them from using the gasmask properly? Is looking like the locals more important than an NBC attack?

How long is an infantry soldier allowed to grow thier hair? I want a minimum of 1/4" on the side/back and a few inches on top--hows that?

Digital Ghost

[James]

Length of hair in basic/recruit training is to make everyone uniform - it's a part of the team building process. Gas masks work fine with hair that is a bit longer. You do need to have a decent shave.

When (if) you are in the service, your squad or section leader will make it very clear how long you can grow your hair.

[digitalghost]

oh sweet I guess I wouldn't look too bad after all... So hows 1/4" on sides and a few inches on top?

[James]

Are you some kind of hippy? Why not grow dredlocks and smoke some ganja?

Seriously, though, if you had been in my squad, I would have let you have 1/4 inch on top. Nothing else. You would've gotten a haircut once a week. But that was just my squad. :P

[digitalghost]

Dont get me wrong, I LOVE the clean shaven military haircut.. Take this RANGER for example:

http://specwargear.com/images/US%20Army%20SF-36.jpg

It would also look especially nice with a boonie hat- Notice how the back is tilted up and the front is tilted down drill instructor hat style.. LOOKS AWESOME!

http://www.ghostrecon.com/media/ss_siege/IslandThunder_1.jpg

But unfortunately I believe that longer hair has a better aesthetic to it for opposite *** attraction reasons if you know what i mean hahahhaa

[digitalghost]

Are you some kind of hippy? Why not grow dredlocks and smoke some ganja?

Come on james; I said SEVERAL INCHES ON THE TOP and 1/4" on the sides/back which is very standardized... Top would look like this, BUT THE SIDES/BACK WOULD BE 1/4":

http://www.waderobson.com/images/desktop/film800.jpg

[Marsuitor]

Is that harsh hair regime just a US thing? :|
Not that it really matters, but AFAIK that's about the only country i can think of that has such stringent rules to... hair.
We're always told that either your hair was to be cut once it reaches the collar of your uniform, or your beret doesn't "hang" properly any longer. I mean, if you really want it uniform, everyone should use the excact same type of kit, that going for everything from boots and shoelases to weapon attachments and LBE's, something which (fortunately) isn't the case in the US Forces it seems.
Also with regards to growing beards/mustaches, i written application has to be sent to the platoon CO for approval, and you're not allowed to leave camp (in uniform) before after four weeks/you don't look like a rascal any longer, whichever comes first.

[digitalghost]

What does AFAIK mean? And I like the pleasure of buying my own gear if I was in the Army

[James]

AFAIK - As Far As I Know.

I don't know if the hair thing is exclusive to the U.S. But, it is part hygiene, part uniformity. As for your other comments about uniformity, I know that in garrison, my company always looked pretty sharp - good haircuts, pressed uniforms, polished boots. It had (in my opinion) little to do with effectiveness in battle, but that's the way it was. I was a Corporal, so I wasn't in a position to make much of a fuss. When we were in the field, though, we generally didn't look that similar at all. Same uniforms of course, and weapons, but beyond that, there were plenty of variations on what on infantryman looked like when compared to the next. Much of our gear was the same. At the time I was in, there wasn't so much to choose from, and the vast majority of guys weren't going to spend their own money on something when what we were issued worked. I left active duty in 1997, so I wouldn't be the greatest authority on how things work today.

[Apogee]

SF doesn't always have long hair, thats just a myth. In certain situations (ie UW in Afganistan) the beard and long hair help them fit in with the locals. When an SF team thinks that this may be of aid to them they request relaxed grooming standards. Having short hair doesn't make you a better soldier, it just makes you look more uniform. I think the SAS have a saying that says something like "We only cut our hair for parades and inspections, neither of which have **** to do with war fighting."

[to free the oppressed]

The reason i think that they have your hair so short is that if your in unarmed combat the enemy won't pull your [long] hair back and slit your throat.That's what i heard.

[18C4V]

For haircuts and shaves it all depends on your team daddy and the mission.

If you're back in garrision (FOB) haircuts and shaves.

[Knave]

You can't always count on getting a shower.

You can always count on being exposed to lice, or any number of bugs that love nesting in longer hair.

[martinexsquaddie]

its just a military thing in the 18th centuary Pig tails went down to the waist were one military fashion in the 17th century Wigs were in big demand.
In the british infantry Pioneer Sargents have to have beards their the only ones allowed beards. In the RAF. Moustaches are allowed but no Beards A left over from he Battle of Britain don't yer know :lol:
While the royal navy are allowed Beards but no moustaches ;) .
My battalion did'nt like soldiers having too short hair as it made them look thuggish ;) On OPs fair enough but if your in Barracks might as well try to look civillised :P

[Royal]

In the british infantry Pioneer Sargents have to have beards their the only ones allowed beards.

Pioneer sergeants, farrier sergeants and pipe majors in the British Army are all allowed beards. Sorry Martin, but although they are a Regimental tradition, they aren't compulsary - look at the Gurkha's, they have both pioneer sergeants and pipe majors (and I've never seen either with a beard, the Gurkha variety that is). Sikhs are also allowed beards, when serving in any unit/capacity.

The respirator/beard thing is a complete myth. The RN and trained for and wear both respirators and breathing apparatus, with beards (although sometimes with a bit of vaseline to help the seal).

In the UK armed forces hair that is too short is generally considered 'thugish' (unless you are balding, or for some reason, black). I've known marines confined to barracks until hair grows back to a reasonable length.

[RealUltimatePower]

Well just to get the facts straight you don't get a high and tight till end of basic training. Before that it's just clean shaven head all round. This is because you just haven't earned it yet.

Also SF guys in Afghanistan probably had long hair because there wasn't much of a threat of chem/bio attack from the Taliban. But if you look at SF in Iraq they all had clean cut heads or at least short enough to wear the mask. Besides length of hair on your head don't matter so much as on your face. All you need is for the mask to make a seal on your face. So that's why it's important to shave.

[ibstolidude]

the point about longer hair = hard to clean = lice is wrong. Lice prefer clean hair - to preven lice you hair should (always) be free of foreign substance and have a natural oil to it..as in the oil most hair naturally produces. Sweet smelling shampoos (fruit and flower types the most common or aloe type) actually attract fleas and lice. If you worry about ticks and critters, use premetherane or deet as a pretreat.

The reason for the difference betwee the relax grooming standards in Afghansistan and Iraq is mostly based upon the nature of the mission. For the majoriy of SOF the missions are worlds apart... Contrary to "I have seen Blackhawk down belief" a professional soldier (i.e. Special Operations troop) understands what is expected of him and should NOT need to be told when it is appropriate to remain well groomed. There are times when being the "gray" men is much wiser then looking like a bunch of cowboys, (as that is how you will be viewed). Therefore you rarely will see a SOF soldier walking around a conventional mission (always mission dependent) or garrison with hippy hair flipping off the sergeant majors. That would not embody the "quiet professional", even if it is mickey mouse horse****.

[digitalghost]

Well just to get the facts straight you don't get a high and tight till end of basic training. Before that it's just clean shaven head all round. This is because you just haven't earned it yet.

Text/Images http://goarmy.com/basic/video/week00/wk00tx01.htm


From there you'll get a "high and tight." It's peeled to the skin all the way up to right here,no more than a quarter of an inch
on top with a quick blend.Don't ask for anything else, they'll not allow us to cut it.

Video http://goarmy.com/basic/video/week00/01wk00ql.htm

[RealUltimatePower]

Like I said clean shaved heads. A high and tight is shaved all around and a bit of hair on the top like that ranger in the previous picture. All these recruits have shaved heads!! Some civie or pogue messed up the terminology on the recruiting web site. But trust me on this I'm in the army now and I'm going to the marine corps in a year. Plus my best friend is in Benning right now and one of my coworkers is a former Marine staff sgt.

[martinexsquaddie]

Sorry royal I always thought if you were pioneer sgt you had to have a beard.
Suprise suprise Skates have plenty of vaseline :o

[Duke]

In the Navy Dept., when sitting in the barber seat, there are generally three types of hair cuts: low reguation, medium regulation and high regulation. However, the outcome of these haircuts differ between the USMC and the Navy. If you're on a Navy base and you ask for a high regulation, you recieve the 1/4 sides and 3/8 top. However, if you are at a MCB and you ask for a high reg, you receive the high and tight. One should, before calling for a high regulation at a MCB barber shop, say, "High regulation--NAVY".

[ibstolidude]

Is that like: "Dorito Chip", "landing strip" or "bald"

[James]

Hi reg Marine will leave you with enough hair to cover with your hand.

[Nawlins]

somebody's grey matter is in the **** trench

rofl

[theGHOST]

Everybody in the Army should have a good ole fashion BoX cut......like in the 80's :D

[coverteye]

SF/ Special units don't have short hair or are clean shaven mostly because:

1.In Jungle environments you don't shave. Leads to infection.

2.If undercover you are less noticeable than a short shaven haircut like most Police and Military have.

3. These units tend to work away form the "normal" army in places where you don't always get a barber!!

[supercontra]

I got a clean shave in the military and have kept it that way for the past 20 years. It beats any fashion or other style.

[RGRBOX]

I think it really depends on the units mission... and yes, a soldier with short hair looks better... it's easier to take care of etc... but long hair helps the soldier blend in a little better... except me.. I have red hair... When I was serving in Germany after years of high and tights in Bat, I and most guys let our hair grow... I remember wearing a scruffy face for a month onn mission, wearing civilian clothes of course... I like wearing a beard, but it not practical in tactical situations for many reason... eqipment may not fit, protective mask.. helmet... fire hasard etc... but in a civilian cituation, a beard would work in an AO were lots of beards were worn,but if you wanted to blend in in maybe NY... or some places I've been then a beard would set you out from others easier... all depends of the situation, and mission... I try to remember one thing when I was on mission... Terrain Dictates...

[LazerLordz]

We get a shave that follows the shape of our head in the Singapore Armed Forces during basic military training.After that, it's flexible and as long it does not touch your eyebrows when tugged, the rear is far from the collar and the sideburns are not longer than 1/3 or your finger, its fine.

Specialist trainees and officer cadets usually have a haircut similar to the below pictures.Of course in deployment, such a haircut is encouraged.

http://www.mindef.gov.sg/images/17jan05_bus_big.jpg
photo courtesy of MINDEF Singapore.

[OMEGA7]

i guess the usarmy including any other coaliton forces against terrorists, where the court must be not killing of us when the terrorist be threated against us , it must be occuring to the cease fire the coalition forces between the other troops , because i think when the time has occured in some times which is the soldiers cut of hair so as to obiliged of this obiligation , it will able to settle in this accident

[rhino]

i guess the usarmy including any other coaliton forces against terrorists, where the court must be not killing of us when the terrorist be threated against us , it must be occuring to the cease fire the coalition forces between the other troops , because i think when the time has occured in some times which is the soldiers cut of hair so as to obiliged of this obiligation , it will able to settle in this accident

you must be a lawyer!! woot

I think the SAS have a saying that says something like "We only cut our hair for parades and inspections, neither of which have **** to do with war fighting."

hehe SAS, since when did the SAS go out for parades? hehe well I know you kinda being sarcastic, right? (The IRA will have a duck hunt if ever that is to happen)

[wiking]

Heard from a guy who was at Madla in Stavanger for selection a while back, seems like a mohawk haircut is the big thing in the Norwegian armed forces these days.

But keeping short hair clean is a lot easier, and i guess that's why they have a rule like that. I've often thought of growing my hair long, but it gets somewhat below my ears and i just think F*CK THIS! and get my mom to cut it. Bloody hard to keep the ****e clean.

But in the 18th century British recruits were forced to grow their hair long, then they would club it (drag it hard back and tie it into a pony tail laid double and stuff it into a bag in the back) then the whole thing would be covered in flour to make it look white like a whig. Must have been hell, bloody perfect breeding ground for lice and other kinds of **** like that.

[TheBlackHand]

Once I made the mistake of smart-assedly asking my gunnery seargent why I had to have such a stupid, Nazi style short hair cut. He proceeded to knock my cover off, grab a handful of my way-over-three-inch hippie hair and drag me around the grounds with it.

That was when I realized the obvioius. Short hair is there so nobody can grab it in close combat.

I still didn't get a high and tight. I did get a page eleven for my non-military appearence.

Now I'm a civilian with a high and tight. Go figure.

[el borracho]

Someone explain to me the need for the mustache regs in the US military. I've never heard an acceptable answer and as long as other countries (Britain is a good example) allow large mustaches then I will never see the point in our restrictions. Not only does it serve no purpose, but 95% of the people in the US military who have mustaches look ridiculous as hell. You are forced to have either a Hitler style (favored by my supervisor), a pencil mustache (which looks decent on Hispanic and black guys...kinda out of place on us regular white guys), or the sophomore in high school look, basically where stubble comes in at an irregular pattern (and looks like someone smeared dirt above their lip).

In garrison at least there really is no need for such limits, if they were going for uniformity then wouldn't mustaches be banned altogether?

[b33f]

Once I made the mistake of smart-assedly asking my gunnery seargent why I had to have such a stupid, Nazi style short hair cut. He proceeded to knock my cover off, grab a handful of my way-over-three-inch hippie hair and drag me around the grounds with it.

That was when I realized the obvioius. Short hair is there so nobody can grab it in close combat.

I still didn't get a high and tight. I did get a page eleven for my non-military appearence.

Now I'm a civilian with a high and tight. Go figure.
I wonder why i hear so many stories about ppl putting up resistance towards their DIs... Boot camp must be alot easier and more worthwile if you don't.. resist. No?

Especially if you realize that the DI only wants to prepare you for combat, the best he can...

Like I said clean shaved heads. A high and tight is shaved all around and a bit of hair on the top like that ranger in the previous picture. All these recruits have shaved heads!! Some civie or pogue messed up the terminology on the recruiting web site. But trust me on this I'm in the army now and I'm going to the marine corps in a year. Plus my best friend is in Benning right now and one of my coworkers is a former Marine staff sgt.

Never thought that an american soldier can actually change army to Marines... anyone done it before?

[sethen]

I dont really care about longer hair on the head. I really think its stupid that male soldiers can't have beards. And the gas mask argument holds no water with me. I was in Iraq there were no WMD'S. Only chump Generals thought they had any. But we still shaved our faces!!!!!!! rofl rofl rofl rofl rofl rofl rofl rofl rofl rofl rofl rofl rofl rofl rofl rofl

[b33f]

I dont really care about longer hair on the head. I really think its stupid that male soldiers can't have beards. And the gas mask argument holds no water with me. I was in Iraq there were no WMD'S. Only chump Generals thought they had any. But we still shaved our faces!!!!!!! rofl rofl rofl rofl rofl rofl rofl rofl rofl rofl rofl rofl rofl rofl rofl rofl

Didn't you read the "don't post arguments that might cause a flamewar to errupt" note??

STFU if you have nothing useful to say.

Btw: DON'T MAKE EXCESSIVE USE OF EMOTICONS!

[ArmyRanger]

high and tight all the way...sometimes there isnt a purpose to haircuts but sometimes its unit pride, having a high and tight is a way of showing ur motivated and hardcore, sharp, clean and squared away.

maybe some of you can understand what im saying

[Para]

When you are in a combat situation you don'y always have the water to wash your hair, if it is short then it is easier to keep the bugs of it.

[PrincessRAR]

SF/ Special units don't have short hair or are clean shaven mostly because:

1.In Jungle environments you don't shave. Leads to infection.

2.If undercover you are less noticeable than a short shaven haircut like most Police and Military have.

3. These units tend to work away form the "normal" army in places where you don't always get a barber!!

someones always hiding the clippers and the scissors rofl

[PrincessRAR]

I think the SAS have a saying that says something like "We only cut our hair for parades and inspections, neither of which have **** to do with war fighting."

hehe SAS, since when did the SAS go out for parades? hehe well I know you kinda being sarcastic, right? (The IRA will have a duck hunt if ever that is to happen)

your kiding arent you?
all units no matter who parade!! its tradition

[MSR]

Well they didn't mention anything about parades on the tv show Ultimate Force princess. That seems to be where all the knowledge of the sas is on this forum.
:roll:

[PrincessRAR]

haha, and that beard and gas mask is bull**** you can still get a seal with a beard.

and our cowboys were cruising around iraq with long hair and beards, so it wasnt just the stan.

[MSR]

OPSEC....not

[PrincessRAR]

yeah hang ten mark, ill try to get some pics and names and post them off to you

[11F5S]

Once I made the mistake of smart-assedly asking my gunnery seargent why I had to have such a stupid, Nazi style short hair cut. He proceeded to knock my cover off, grab a handful of my way-over-three-inch hippie hair and drag me around the grounds with it.

That was when I realized the obvioius. Short hair is there so nobody can grab it in close combat.

I still didn't get a high and tight. I did get a page eleven for my non-military appearence.

Now I'm a civilian with a high and tight. Go figure.
I wonder why i hear so many stories about ppl putting up resistance towards their DIs... Boot camp must be alot easier and more worthwile if you don't.. resist. No?

Especially if you realize that the DI only wants to prepare you for combat, the best he can...

You need to realize that not everyone who joins the military is as bright as you.

[Yeoman]

six inches on top, and three on the sides is our limits supposidly.
with the hair I've got right now, I pretty much have the most hair on my head then anyone else in my battalion. if only I was allowed to have a mohawk, I'd be ALL OVER that.
so you norwegian boys could have half mullets? :lol:
Greg

[memphiz]

six inches on top, and three on the sides is our limits supposidly.
with the hair I've got right now, I pretty much have the most hair on my head then anyone else in my battalion. if only I was allowed to have a mohawk, I'd be ALL OVER that.
so you norwegian boys could have half mullets? :lol:
Greg
I had a mohawk for 4 days...

[Violet Fashion by Mindy]

I would consider joining the Army if I dident have to get a haircut and could keep dying my hair different colours.

There is more important reasons apart the hair why have never joined of course. (I would only ever go in as an officer but never had the grades to do so when I was young enough, have the educational requirenments now but I'm to old)

[CPL Trevoga]

I still wear high and tight. It's a Brooklyn thing.

[EvanL]

I still wear high and tight. It's a Brooklyn thing.
Flat-tops are way more BK
where in BK you from anyways?

[Marsuitor]

Heard from a guy who was at Madla in Stavanger for selection a while back, seems like a mohawk haircut is the big thing in the Norwegian armed forces these days.
I'm so glad that does not apply here.
Fark whatever semi-ok to bad reasons for keeping short hair that DI's and others might have, i wear my hair long (by military standards) and this is the only way i like it. How you look means **** as long as the work you do on the ground is 110%, within certain limits ofcourse.

And Yeoman,
Yes, a weedy mullet and a five day 'tache would be acceptable by the book, but you'd be pissed on by the other guys if you had the guts to try it! :lol:

[BadKarma26]

I would consider joining the Army if I dident have to get a haircut and could keep dying my hair different colours.

There is more important reasons apart the hair why have never joined of course. (I would only ever go in as an officer but never had the grades to do so when I was young enough, have the educational requirenments now but I'm to old)

You could dye your hair brown, blonde, or a natural red color. It has to be natural looking though. But you can do this as much as you want.

[Violet Fashion by Mindy]

As I said. It's not THE reason why I never joined. But it is on a list I have which has a number of different reasons why I have never joined.

[Yeoman]

haha, the five day staches. I use to do that, they don't let me anymore.
my buddy that's 22 had a handlebar mustache going for a while, I had an actual stache going down for about a month and a bit. damn did I ever look horrible.
I just wish I was allowed to have a bit more hair then what I have, I mean I'd still look professional, but at the same time I could actually blend in with dirty hippy civilians back home without people asking me why my hair is like that *sigh*
Greg

[NcDeuce]

Gear and equipment + physical activity = Short hair.

And no need for shampoo. :lol:

[Violet Fashion by Mindy]

I like my 1 shampoo, 2 conditioners and special hair treatment that repairs the effect of peroxide. ;)

[11F5S]

I like my 1 shampoo, 2 conditioners and special hair treatment that repairs the effect of peroxide. ;)

I like my 1 redhead, 2 blonds and special vitamin treatment whicht repairs the effects of the blonds and redhead. :lol:

[memphiz]

I like my 1 shampoo, 2 conditioners and special hair treatment that repairs the effect of peroxide. ;)

I like my 1 redhead, 2 blonds and special vitamin treatment whicht repairs the effects of the blonds and redhead. :lol:
hahaha
your awsome

[VISTREL]

long hair is for hippies!

[bloddyaxe]

proper hair and beard for real warriors
http://www.artelio.org/IMG/gimli.jpg

[scrybe]

I just wish the US army allowed Goatees. A shaved head with a goatee is straight intimidation.

[wiking]

proper hair and beard for real warriors
http://www.artelio.org/IMG/gimli.jpg

:lol:
Hell yeah.

[Scrim]

Someone explain to me the need for the mustache regs in the US military. I've never heard an acceptable answer and as long as other countries (Britain is a good example) allow large mustaches then I will never see the point in our restrictions. Not only does it serve no purpose, but 95% of the people in the US military who have mustaches look ridiculous as hell. You are forced to have either a Hitler style (favored by my supervisor), a pencil mustache (which looks decent on Hispanic and black guys...kinda out of place on us regular white guys), or the sophomore in high school look, basically where stubble comes in at an irregular pattern (and looks like someone smeared dirt above their lip).

In garrison at least there really is no need for such limits, if they were going for uniformity then wouldn't mustaches be banned altogether?

So true. We had this one guy who had a cleft pallete or some such **** on his lip and wore a stash to cover it, but the Hitler regulations didnt quite allow him to cover the whole thing. He always wore it too long. The higher ups were always breaking out the ruler and ****ing with him. He looked like a total freak.

[CPL Trevoga]

I still wear high and tight. It's a Brooklyn thing.
Flat-tops are way more BK
where in BK you from anyways?

I had a flattop in 1990, now it's just high and tight. Bensonhurst.

[NcDeuce]

I just wish the US army allowed Goatees. A shaved head with a goatee is straight intimidation.

Huh? Goatees...no. It's night, you hear the sound of the rotor and engines of Apache gunships coming at you...yes.

[EvanL]

I still wear high and tight. It's a Brooklyn thing.
Flat-tops are way more BK
where in BK you from anyways?

I had a flattop in 1990, now it's just high and tight. Bensonhurst.
<---- City Boy here. Morningside heights.
SPent alot of time in Prospect Park area. Ex girlfriend.

[CPL Trevoga]

I still wear high and tight. It's a Brooklyn thing.
Flat-tops are way more BK
where in BK you from anyways?

I had a flattop in 1990, now it's just high and tight. Bensonhurst.
<---- City Boy here. Morningside heights.
SPent alot of time in Prospect Park area. Ex girlfriend.

Boy, your avatar rules. What unit did you serve with?

[EvanL]

I still wear high and tight. It's a Brooklyn thing.
Flat-tops are way more BK
where in BK you from anyways?

I had a flattop in 1990, now it's just high and tight. Bensonhurst.
<---- City Boy here. Morningside heights.
SPent alot of time in Prospect Park area. Ex girlfriend.

Boy, your avatar rules. What unit did you serve with?
ahaha im 19. havent served with anybody yet man.
i moved back to Canada last year but am headed back down to NYC on the 29th.
I know. nobody will get my avatar except for ppl over 20

[CPL Trevoga]

I still wear high and tight. It's a Brooklyn thing.
Flat-tops are way more BK
where in BK you from anyways?

I had a flattop in 1990, now it's just high and tight. Bensonhurst.
<---- City Boy here. Morningside heights.
SPent alot of time in Prospect Park area. Ex girlfriend.

Boy, your avatar rules. What unit did you serve with?
ahaha im 19. havent served with anybody yet man.
i moved back to Canada last year but am headed back down to NYC on the 29th.
I know. nobody will get my avatar except for ppl over 20

Well bro, you mother****ing fooled me, my SGT claimed he was a pusssyeating king. I don't know what they teach you in high school nowdays.

[EvanL]

I still wear high and tight. It's a Brooklyn thing.
Flat-tops are way more BK
where in BK you from anyways?

I had a flattop in 1990, now it's just high and tight. Bensonhurst.
<---- City Boy here. Morningside heights.
SPent alot of time in Prospect Park area. Ex girlfriend.

Boy, your avatar rules. What unit did you serve with?
ahaha im 19. havent served with anybody yet man.
i moved back to Canada last year but am headed back down to NYC on the 29th.
I know. nobody will get my avatar except for ppl over 20

Well bro, you f*** fooled me, my SGT claimed he was a pusssyeating king. I don't know what they teach you in high school nowdays.
Ive been done highschool for 2years now mate!

[Randomrokottaja]

Short hairstyle is the best and the easiest to maintain and keep clean.

[TallGuy]

Someone explain to me the need for the mustache regs in the US military. I've never heard an acceptable answer and as long as other countries (Britain is a good example) allow large mustaches then I will never see the point in our restrictions. Not only does it serve no purpose, but 95% of the people in the US military who have mustaches look ridiculous as hell. You are forced to have either a Hitler style (favored by my supervisor), a pencil mustache (which looks decent on Hispanic and black guys...kinda out of place on us regular white guys), or the sophomore in high school look, basically where stubble comes in at an irregular pattern (and looks like someone smeared dirt above their lip).

In garrison at least there really is no need for such limits, if they were going for uniformity then wouldn't mustaches be banned altogether?

So true. We had this one guy who had a cleft pallete or some such **** on his lip and wore a stash to cover it, but the Hitler regulations didnt quite allow him to cover the whole thing. He always wore it too long. The higher ups were always breaking out the ruler and f*** with him. He looked like a total freak.

I agree that mustaches in the U.S. military are hideous, we Icelanders always laugh at the U.S. servicemen here that have them. :lol:

U.S. Navy regulations(probably the same as Army or Air Force):

The face shall be clean shaven unless a shaving waiver is authorized by the Commanding Officer. Mustaches are authorized but shall be kept neatly and closely trimmed. No portion of the mustache shall extend below the lip line of the upper lip. It shall not go beyond a horizontal line extending across the corners of the mouth and no more than 1/4 inch beyond a vertical line drawn from the corner of the mouth. The length of an individual mustache hair fully extended shall not exceed approximately ½ inch. Handlebar mustaches, goatees, beards or eccentricities are not permitted. If a shaving waiver is authorized, no facial/neck hair shall be shaved, manicured, styled or outlined nor exceed 1/4 inch in length. Supervisors of individuals with shaving waivers shall actively monitor and ensure treatment regimen is followed.

[Slater]

http://www.e-publishing.af.mil/pubfiles/af/36/afi36-2903/afi36-2903.pdf

The US Air Force regulation on the topic. I think USAF and US Army requirements are almost identical.

[mudbunny]

I always thought it came down to practicality. If you spend a majority of your time in the woods, long hair is not a real good idea. It's like raising a bug condo on your head. Air Force and Navy people always get flack for their "cuts" but it doesn't make any sense for them to be walking around the flight line or ship with high and tights down to the skin. People try and hang the "look professional" argument and I think that is a pretty stupid debate. There are a lot of ways to look professional. Like I said, in my opinion, it all comes down to conforming and being practical to whatever mission you perform.

[mudbunny]

So true. We had this one guy who had a cleft pallete or some such **** on his lip and wore a stash to cover it, but the Hitler regulations didnt quite allow him to cover the whole thing. He always wore it too long. The higher ups were always breaking out the ruler and f*** with him. He looked like a total freak.

lol, that's hilarious. I agree, something has to give with the mostauche regs. Atleast in the Army and Marine Corps, either do away with the hair altogether or let guys grow them to the sides of their mouth. Guys either look like Hitler or total pedophiles. We called guys with mostauches "chester" as in "chester the child molester". They look friggin ridiculous. There is no reason for a soldier or Marine to have hair on his upper lip, in my opinion. As far as the Navy or Air Force, let'em grow full grown goddamn beards for all I care.

[el borracho]

Another one is the guys on shaving waivers. You're not supposed to style your beard, just keep it trimmed, but you see some guys with a neatly groomed goatee, or tapered sideburns and you ask them what's up and they say "oh, I'm on a shaving waiver." How convenient. You can tell when someone is barely passed the peachfuzzed stage and their hair only grows in patches,but these guys are way beyond that.

[tyciol]

It seems like this is the only hair thread that is not part of 'Off Topic and Humour'. Since this is about general discussion of the topic of hair, I thought it might be good to have a thread in the 'Strictly Photos & Video' section for posting pictures (examples, etc) of photos of military haircuts, illustrations from various countries' manuals which demonstrait where the imaginary lines are, stuff like that.

For ease of reference I used the same title as this thread.

http://www.militaryphotos.net/forums/showthread.php?t=137178

[T.S.C.Plage]

The most strangest military haircut I ever saw was on a Dutch soldier. I stood guard on an joint-exercise as a Dutch "Wolf" Jeep came to the entrance area of the base. On the side of the co-driver sat a colored Dutch Seargent with a haircut Micheal Jackson would have been proud of. He had long, curled, pomaded hairs, was wearing earrings, had one foot on the dashboard and in general a very "relaxed" attitude. I was already going to tell him something about the behaviour at "gates" and in oppositon of "guards" but was told to "leave it" by my Seargent. Asking him later why he told me "It's wasted time to try to get any kind of discipline into these guys" - other armies, other regulations.


Greetz
Plage

[Itamajus]

The most strangest military haircut I ever saw was on a Dutch soldier. I stood guard on an joint-exercise as a Dutch "Wolf" Jeep came to the entrance area of the base. On the side of the co-driver sat a colored Dutch Seargent with a haircut Micheal Jackson would have been proud of. He had long, curled, pomaded hairs, was wearing earrings, had one foot on the dashboard and in general a very "relaxed" attitude. I was already going to tell him something about the behaviour at "gates" and in oppositon of "guards" but was told to "leave it" by my Seargent. Asking him later why he told me "It's wasted time to try to get any kind of discipline into these guys" - other armies, other regulations.


Greetz
Plage

Who the **** are you to tell other countries soldiers how they look?