U.S. Project to reduce numbers of Black men in Military

[Bootless]

Have you ever heard of shaving waivers?

It's because of a condition called Pseudofolliculitis barbae



It predominantly effects black men on account of the tight curly hair. "It occurs when hair curls back into the skin after shaving, causing inflammation, redness, and bumps."
"The most efficient prevention is to grow a beard. For men who are required to, or simply prefer to shave, studies show the optimal length to be about 0.5 mm to 1 mm to prevent the hair growing back into the skin."

That's what shaving waivers allow for, close trim rather than close shave.

But SecWar Hegseth wants to limit waivers to one year, then it's termination or unspecified treatment. Expect an exodus of many black men from the U.S. Military.

[Moon68]

Yeah, there's a medicated shaving powder that relaxes the hair, reducing or eliminating the need of a waiver and allowing at least daily shaving. I knew many guys when I was in that used it. While there is a minute percentage of people it won't work on the vast majority will be fine. Those few will still get waivers.

[KKLoco]

Shaving sucks anyways. I hate having a baby face. And particularly hate the clogged pores it produces. I haven't shaved my face once in over 7 years. The entire head (minus the eyebrows) gets a trimmer with no guard about once every 4 days. It's glorious stepping out of the shower, just dry off and go.

[EXETER]

Have you ever heard of shaving waivers?

It's because of a condition called Pseudofolliculitis barbae

[Image: https://denyignorance.com/uploader/image...Barbae.jpg]

It predominantly effects black men on account of the tight curly hair. "It occurs when hair curls back into the skin after shaving, causing inflammation, redness, and bumps."
"The most efficient prevention is to grow a beard. For men who are required to, or simply prefer to shave, studies show the optimal length to be about 0.5 mm to 1 mm to prevent the hair growing back into the skin."

That's what shaving waivers allow for, close trim rather than close shave.

But SecWar Hegseth wants to limit waivers to one year, then it's termination or unspecified treatment. Expect an exodus of many black men from the U.S. Military.

What's magic about 1 year?

If there is some military related purpose to this decision that will improve military readiness/effectiveness, then why not implement it now, and improve readiness/effectiveness immediately?  And if there is, then why not state what that purpose is and what the cost-effectiveness calculation was that supports that decision, as compared to just leaving the same policy in place that has apparently been working fine up to now? And why not figure out what the effect of this will be on the already poor ability of the military to attract and retain recruits and then release the results of that study?  

And if none of this happens, then I guess we will have to admit that this is a blatantly racist action.

[guyfriday]

What's magic about 1 year?

If there is some military related purpose to this decision that will improve military readiness/effectiveness, then why not implement it now, and improve readiness/effectiveness immediately?  And if there is, then why not state what that purpose is and what the cost-effectiveness calculation was that supports that decision, as compared to just leaving the same policy in place that has apparently been working fine up to now? And why not figure out what the effect of this will be on the already poor ability of the military to attract and retain recruits and then release the results of that study?  

And if none of this happens, then I guess we will have to admit that this is a blatantly racist action.

Back in the 90's people of all races had to keep a clean-shaven face. The need to do this is that gasmasks won't seal correctly on facial hair. Don't believe, go talk to any firefighter and why they shave. It's the same reason. 

Back in my day, a product called "Magic Shave" was being used by those folks that suffered from ingrown hairs on their faces from shaving. The stuff is still available today, so not shaving due to facial issues is not an excuse for most people. The year no-shave chit is a nice touch, but yes after that you better be able to ither get a new chit or have a methoid for removing your facial hair. It really does effect troop readiness.

[Bootless]

What's magic about 1 year?

If there is some military related purpose to this decision that will improve military readiness/effectiveness, then why not implement it now, and improve readiness/effectiveness immediately?  And if there is, then why not state what that purpose is and what the cost-effectiveness calculation was that supports that decision, as compared to just leaving the same policy in place that has apparently been working fine up to now? And why not figure out what the effect of this will be on the already poor ability of the military to attract and retain recruits and then release the results of that study?  

And if none of this happens, then I guess we will have to admit that this is a blatantly racist action.

I should have put a link to the original August 20,2025 MEMORANDUM FOR SENIOR PENTAGON LEADERSHIP 

SUBJECT: 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. When authorizing individual exceptions, commanders must apply consistent criteria and appropriately consider the Department's interests in safety and uniformity.

Effective immediately, I am directing all the Military Departments to implement the following minimum requirements concerning medical exceptions to the grooming standards requiring Service members to be clean shaven:

• Military medical officers will provide a written recommendation concerning a shaving waiver to the commander who is the final approval authority.

• Service members with an approved shaving waiver will participate in a medical treatment plan.

• Unit commanders will initiate separation of Service members who require a shaving waiver after more than 1 year of medical treatment. I have full confidence in our leaders at all levels to provide an accurate assessment of whether retention is appropriate.

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. The Department must remain vigilant in maintaining the grooming standards which underpin the warrior ethos.

The 1 year is for medical officers to experiment upon the subjects.

The purpose is keeping "the warrior ethos" intact.

Calling it "blatantly racist" is generous.

------
Sinister theory:*

It may seem that less loss of troop morale, and refusals to deploy, and AWOLs will occur if non-black troops are called upon to patrol cities with Black Mayors and predominantly black residents.

*Just a wild thought.

----------- Addendum from OP link -----

It is also unclear if policies like broad exemptions from shaving for special forces troops who are in operational settings or soldiers stationed in the Arctic climates of Alaska where shaving can pose a medical hazard in the extreme cold will be affected by the change.

From movies and such the Special Forces are often depicted with a weeks worth of beard. Just saying. I don't know how real that is.

[guyfriday]

----------- Addendum from OP link -----

From movies and such the Special Forces are often depicted with a weeks worth of beard. Just saying. I don't know how real that is.

Maybe see how things have been for the years before the 2000s.

[Bootless]

Maybe see how things have been for the years before the 2000s.

I did a picture google search "tactical beard special forces"
holy moly! Full freaking beards to show importance.
In Afghanistan you need a beard to be a man. 

I guess clean shaved is ****.

Okay. It was the pre-U.S. Invasion of Afghanistan that had the weeks worth of growth.

[Moon68]

Special Operations soldiers are often embedded with an indigenous population for months on end or moving thru hostile territory for an extended period of time. There isn't a practical reason for grooming standards under those or combat situations which is why there are differing standards in combat settings as opposed to peaceful or rear echelon settings.

As far as the Middle East, village elders generally won't even talk to a clean shaven man. A full beard is a sign of maturity and status. There were times early in the GWOT that lower enlisted troops were brought to act as intermediary in meetings with elders and clean shaven officers because the troop had a beard.

[sahgwa]

Yeah, there's a medicated shaving powder that relaxes the hair, reducing or eliminating the need of a waiver and allowing at least daily shaving. I knew many guys when I was in that used it. While there is a minute percentage of people it won't work on the vast majority will be fine. Those few will still get waivers.

Yes a few of my battle buddies had those waivers but eventually they figured it out with medication and even shaving technique. This thread seems like more of a divisive attempt than anything.
I see the gas mask thing was already mentioned. I had actually kind of forgotten about that. I think if I had a gas mask I probably would have remembered, seeing as I like having facial hair now