The U.S. Army is now rolling out a new policy that disproportionately impacts Black soldiers, and one officer is questioning the motivations behind the announcement.
Military.com reported Friday that the Army is now planning to prohibit shaving waivers, requiring all soldiers to adhere to strict new grooming standards. Previously, soldiers who suffered from the skin condition pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB) were allowed to ask for a waiver to bypass requirements to stay clean-shaven, as PFB patients can often have painful bumps and scarring from the use of a razor.
Soldiers who have PFB — which causes ingrown hairs that lead to skin irritation — may be able to have laser treatments covered by the Department of Defense. However, those treatments are costly and could amount to thousands of dollars per service member, and even laser treatments can cause scarring and may even alter skin pigmentation. Under the new policy, which is slated to take effect in the coming weeks, Soldiers who request shaving waivers for more than 12 months over a two-year period could be kicked out of the Army.
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According to the American Osteopathic College of Dermatology, up to 60% of Black men suffer from PFB. And Military.com reported that Black Americans make up roughly one in four new Army recruits over the past several years even though they make up just 14% of the U.S. population.
"Of course, this is racially motivated," an unnamed senior noncommissioned officer told Military.com anonymously out of fear of retaliation. "There's no tactical reason; you can look professional with facial hair."
Typically, the military has required soldiers to be clean shaven in order to maintain the integrity of the seal around a gas mask. However, only a small number of units are at risk of being realistically involved in a chemical warfare scenario, and a peer-reviewed study from a 2021 issue of the Military Medicine journal found that a well-maintained beard does not change the effectiveness of a gas mask. And Military.com reported that units in cold climates, like Alaska, have far more relaxed grooming standards for service members – especially during winter months.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has reversed efforts made under former Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin to drive up recruiting efforts from diverse communities and has ended diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) practices at the Pentagon since his confirmation earlier this year. Military.com reported that this may have a detrimental effect on future recruiting efforts, as the number of white recruits has already dropped by roughly 43% over the past five years, while recruiting from other racial groups — and from female recruits — has remained steady.
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Click here to read Military.com's article in its entirety.