In brief
In a recent memo, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has mandated that military personnel requiring facial hair exemptions for over a year be separated from service, emphasizing the need for grooming standards. Currently, many soldiers receive exemptions for conditions like pseudofolliculitis barbae, which primarily affects Black men. The memo did not specify the treatment path or cover costs for affected troops, raising questions about existing exceptions for specialized units or extreme environmental conditions.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered that troops who need an exemption from shaving their facial hair for longer than a year should be separated from the service.
While commanders can still issue shaving exemptions — a policy that has been in place for decades — they now must accompany these exemptions with a medical treatment plan, according to an Aug. 20 memo made public on Monday. Troops who still require treatment after one year will be required to leave the service, the memo states.
“The Department must remain vigilant in maintaining the grooming standards which underpin the warrior ethos,” Hegseth wrote in the memo.
Exemptions are often given for troops diagnosed with pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB), a condition that can cause significant discomfort, particularly for Black men. The memo does not clarify what treatment options will be available for service members affected by the new policy or whether the military will cover associated costs.
Furthermore, it remains unclear how this policy will affect existing exemptions for special forces troops in operational settings or soldiers stationed in extreme climates, such as Alaska, where shaving may lead to medical issues due to severe cold.
The announcement coincides with the Army revealing updates to its grooming standards, which have seen significant revisions aimed at making the standards more inclusive, especially for female soldiers, including areas regarding nails, hairstyles, earrings, and makeup.
