Don’t miss the full story, whose reporting from Konstantin Toropin at The Associated Press is the basis of this AI-assisted article.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has issued new military grooming standards requiring troops who need facial hair shaving exemptions for more than one year to be separated from service, marking a significant tightening of appearance policies across all military branches.
Some key facts:
• The new policy requires service members seeking shaving exemptions to provide a medical treatment plan as part of their request.
• Most shaving waivers are granted for pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB), a condition that disproportionately affects Black men and causes skin irritation from ingrown hairs.
• The memo emphasizes maintaining grooming standards that “underpin the warrior ethos” and declares the military standard is to be “clean shaven and neat in presentation.”
• The policy applies to all military services and represents a reversal from recent years when appearance rules had been loosened at service members’ requests.
• The memo does not specify what medical treatments will be offered or whether the military will cover treatment costs for affected troops.
• It remains unclear whether special exemptions for special forces in operational settings or troops in extreme Arctic climates will be affected by the change.
• The Army simultaneously announced its own grooming standard updates affecting women’s appearance standards including nails, hairstyles, earrings and makeup regulations.
READ MORE: Pentagon says troops can be exempt from shaving their facial hair for only a year
This article is written with the assistance of generative artificial intelligence based solely on Washington Times original reporting and wire services. For more information, please read our AI policy or contact Ann Wog, Managing Editor for Digital, at awog@washingtontimes.com
The Washington Times AI Ethics Newsroom Committee can be reached at aispotlight@washingtontimes.com.
