The U.S. Army is updating its facial hair grooming policy. (U.S. Army via SWNS)
By Michael Lee Simpson
The Department of Defense has effectively banned beards in the U.S. military by issuing tough new grooming rules which say troops will be kicked out if they don't shave.
The new policy says exemptions - shaving waivers - can only be approved with permission from a medical officer, and can only be issued for a year - after which "separation proceedings" will begin.
The memo from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said grooming standards were key to discipline, unity, and the “warrior ethos".
The grooming standard set by the U.S. military is to be clean-shaven and neat in presentation for a proper military appearance,” the release said.
Effective immediately, the directive requires that all requests for shaving waivers be reviewed by military medical officers, who must provide a written recommendation to the unit commander.
The commander will retain final approval authority.
Staff Sgt. Antoine, 13th Intelligence Squadron intelligence analyst, raises his head as Lt. Col. David Gregory, 9th Medical Group flight surgeon chief of medical staff, inspects his neck and face during a shaving waiver course at Beale Air Force Base, Calif. in 2018. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Colville McFee via SWNS)
Reports claim most shaving waivers are for troops diagnosed with pseudofolliculitis barbae, or PFB, a condition in which hair curls back into the skin after shaving and causes irritation.
It is a condition that disproportionately affects black men, reports say.
“When authorizing individual exceptions, commanders must apply consistent criteria and appropriately consider the Department’s interests in safety and uniformity,” Hegseth said.
The new rules also mandate that service members who are granted shaving waivers must follow a prescribed medical treatment plan.
If a waiver is still required after one year of treatment, commanders will be directed to begin separation proceedings.
“Unit commanders will initiate separation of Service members who require a shaving waiver after more than 1 year of medical treatment,” Hegseth said.
1st Lt. Jean Paul Stassi Jr., battalion IT support officer, shaves in the field before starting training, Camp Shelby in 2024. (SSgt. Jaccob Hearn/U.S. Army via SWNS)
The memo emphasized that grooming standards remain a central part of military discipline and identity.
“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,” Hegseth said.
“The Department must remain vigilant in maintaining the grooming standards which underpin the warrior ethos.”
Hegseth added, “I have full confidence in our leaders at all levels to provide an accurate assessment of whether retention is appropriate.
The memorandum follows earlier reviews of military appearance policies and underscores the Department’s intention to maintain consistency across the services.
Grooming standards, the release noted, are not just a matter of appearance but an integral part of the shared discipline and unity that define the armed forces.
The military departments have been directed to implement the changes without delay.