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Yahoo
27-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
New Army Shaving Policy Will Allow Soldiers with Skin Condition that Affects Mostly Black Men to Be Kicked Out
The Army is preparing to roll out a new policy that could lead to soldiers diagnosed with a chronic skin condition that causes painful razor bumps and scarring to be kicked out of the service -- an issue that disproportionately affects Black men. The new guidance, expected to take effect in the coming weeks, would bar permanent shaving waivers and require medical personnel to craft formal treatment plans for affected troops, according to multiple service officials and internal documents reviewed by Soldiers in need of prolonged waivers may be directed to get laser treatments. Those who need shaving exemptions for more than 12 months over a two-year period could be kicked out of the Army. Units across the force will also be mandated to rebrief personnel on grooming standards within 90 days of the policy's rollout. Read Next: Military Domestic Violence Conviction Skyrocketed After Commanders Were Removed from Process Most shaving waivers are for soldiers diagnosed with pseudofolliculitis barbae, or PFB, a condition in which hairs curl back into the skin after shaving and cause irritation. The Pentagon may cover the laser treatment, but that can cost thousands of dollars per soldier, depending on the number of sessions required. It's unclear how many soldiers would require the procedure. The American Osteopathic College of Dermatology estimates that up to 60% of Black men are affected by the condition. Laser treatments can cause scarring and changes in skin pigmentation. "Of course, this is racially motivated," one senior noncommissioned officer familiar with the plans told on the condition of anonymity to avoid retaliation. "There's no tactical reason; you can look professional with facial hair." In March, the Marine Corps rolled out a similar program allowing troops to be separated if the genetic skin condition persists, also raising concerns of racial discrimination. The Army has been in a prolonged recruiting slump since the high-water mark of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, something it started to turn around last year. While Black Americans make up about 14% of the U.S. population, they have accounted for roughly one-quarter of the Army's new recruits in recent years, with that number steadily rising. However, the services have made deliberate efforts to reduce recruiting efforts linked to minority groups amid Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's purge of diversity initiatives during the Trump administration. In 2018, more than 44,000 new recruits identified as white, according to Army data. By 2023, that number had fallen to just over 25,000 -- a staggering 43% drop in five years. The steepest annual decline came most recently, with a 6% dip from 2022 to 2023 alone. No other demographic group has seen such a precipitous fall. Much of the recent recruiting slump was attributable to men being less qualified, or willing, to don the uniform while women have been joining the ranks at a steady rate. Medical complications tied to mandatory shaving emerged as a flashpoint during the military's bumpy road toward racial integration. In the early 1970s, then-Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Elmo Zumwalt launched an aggressive campaign to root out racism and sexism across the ranks. As part of that broader push, Zumwalt issued a now-famous directive permitting sailors to grow beards and mustaches, a move that clashed with the Navy's traditionally rigid grooming codes but aimed to ease chronic skin issues that disproportionately affected Black service members. The primary argument against allowing beards in the ranks has long centered on concerns that they could compromise the seal of a gas mask. But a 2021 study from Military Medicine, a peer-reviewed medical journal, found there's no conclusive evidence that a well-groomed, modest beard interferes with mask function. The publication also noted that only a small fraction of service members operate in environments where chemical attacks are a realistic threat. In Alaska, units are granted wide latitude when it comes to grooming standards, with commanders often waiving shaving requirements during the frigid winter months. Troops are frequently instructed to skip their morning shave or forgo it entirely while operating in the field -- not out of convenience but as a safety precaution. The extreme cold can make shaving a medical hazard, with exposed skin at risk of frostbite and other cold-weather injuries. The Army move to clamp down on shaving waivers follows Hegseth, who has protested shaving waivers, ordering a sweeping review of grooming standards across the services. He has claimed that standards have fallen in recent years and damaged the military. "We kicked out good soldiers for having naked women tattooed on their arms," Hegseth said in a March statement criticizing what he characterized as bad policy decisions by past administrations. "And today we are relaxing the standards on shaving, dreadlocks, man buns, and straight-up obesity. Piece by piece, the standard had to go -- because of equity." Related: Air Force Unveils New Policies on Shaving, Nail Polish, Hair Length in Leaked Memos
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Why Folks Think This New U.S. Marines Policy is Trying to Keep Black Men Out of the Corps
The United States Marine Corps has officially ended a decades-long policy, leaving many Black men vulnerable and experts questioning racist intent. Back in March, the Marine administration gave soldiers 90 days to be reexamined. Now, the deadline is here. It's no secret solders in the military have to abide by strict grooming policies. All male service members are expected to be clean-shaven, with exceptions being made in the Marines for men suffering from various skin conditions, according to the Marine Corps Times. This so-called 'shaving waiver' was introduced in the '70s, and until right now, there's been no discrepancies. But after the Pentagon's recent review of grooming standards, things have changed. In a directive issued in March, soldiers suffering from skin conditions like Pseudofolliculitis Barbae (PFB) will no longer be eligible for waivers, Stars and Stripes reported. And if they fail to meet grooming standards, they could be subjected to expulsion. The move drew direct pushback from dermatologists who say Black men will disproportionately be affected by the new policy. 'This is so targeted and intentional,' said Chris Adigun, a board-certified dermatologist based in North Carolina told NBC News. PFB — commonly known as razor bumps — affects around 60 percent of Black men, according to the American Osteopathic College of Dermatology. For men with thick, curly facial hair, razor bumps can cause severe discomfort and can negatively affect one's health and confidence. Service members with PFB were required to have a medical exam within 90 days of the March announcement, this marks June as the deadline month. If their condition doesn't improve with a treatment plan, soldiers could be 'honorably discharged,' according to Jacoby Getty, a spokesperson for the Corps' Manpower and Reserve Affairs. The Pentagon's review comes on the heels of President Donald Trump's blitz on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). Many folks like Air Force veteran Ed Anderson told NBC the grooming policy will likely change racial relations in the military. 'It's mostly soldiers of color who are impacted by this,' he said. 'I don't see this as a productive and effective means of retaining and recruiting troops.'
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Marine Corps' new grooming policy slammed for targeting Black men
Kyle Bibby of Black Veterans Project tells theGrio that the new guidance represents 'another discriminatory policy enacted under a Secretary of Defense with a history of hostility to Black people.' A recently updated grooming policy issued by the United States Marine Corps is being slammed by advocates for negatively targeting Black male service members. The policy is a reversal of a decades-long waiver that allowed Black men with coarse or curly hair to electively wear their beards as a result of a skin condition. The waivers allowed Black service members to avoid the military's requirements for men to be clean-shaven. In March, the Marine Corps issued a new guidance on pseudofolliculitis, or PFB, which is a skin condition more commonly known as razor bumps or ingrown hairs. PFB disproportionately affects Black men (60%), according to the American Osteopathic College of Dermatology. Despite allowing waivers since the 1970s, the new guidance from the Marine Corps now states that the condition could lead to a service member being expelled from the military branch if the issue persists, reports NBC News. In January, the U.S. Air Force also updated its guidance on the skin condition, informing service members that waivers will expire 90 days after one's next annual health exam. The military branch did not indicate what the requirements would be to still qualify for a waiver. The Marine Corps says that its new guidance will best position the military branch for 'warfighting capability' and that service members with PFB will have to undergo a medical evaluation within 90 days. If their condition does not improve within a year under a four-part treatment plan, they could be separated from the branch at the discretion of their commanding officer, according to NBC. A Marine Corps policy in 2022 barred service members from being kicked out of service solely based on PFB, as it was determined that topical medication does not effectively treat the skin condition. Dermatologists, including a military dermatologist, told NBC the latest policy reversal on PFB waivers are unnecessary and has 'nothing to do with readiness.' 'The Marine Corps' new directive targeting medical shaving waivers for razor bumps — a well known condition in the Marine Corps that disproportionately affects Black men — represents another discriminatory policy enacted under a Secretary of Defense with a history of hostility to Black people,' Kyle Bibby, co-CEO and co-founder of Black Veterans Project, told theGrio. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has aggressively pushed President Donald Trump's agenda to end diversity, equity and inclusion policies, calling DEI and 'wokeness' a threat to military strength and preparedness. 'We're done with that sh–,' he said earlier this month. The Black Veterans Project notes that Black service members make up a larger proportion of the military compared to their overall representation in the civilian population. Therefore, the new policy on PFB creates 'unnecessary barriers to service for Black Marines and poses its own threat to military readiness that outweigh any concern around grooming standards,' said Bibby. 'These medical waivers have existed for decades without compromising mission effectiveness and the military routinely relaxes grooming standards for operational needs,' he added. 'Threatening administrative separation for Marines needing longer-term medical waivers reveals the true intent: forcing Black Marines out of service for conditions beyond their control.' More must-reads: Federal court blocks Trump from imposing sweeping tariffs under emergency powers law Alice Johnson, Trump's pardon czar, seen by some as Black political 'token' amid controversial pardons Elon Musk is leaving the Trump administration after leading effort to slash federal government
The Independent
27-05-2025
- General
- The Independent
New grooming standards in the Marines will target Black men, critics charge
The US Marine Corps is eliminating waivers that previously allowed service members who suffer from razor bumps to forgo shaving — an action critics say disproportionately affects Black men. The US military requires all male service members to be clean-shaven. However, the military introduced shaving wavers in the 1970s to address genetic skin conditions like pseudofolliculitis barbae, better known as razor bumps or ingrown hairs. Now, thanks to guidance issued in March, men with a PFB or ingrown hair diagnosis could be expelled from the Marines if the issue continues. Aimed at enhancing Marines' "warfighting capability," the guidance states that service members with PFB must undergo a medical evaluation within 90 days. If their condition doesn't improve within a year following a four-step treatment plan, Marines with PFB may be discharged with an honorable discharge for "incompatibility with service" at their commanding officer's discretion, Jacoby Getty, a spokesperson for the Corps' Manpower and Reserve Affairs, told in March. The recent policy update under Brig. Gen. David R. Everly reversed a 2022 rule that prevented Marines from being discharged solely due to the skin condition. Over the past three years, service members could receive temporary or permanent shaving waivers or 'no shave chits' if their PFB was unresponsive to topical treatments. PFB affects up to 60 percent of Black men, the highest rate among all groups, according to the American Osteopathic College of Dermatology. People with PFB can experience painful bumps, itching, and even scarring after shaving. There is no cure for PFB, but laser hair removal is the most effective long-term solution, according to the US Pharmacist. Black service members represent roughly 15 percent to 16 percent of the active-duty force, yet they account for 66 percent of those holding shaving waivers, reports. Critics of this guidance, including an active military dermatologist who agreed to remain anonymous while speaking with NBC News, said this rule has 'nothing to do with readiness.' 'On its face, it's a racist policy, because this is a condition that impacts African Americans and other people of color predominantly just by the nature of hair growth on the face,' the dermatologist said in an article published on May 24. Earlier this year, the US Air Force also revised its guidelines on PFB, announcing that shaving waivers will end 90 days after an airman's next annual medical evaluation, though the criteria for continued eligibility remain unclear. Air Force veteran Ed Anderson, 70, told NBC News that he views this move as another example of the 'ongoing attacks' on diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts within the federal government. 'It's mostly soldiers of color who are impacted by this,' Anderson told the outlet. 'I don't see this as a productive and effective means of retaining and recruiting troops.' It's unknown how many Marines the new policy will impact, as the service does not keep centralized records of those with PFB shaving exemptions, Getty said.
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Dermatologists say Marines' tightened shaving waiver could hurt Black members' careers
Air Force veteran Ed Anderson can't recall any time past puberty when he didn't get razor bumps after shaving his face. His coarse facial hair would often cause painful inflammation and itchy bumps as it grew back. Anderson, now 70, remembers requesting a shaving waiver when he entered the service in 1975, allowing him to bypass the military's requirements for men to be clean-shaven. For him and other Black airmen, the waivers became a symbol of unity. 'It was seen as an identifier of solidarity with other Black GIs having that shaving waiver,' Anderson said. The military as a whole began issuing these waivers in the 1970s, with the Navy taking the strongest approach in 1970 to allow the elective wearing of beards to address medical conditions. But the policies of the different branches have changed multiple times since then. Now, a new U.S. Marine Corps grooming policy that affects people with curly or coarse hair is drawing ire from critics who say it targets Black men. The guidance, issued in March, states that a diagnosis of pseudofolliculitis barbae, or PFB, a skin condition more commonly known as razor bumps or ingrown hairs, could lead to a service member's expulsion from the branch if the issue persists. The U.S. Air Force also updated its guidance on PFB earlier this year, saying shaving waivers will expire 90 days after an airman's next annual health assessment. But the requirements for those who may still qualify for a waiver remain unclear. The condition affects up to 60% of Black men, according to the American Osteopathic College of Dermatology, a far higher rate than for any other group. Anderson said he sees the move as yet another example of 'ongoing attacks' on diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives in the federal government. 'It's mostly soldiers of color who are impacted by this,' he said. 'I don't see this as a productive and effective means of retaining and recruiting troops.' The latest policy change under Brig. Gen. David R. Everly marks a reversal from a 2022 policy that barred Marines from being kicked out of the service solely for the skin condition. In the last three years, service members were able to obtain temporary or permanent shaving waivers, or 'no shave chits,' once it was determined that their PFB couldn't be treated by topical medications. Dermatologists around the country who treat people with the condition say the latest policy change seems to be unnecessary. 'This is so targeted and intentional,' said Chris Adigun, a board-certified dermatologist based in North Carolina. PFB 'can affect only the way hair follicles appear,' said Adigun, 'and does not affect the body systemically in any way.' Under the new guidance, which the message says will best position Marines for 'warfighting capability,' service members with PFB are now required to undergo a medical evaluation within 90 days. If their condition does not improve within a year under a four-part treatment plan, they could be separated from the branch at the discretion of their commanding officer. Critics, however, call it an outdated policy rooted in discrimination. An active military dermatologist, who agreed to speak on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisal, said the move has 'nothing to do with readiness.' 'On its face it's a racist policy, because this is a condition that impacts African Americans and other people of color predominantly just by the nature of hair growth on the face,' they said, adding that it also 'creates a huge administrative burden on a patient.' It remains unclear how many Marines would be affected by the policy as the branch said it does not track how many members have shaving exemptions for PFB. Black service members make up 18% of all active-duty Marines, according to data from the Marine Corps Gazette, a professional journal by members of the service. The branch itself does not keep racial demographic data on its members, a Marines spokesperson said. Military leaders say the change returns service members to grooming standards that ensure 'maximum war readiness,' according to the mandate. 'Our priority is to ensure the health and resilience of our Marines while maintaining our warfighting capability,' said Maj. Jacoby Getty, a spokesman for the Corps' Manpower & Reserve Affairs, an office tasked with acquiring and retaining talent. 'These updates ensure consistency in the management of medical conditions while reinforcing our commitment to returning Marines to full compliance whenever possible.' Adigun noted the policy's history as a point of contention dating back to the 1970s, which led to social uproar among Black service members who had long argued against its efficacy. U.S. military leaders have long maintained that service members need to be clean-shaven, both to maintain a professional appearance and to ensure the proper fit of airtight gas masks, despite little evidence that links PFB or facial hair to poor gas mask fit. A study published in the Journal of Military Medicine in 2021 found little evidence that short beards interfered with the seal of a gas mask. A study in 2018 found that pilots with beards more than a foot long were able to maintain an airtight seal on their masks in a simulated cabin depressurization test. Medical experts say PFB is improved by not shaving at all or shaving with clippers that don't give a close shave, which allows the hair to remain above the skin surface after it is cut. Another option is laser hair removal. But for many Marines, the military dermatologist said, this permanent option for what many see as a temporary job is not a viable choice. An analysis published in the journal Military Medicine also found a link between shaving waivers and delays in promotion that disproportionately affects Black service members. This latest Marine policy change comes as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in March ordered a militarywide review of physical fitness and grooming standards. 'We must remain vigilant in maintaining the standards that enable the men and women of our military to protect the American people and our homeland as the world's most lethal and effective fighting force,' Hegseth said when announcing the order. The Department of Defense declined a request to comment on the latest guidelines. But, according to South Carolina-based dermatologist Lauren Ploch, standards that require clean-shaven faces are 'rooted in institutional racism' because they single out PFB for strict treatment. She questions why there are not similar rules for other skin conditions like cystic acne or dissecting cellulitis, which affects the scalp. There are regulations for treating these issues, but no specific policies that could lead to a service member's expulsion. 'If one of these conditions is not a disqualifier, then PFB shouldn't be either,' Ploch said. Dara Spearman, a board-certified dermatologist based in Indiana, said the potential for dismissal under the policy is 'dramatic.' 'Given the historic interactions between Black Americans and organizations with regard to grooming habits and requirements,' Spearman said, 'it seems there may be other factors at play than whether a gas mask fits.' Anderson, citing his years of service, said he believes he's well within his rights to challenge things he disagrees with. 'I've always been a patriot,' Anderson said, 'but being a patriot also makes one qualified to question what's going on — not just to blindly accept and go along with everything.' This article was originally published on
