Posted on Aug 11, 2014
Initial reaction to soldiers with shaving profiles?
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This topic is more related to the superior ranks whether it be NCO's or Officers. Before getting to the topic let me say I am fairly knew to the army(17 months), but i am very... hooah; i guess is a good term. i grew up army and joined with discipline, i think that it has gotten to "soft." i follow and know the standards sent down from my superiors. i only mention this so i hopefully don't get backlash for just being "another private."
So... to the topic above. I am a white male with a permanent shaving profile which i always have at least one copy of on my persons. it states :
"must be uniform and neatly trimmed to a length of ~1/8 inch - 1/4 inch(not to exceed 1/4 inch total length of curled hair) so as to maintain a neat and clean appearance. no styling of the beard is authorized."
I am always within my range of length and never style, i just trim the whole thing. i have had bumps and cuts ever since i started shaving.
so to stop "defending myself" and get to the real point. How do you first react to a soldier who obviously didn't shave? I would about 85% of those that "correct" me on the spot do so by starting the correction in a degrading sometimes yelling and profane way only to find out after they are done that i have a profile. then when they find that out theres no appologizing for making a public scene so everyone thinks that private is a ____bag. i have actually been in a situation in which one superior did this, only to have a higher rank 2 mins later yell at me again to find out the same thing.
So again, how do some of you respond at first? what do you think is an appropriate way to react to the lower ranking soldier? keep in mind, a young soldier doesn't forget most of his/her encounters with higher ranks.
thank you everyone for your responses, its good to hear more opinions of how some of your fellow leaders are acting to junior enlisted. have a good night all.
So... to the topic above. I am a white male with a permanent shaving profile which i always have at least one copy of on my persons. it states :
"must be uniform and neatly trimmed to a length of ~1/8 inch - 1/4 inch(not to exceed 1/4 inch total length of curled hair) so as to maintain a neat and clean appearance. no styling of the beard is authorized."
I am always within my range of length and never style, i just trim the whole thing. i have had bumps and cuts ever since i started shaving.
so to stop "defending myself" and get to the real point. How do you first react to a soldier who obviously didn't shave? I would about 85% of those that "correct" me on the spot do so by starting the correction in a degrading sometimes yelling and profane way only to find out after they are done that i have a profile. then when they find that out theres no appologizing for making a public scene so everyone thinks that private is a ____bag. i have actually been in a situation in which one superior did this, only to have a higher rank 2 mins later yell at me again to find out the same thing.
So again, how do some of you respond at first? what do you think is an appropriate way to react to the lower ranking soldier? keep in mind, a young soldier doesn't forget most of his/her encounters with higher ranks.
thank you everyone for your responses, its good to hear more opinions of how some of your fellow leaders are acting to junior enlisted. have a good night all.
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Responses: 12
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Have you tried shaving with a safety razor? I used to get bumps and cuts on my face pretty bad i used 3-4-5 blade razors, clippers, trimmers even electric. An old barber showed me a safety razor i been using it ever since.
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Well when it comes to shaving profiles, I always ask for the profile before I say anything. Once I see the profile, I look at their face and see if it is too long. I understand that you can't really tell the difference between 1/8" and 1/4" unless you are looking real close. Then I look to see if it is edged at all. If they are my Soldier, I would make sure to outline procedures for following a profile and what violating it could cause.
Personal opinion: I think the shaving profile thing is a croc (unless there is a medical necessity or severe facial injuries, at least I think they would give it for that). You get bumps while shaving, big deal. I get the same thing every day, have been for the 10 or so years I have been shaving. I just got used to it after a while. I won't consider you a bad Soldier for having one, one that uses what is available to him.
Don't let my personal opinion fool you, I will still follow regulatory guidance and keep my thoughts to myself.
Personal opinion: I think the shaving profile thing is a croc (unless there is a medical necessity or severe facial injuries, at least I think they would give it for that). You get bumps while shaving, big deal. I get the same thing every day, have been for the 10 or so years I have been shaving. I just got used to it after a while. I won't consider you a bad Soldier for having one, one that uses what is available to him.
Don't let my personal opinion fool you, I will still follow regulatory guidance and keep my thoughts to myself.
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SSG Christopher Freeman
I have many opinions that go against what regulation may say. With that in mind, I always adhere to the regulation. It may not popular, but it is fair.
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Uhm....I have to ask just exactly how long any man's "Fear The Beard" has to grow before it might negatively affect getting a good skin-seal when donning a Gas Mask...?
Of course its been a while since I've been out of the USMC. But I suppose I must also ask if this is an Army Only thing? Do more modern-day gas mask and related equipment not require a good skin seal to the face?
A decent NCO who is truly troubled by your facial stubble should ask you if you have (whatever paperwork allowing you to be short on blades) before he goes off on you. That said, there are always those few "sub-par bosses" out there, some who have many years of service in yet still have not netted themselves any "locked-in-to-retirement" staff rank, who just walk around all nervous about getting booted home before that ever happens, and so like most other workplace bosses, some just gotta run their mouths at you out of lack of anything more constructive to do, if only to appear busy.
That said, once you get to the top of the "relatively automatic promotion ranks"---which for you could mean E3 with some Time in Grade under it or E4 if you end up going the Spec4 route ... the better a Soldier you are, the less you will generally get messed with about it ... that applies to those you work with, but you cannot expect your entire base to know you personally unless you are in some really tiny facility, in which case its more likely no one cares. NCOs, in my opinion, should be setting a better example in terms of how much more money they make, and what is being gained by the system for that money...i mean there are always those few who truly need, and by action ASK for "extra attention" but I'd hope most NCOs are doing something a little more valuable than playing Babysitters.
Sometimes you almost have to be a "Smart Ass" to make a good point. If your immediate chain of command is being unreasonable about it ... well could wait until the next morning formation (after PT) and show up with your face and neck all cut n bloody and when asked about it....you say This is why I have the Shaving Paper...my facial hair is far less likely to transmit whatever diseases I might have now or in the future in my blood, than these open sores might. It is much harder for your own Squad/Section leader to keep badgering you about it, when your Company 1stSgt is laughing his ass off about it. Jus' Sayin'. =)
Semper Fi =)
Of course its been a while since I've been out of the USMC. But I suppose I must also ask if this is an Army Only thing? Do more modern-day gas mask and related equipment not require a good skin seal to the face?
A decent NCO who is truly troubled by your facial stubble should ask you if you have (whatever paperwork allowing you to be short on blades) before he goes off on you. That said, there are always those few "sub-par bosses" out there, some who have many years of service in yet still have not netted themselves any "locked-in-to-retirement" staff rank, who just walk around all nervous about getting booted home before that ever happens, and so like most other workplace bosses, some just gotta run their mouths at you out of lack of anything more constructive to do, if only to appear busy.
That said, once you get to the top of the "relatively automatic promotion ranks"---which for you could mean E3 with some Time in Grade under it or E4 if you end up going the Spec4 route ... the better a Soldier you are, the less you will generally get messed with about it ... that applies to those you work with, but you cannot expect your entire base to know you personally unless you are in some really tiny facility, in which case its more likely no one cares. NCOs, in my opinion, should be setting a better example in terms of how much more money they make, and what is being gained by the system for that money...i mean there are always those few who truly need, and by action ASK for "extra attention" but I'd hope most NCOs are doing something a little more valuable than playing Babysitters.
Sometimes you almost have to be a "Smart Ass" to make a good point. If your immediate chain of command is being unreasonable about it ... well could wait until the next morning formation (after PT) and show up with your face and neck all cut n bloody and when asked about it....you say This is why I have the Shaving Paper...my facial hair is far less likely to transmit whatever diseases I might have now or in the future in my blood, than these open sores might. It is much harder for your own Squad/Section leader to keep badgering you about it, when your Company 1stSgt is laughing his ass off about it. Jus' Sayin'. =)
Semper Fi =)
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