Posted on Sep 2, 2020
Can I be forced to shave if I have a shaving profile?
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What’s up everybody I’m pv2 jones and I been in the army a little over 9 months, I love serving until it comes to shaving. I’ve tried everything and my face bumps up terrible man I’m talking about it looks disgusting, plenty of my Drill Sgts in AIT tried teaching me how to shave but it doesn’t work. So I just got to my new unit about 2 and a half months ago and I was still shaving even though it was painful and it looked Terrible, one day an NCO From another unit told me that I NEED to go get a shaving profile because my face just looks terrible and she can tell I was in pain so I promised her I will go get one and have them check it out . After my first appointment the dermatologist gave me a permanent shaving profile and told me that I don’t need to shave atleast until my bumps are clear. So a few weeks go by and I have a little beard (still in regulation 1/4 of an inch) so After pt my squad leader pulls me to The side and starts cursing me out at the top of his lungs saying I need to shave , I told him respectfully I have a shaving profile and it hurts for me to shave he stares at me and replied Under his breath “like every other black person in the army that can’t use razors” I didn’t say anything but it kind of hurt because I don’t want to be a odd ball in my company (I’m in a infantry company btw) so later that day we go into work to clean weapons and he calls me over and apologizes about this morning and I told him it was ok he then said that I need to shave still if I want to make it in the military and I replied and told him I’m not shaving so he can F’ing forget about it he then told me since I cursed him my punishment will be to shave or receive a article for disrespecting a NCO so later I went to my barracks room and shaved during lunch and came back in he then told me that no matter what my profile says I need to listen to him and shave I told my platoon sgt about this whole Situation and he told me I need to listen to my squad leader and shave because the army just gives shaving profiles to anyone. Is this right?
Platoon Sergeant
Platoon Leader
Commander
CCMSgt
NCO Academy
Posted 4 y ago
Responses: 255
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I'm going to address this part:
"I told him respectfully I have a shaving profile and it hurts for me to shave he stares at me and replied Under his breath “like every other black person in the army that can’t use razors” I didn’t say anything but it kind of hurt because I don’t want to be a odd ball in my company (I’m in a infantry company btw)...
---- THAT is a damn EO complaint right there. That's racist as crap I don't care what unit you're in. That was not only racist but unprofessional as hell.
...so later that day we go into work to clean weapons and he calls me over and apologizes about this morning and I told him it was ok he then said that I need to shave still if I want to make it in the military and I replied and told him I’m not shaving so he can F’ing forget about it he then told me since I cursed him my punishment will be to shave or receive a article for disrespecting a NCO so later I went to my barracks room and shaved during lunch and came back in he then told me that no matter what my profile says I need to listen to him and shave I told my platoon sgt about this whole Situation and he told me I need to listen to my squad leader and shave because the army just gives shaving profiles to anyone."
---- You shouldn't have cursed at him but I can understand the frustration. I would have taken the counseling (he can't give you UCMJ). The most he could do is a counseling and even if he tried to recommend UCMJ, no one in JAG is processing that on one counseling statement.
---- It does matter what your profile says. If I was you, I'd go to the next person higher than your squad leader so your PSG. Let them know what your squad leader is up to. If I had a punk ass squad leader like that I'd want to know. The Army doesn't give anyone profiles - medical personnel give them and no, they don't just hand them out to anyone.
You have an obvious medical issue that you're taking care of. Do NOT let any NCO ever bully you like that. Ever. If they do, you go up the next level in the chain and if it doesn't resolve you go as high as you need to until it does. I don't care what anyone else thinks. We are supposed to be professional - not treat people like they're sub-human.
"I told him respectfully I have a shaving profile and it hurts for me to shave he stares at me and replied Under his breath “like every other black person in the army that can’t use razors” I didn’t say anything but it kind of hurt because I don’t want to be a odd ball in my company (I’m in a infantry company btw)...
---- THAT is a damn EO complaint right there. That's racist as crap I don't care what unit you're in. That was not only racist but unprofessional as hell.
...so later that day we go into work to clean weapons and he calls me over and apologizes about this morning and I told him it was ok he then said that I need to shave still if I want to make it in the military and I replied and told him I’m not shaving so he can F’ing forget about it he then told me since I cursed him my punishment will be to shave or receive a article for disrespecting a NCO so later I went to my barracks room and shaved during lunch and came back in he then told me that no matter what my profile says I need to listen to him and shave I told my platoon sgt about this whole Situation and he told me I need to listen to my squad leader and shave because the army just gives shaving profiles to anyone."
---- You shouldn't have cursed at him but I can understand the frustration. I would have taken the counseling (he can't give you UCMJ). The most he could do is a counseling and even if he tried to recommend UCMJ, no one in JAG is processing that on one counseling statement.
---- It does matter what your profile says. If I was you, I'd go to the next person higher than your squad leader so your PSG. Let them know what your squad leader is up to. If I had a punk ass squad leader like that I'd want to know. The Army doesn't give anyone profiles - medical personnel give them and no, they don't just hand them out to anyone.
You have an obvious medical issue that you're taking care of. Do NOT let any NCO ever bully you like that. Ever. If they do, you go up the next level in the chain and if it doesn't resolve you go as high as you need to until it does. I don't care what anyone else thinks. We are supposed to be professional - not treat people like they're sub-human.
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SFC David Reid, M.S, PHR, SHRM-CP, DTM
I suggest getting your Commanders involved at the Company and Battalion level
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CW3 (Join to see)
SFC Kelly Fuerhoff I see I'm only the latest in a long line of people who upvoted this post. Well said. That squad leader is damn lucky he didn't say that crap in front of me.
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CPO Gerald Rahm
I understand your problem I have seen this before , I do know that the exchange or PX has special cream and shaving equipment for your condition or go see the base barbers . hang in there .
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You have a profile you need to follow it. But you need to make sure you keep it within the regulations of the profile (1/4 inch). Only your commander can override the doctor’s “recommendation” for the profile. Has your commander signed/approved the profile? If you haven’t, you need to get that done. When he/she signs it you can mention the problem you have with your NCOs. Good luck.
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MSgt Marvin Kinderknecht
This is the first time I have read (heard) anyone who is not medically qualified overide a doctor. TAKE IT ON UP THE LATER!!
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MSgt Marvin Kinderknecht
SGT (Join to see) - My wife was in a terrible accident when she was 9 months pregnant We were afraid she would lose the baby and maybe her life .The commander said I should deploy anyway. I went to the Flight Surgeon and he gave me a 90 day extension. Pissed the commander off, but he complied.
I always questioned my superiors (Military or Civilian) what would you do If I got killed in a crash?? I guess I would have Fred do it.
I always questioned my superiors (Military or Civilian) what would you do If I got killed in a crash?? I guess I would have Fred do it.
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SFC Clifton Brown
Excellent advice, Colonel! Both the shaving profile and the racial slur issued should indeed be elevated to the CO. I had "pseudo" (Pseudofolliculitis Barbae) when I was a 17 year old recruit and even after 50 years, I remember how painful it was during BCT. Depilatories were very messy, time consuming and many times, exacerbated the problem. Ever though I received a profile years later, the facial scarring never went away. Getting a good hard seal on the M17 protective mask was a problem as well. I emphasize with the private.
As for the racial comment, it appears someone needs a modicum of sensitivity training.
As for the racial comment, it appears someone needs a modicum of sensitivity training.
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Sgt Tee Organ
By and large NCOs need their troops to stay in the game, It's a shit to harder on everyone when there is less people in the shop. With that being said, learning about the health and welfare of your troops is essential to making that happen, and providing them with those tools to get themselves as an All Up Round. These people are the very reason you are successful in everything from maintaining your equipment to killing the enemy with ax handles and plastic cookware. Less of that talent is harder on everyone, but everyone working together and coming out in the end is money in the bank. Leave the flex in the gym, use your head and lead (inspire) in the shop and at the command!
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Maj Rob Drury
CW3 (Join to see) - I'm guessing it's because he posts with the same level of integrity with which he probably served.
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