Posted on Mar 7, 2014
AR 670-1: What is your reaction to the newest changes?
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<14px;">, APPROVED, AND PUBLISHED!<br><br>2. New revision of the regulation will define the following terms: eccentric, faddish,conservative, inconspicuous, unsightly, hair braids/plaits.<br><br>3. AR 670-1 will be a PUNITIVE order in the new regulation. <br><br>4. Sideburns will not extend below the top of the ear. <br><br>5. Soldiers will be clean shaven on AND off duty (even during leave).<br><br>6. Female and Male hair grooming standards will become more restrictive and better defined(I'll have pictures for you at MHS).<br><br>7. Females will be allowed to put their hair into a pony tail during PT.<br><br>8. Males will be prohibited from wearing cosmetics to include nail polish, females may wear cosmetics conservatively, but can only wear nail polish in service, mess, or dress uniforms.<br><br>9. Females fingernail length will not exceed 1/4 inch, no fake nails, add-ons, or extensions will be authorized.<br><br>10. Tattoos will not be visible above the neck line when the IPFU is worn. Tattoos will not extend below the wrist line and not on the hands. Sleeve tattoos will be prohibited (this one will be grandfathered).<br><br>11. Soldiers will not walk while engaged in activities that require the hand salute (eating, cell phone use, smoking, etc.).<br><br>12. ACUs will not be commercially pressed; hand ironing of the ACU only will be authorized.</span></font></p><font color="#666666"><span style="line-height: 17px; font-size: 14px;"><p><br>13. Bags worn over the shoulder will only be black or the color print of the uniform i.e. ACU, without logos.<br><br>14. the new regulation will specify civilian clothes standards both on and off duty and both on and off post.<br><br>15. No visible body piercings on or off duty and on or off post, males will never be allowed to wear earrings. Ear gauging will be unauthorized.<br><br>16. No dental ornamentation or gold teeth will be authorized.<br><br>17. Soldiers will be authorized to wear authorized ballistic eye wear in garrison.<br><br>18. Officers will be authorized to wear non-subdued rank on their headgear in garrison.<br><br>19. Males will be authorized to carry black umbrella with ASU.</p><p><br></p><p>http://www.armytimes.com/article/20140307/NEWS07/303070021/Army-secretary-approves-new-grooming-uniform-regs<br></p></span></font><div class="pta-link-card"><div class="pta-link-card-picture"><img src="http://www.armytimes.com/graphics/ody/alticon.png"></div><div class="pta-link-card-content"><div class="pta-link-card-title"><a href="http://www.armytimes.com/article/20140307/NEWS07/303070021/Army-secretary-approves-new-grooming-uniform-regs" target="_blank">Army secretary approves new grooming, uniform regs</a></div><div class="pta-link-card-description">
Army Secretary John McHugh on Thursday approved a long-awaited revision to grooming and uniform regulations, according to an Army statement.
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Army Secretary John McHugh on Thursday approved a long-awaited revision to grooming and uniform regulations, according to an Army statement.
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Posted in these groups: 
Professionalism
Regulation
Professionalism Regulation
Edited >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 185
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SGT Deborah Childs
Let's see we talk about being professional all the time in the military. But I have to ask? What is professional looking about this hair cut? I agree it looks very gang related. Not to mention it is just unappealing. I am sorry, I would not want to see any soldier walk around looking like this.
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SSG(P) (Join to see)
sorry but the sideburns issue... above the ear... I never had problems with the current standard... I have no plans on complying.... seriously, even as a little boy they were never above the ear. Is this reg legit?
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The new off duty uniform. If you're not a J-Crew model then it's time to start your ACAP.
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SSG Daniel Deiler
Whoa! Pump the brakes! You're forgetting the standard brown leather boat shoes!!! Unless of course you're shooting a round of golf...which begs the question...Will Country Club Membership also be a requirement? ;)
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There are a couple of things that I disagree whole-heartedly with if these are the final rules.<div><br></div><div>#5 Soldiers will be clean shaven on and off duty (even on leave) - I can understand in uniform, or heck, even on post and in civilian clothing, but off duty, off post, and on leave...? I think this is a ridiculous rule to establish. I should be allowed to not shave when on leave or during the weekend. What does establishing this rule accomplish?</div><div><br></div><div>#10 Sleeve tattoos will be prohibited. - I am glad that the standard changed from no tattoos below the knees or elbows, but I feel like this one is a BS rule. If it isn't extremest, offensive, sexist, etc., and it cannot be seen in the ASU, then why does it matter if I have a sleeve or a bunch of scattered tattoos on my arm?</div><div><br></div><div>#14 The new regulation will specify civilian clothes standards both on duty and off, on and off post - I disagree with this one also. As long as clothing is worn how it meant to be worn (no sagging pants to show underwear), andd that the clothing is not offensive, extremist, or sexist, then I don' think it is the Army's place to tell me what I should and shouldn't wear. I have heard rumors on this one, from dress slacks to collared, button down shirts. I think that when the Army gives us a civilian clothing allowance sufficient for purchasing "appropriate" civilian attire, then we should be able to keep on wearing what we choose.</div><div><br></div><div>Now, the rest of the rules, I actually like many of them and think they make a lot of sense!</div>
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SFC (Join to see)
The shaving thing really does not make any sense!!! If they are trying to get away from people having shaggy beards and an unprofessional appearance on post does that mean they are going to start requiring retirees, dependents and civilians to adhere to these same grooming and clothing mandates?! Or limit them from use of the Commissary and PX???
Obviously I make statements like these because they are just a ridiculous to enforce as the two additions to the Reg!! Unless of course you are still an unfortunate soul that lives in the barracks! Sorry....
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SGT (Join to see)
I completely agree here. So long as SM is not wearing inappropriate clothing on or off post then I don't see what the problem is. How are soldiers supposed to relax during their off time if there is a damn "uniform" for off duty attire. This one I completely disagree with.
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MAJ (Join to see)
So, if I take my sons' Scout troop backpacking at Philmont for two weeks, I have to shave the whole time?
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What does a professional look like? Well, according to these proposed changes Audie Murphy did not, Our forefathers did not. I am sick and tired of hearing a hair cut, facial hair, etc define professionalism. The standards will continually change based on whomever is in-charge of the idea fairy generator.
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SFC (Join to see)
SSG,
We cannot control what people respond to. When one is gaining influence and trying to sway people in a direction of a topic they are generally going to respond to whatever statement they feel means the most to them.
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SSG (Join to see)
clicking thumbs up doesn't say it well enough, so ill just say it..."thumbs up",,, i like your statement, good point and I like the way you think.
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SFC (Join to see)
Thank you SSG! I am glad I did not upset you. Some people say I come off as a jerk.
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SSG (Join to see)
well sometimes you just have to say what needs to be said and worry about their candy a-- feelings later.
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Could you imagine if we focused on enforcing sexual assault changes like uniform violations? If you called out everyone every time you saw something inappropriate?<div>The fact that we have debates on here about wearing a hat or hands in pockets lets you know how far away we are from stopping inappropriate behaviors.</div><div>People on here admitting to be scared to correcting people about their hair; I can hardly have any faith that they'll make the "tougher" corrections.</div>
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SFC (Join to see)
Spot on. I honestly thought the line about preventing Sexual Assault and Harassment being the Army's top priority was real. In the last couple of months I've seen how much of a joke it is. From something as simple as my battalion leadership not conducting their annual SHARP training while harping on everyone else to do it...to the real serious crap such as making a junior soldier pull duty with an NCO she accused of sexual harassment. Our priorities are so skewed.
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SSG (Join to see)
Your right once these are established I wan tto see a Superior CSM tell his female or male S1's or BN/BDE NCOIC's/OIC's to correct themselves. I watched daily at my previous unit no standards being implemented while in Staff Positions... as the old saying goes RHIP...dont be the standard just be superior to everyone else so no one can correct you.
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<p>With the proposed changes that are due to be published soon, I can only say that I am glad to be retired now....funny how for the entirety of my career no one gave a good gawddamn about me being clean shaven while on leave/pass but now apparently it has become an issue, same with the sideburns (now as for me personally, I wore a flat-top for the better part of 23 of my 26 years in so it wasn't an issue). I am glad to see they did re-restrict the tattoo policy to what it was for the bulk of my time in, should never have allowed face/neck/hand tattoos at all, not only unprofessional, but simply looked like a bag of ass. Restricting/mandating what civilian attire a Soldier wears off-post on hi/her own time is to me completely laughable, I know that we, excuse me you still serving, are "Ambassadors" of the Army, but honestly I don't think many people off-post care what you look like, otherwise society wouldn't have progressed to the point that it has with certain fashion ideas. All I can say to you young/mature Soldiers, NCOs and Officers is have fun trying to keep up with all of this and enforcing it as well....I predict a lot more Courtesy Patrols off-post in your futures as we reset to a more Garrison minded Army. "TREAT 'EM ROUGH!!"</p><p> </p>
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I understand that changes need to be made. We are an Army filled with Soldiers who only know combat and have never experienced the "peace time" garrison life. That said however, I think we need to tighten up enforcement of the standards we already have first. NCOs need to BE, KNOW and DO the regulation, standards ect. and furthermore get in the habit of exercising on the spot corrections for violations...even when it is another NCO! NCOs corrected need to accept the correction and realize that people do notice your failure to adhere to the policy/regulation. I personally do not like the "Sideburns will not extend below the top of the ear" and "Soldiers will be clean shaven on AND off duty (even during leave)" change but I will adhere and enforce regardless. <br>
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CSM (Join to see)
I agree with you on the fact we currently have "an Army filled with Soldiers who only know combat and have never experienced the "peace time" garrison life". With this new revision we should be able to get back to the standard that sets the example for what is deemed "right" in the eyes of our leadership. Once we can all get back to the standard and look uniform "while on duty" and now more so then ever "off duty". If you had a difficult time in the resent past who was a Soldier and who wasnt this should fix that.
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SSG Daniel Deiler
Well hey SSG G/SSG N I'm from down both of your ways (Janesville) AND SSG G I'm headed your way here in a few months myself (JBLE). Go Pack Go! On WINsconsin!!!
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SGT (Join to see)
I believe and this is my opinion, when not in wartime some senior leaders get bored, and when they get bored they like changing stuff. Some of this AR change is ludicrous, and is another reason why I am so glad after a 2 year separation I joined the guard.
The army was made to fight wars period, not to regulate what they wear off duty. That's crazy, honestly think to yourself about it.
I believe your leadership should be looking and voicing the soldier's concerns to their leadership and so on. It's our Army why not form it they way that we want it? I also believe that Soldiers should have some sort of say when they write these policies that affect them specifically.
The army was made to fight wars period, not to regulate what they wear off duty. That's crazy, honestly think to yourself about it.
I believe your leadership should be looking and voicing the soldier's concerns to their leadership and so on. It's our Army why not form it they way that we want it? I also believe that Soldiers should have some sort of say when they write these policies that affect them specifically.
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<p>I think the use of the word "Professional" or "professionalism" is being over used and we are actually trying to create a whole new meaning of the word. When people in the military say these words it is no longer an objective word but a subjective one. SF personnel for instance; parted, longer hair, tattoo's, on deployment beards. I have met quite a few and these are some of the most professional men I have ever met. While I am not throwing out some shout for beards, I am simply making a point of the careless and unabated use of these two words.</p><p><br></p><p>I know it has been said before tattoo sleeves don't make you a bad solider, nor unprofessional. Neither does having a little bit of sideburns on your face. Am I saying we should just not care about these things? No, of course not. There should be a standard of course but I think we need to step back and look from a different angle. </p><p><br></p><p>We want to downsize the Army, well we can start by being a lot more selective to who we let in. In my opinion a better trained and smaller, force with quality individuals that actually want to be there is better than a force of half wits where we have to make outrageous standards because soldiers are too foolish to make the right decision. I don't think this would eliminate all problems, because we all have made stupid decisions. It is going to happen. But it all starts in basic training. You can tell what a soldier is going to be. Unfortunately, a lot of the good ones get out because the rules get to a certain point of ridiculous while the ones that are the reason for the silly rules (or lazy, or whiners, etc.\ career SPC) are the ones that stay in. This has been the trend in my seven years in the service. </p><p><br></p><p>We need to re-evaluate how we are bringing troops in and also why a lot haven't been kicked out yet for being overweight and malingering, among other things. If we looked at more reasonable standards and a more strict evaluation and BCT method I think that we would actually see a lot less foolish and lazy soldiers for which stupid rules are made and a lot more respectable and professional fighting force.</p>
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So I will use myself as an example. This is how I wear my "sideburns". My hairline is so tight to my ear that it nearly grows onto my ear; top, side, and back. If I was to cut my sideburns so as not to “extend below the top of the ear”, I would literally have to shave a notch into my hairline just to get it in standards. How am I supposed to cut them according to the new standard? Green (top of the ear hole), Yellow (where my ear attaches to my head), or Red (top of the ear)? Maybe I will just need to get my haircut two to three times a week to keep my hair short enough that nobody notices that it grows onto my ear.
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SSG (Join to see)
I would love to see this regulation tighten up some of these warriors professional appearance
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SSG Mike Angelo
Barbers used to use a razor and shaving cream to cut along the ear/hairline and back in the neck too for about $1.75, total price for a haircut in 1976. Same thing without the razor is over $10.
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SGT (Join to see)
According to the changes back in 2012, the green line would be the standard 1SG, so you should be in the clear. I have the same problem with my hair. It grows to the ear and because I have dark hair is shows very quickly. I do medium skin fades so I'm not taking trimmers to it every four or five days.
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SP5 Joel O'Brien
Good Night!! IIRC...When I was in during the 70's, sideburns could extend to the lowest opening of the ear, though I think many kept them trimmed a bit higher than that.
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