Does The Military Still Force Dry Shaving In Basic Training

2015-03-17T14:48:49-04:00

Shaving in Basic Training has been known to cause Pseudofolliculitis Barbae or Razor bumps a painful and unsightly problem for Service Members. Razor bumps are often found on the face, and the back of the neck. This occurs quite frequently in basic, as young men are forced to shave prematurely.
They occur after forced shaving… You’ll experience this in boot camp, when your Drill Sergeant holds a formation in front of the sinks, and proceeds to give a period of instruction about the importance of shaving. Just so you know ahead of time, your Drill Sergeant doesn’t have a clue about proper skin care or if you have enough hair to shave.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 17 at 2015 2:56 PM

2015-03-17T14:56:58-04:00

During my basic training, I had never shaved before then. The first morning of basic, in formation, I was singled out because my peach fuzz was too long. To reming me to shave clean every morning, I was forced to dry shave. We used double razors back then which were known to cause lacerations and bumps on the face. They gave me an old rusty looking razor and soon, zip, zop, my face was ripped to shreds. EeeeYoww!

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 17 at 2015 3:09 PM

2015-03-17T15:09:51-04:00

I didn't own a razor. My father never taught me to shave because I didn't have facial hair. I get to basic and the weeks in I get one hair, I don't notice. Suffice it to say a random inspection occurs and you would have thought I'd hung out with Jane Fonda, assisted Benedict Arnold's treason, and handed over the nails used in Jesus' crucifixion.
When he found out I didn't buy a razor, it got worse. So, after shaving under his supervision for the remaining five weeks, for what a tweezer would have fixed, I'm the proud owner of the scaggliest beard in the world, if I would ever let it grow.
Sui

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Mar 17 at 2015 3:26 PM

2015-03-17T15:26:35-04:00

I don't recall any dry-shaving.

What I remember was shaving during hygiene at night, and we had a couple guys with DARK hair and 5 o'clock shadow at 9am the following morning. DI's told them to shave in the morning instead. For the most part the hygiene inspection at night made sure everyone wasn't overly nasty.

Response by PFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 17 at 2015 3:27 PM

2015-03-17T15:27:36-04:00

As of my run through basic, Nov 2012-Feb 2013, they did not force anyone to dry shave. Primarily because we we're good at making sure everyone shaved any ways. It's just not needed anymore because at least in my unit, the guys were good about shaving

Response by CH (MAJ) William Beaver made Mar 17 at 2015 3:29 PM

2015-03-17T15:29:39-04:00

I dry shave every day. Actually builds up my skin. Shave in the morning and at night. No issues here. And I even have sensitive skin. If I let it go too long then dry shaving is painful

Response by CSM Michael J. Uhlig made Mar 17 at 2015 3:51 PM

2015-03-17T15:51:25-04:00

While the requirement to be clean shaven does exist.....Soldiers have the option to shave before formations on their own - when they fail to do so, they are given the opportunity to shave in front of the Drill Sergeant.....it is truly the choice of the Soldier - and explained as such ahead of time.

Response by LTC Stephen C. made Mar 17 at 2015 4:40 PM

2015-03-17T16:40:11-04:00

SGT Private RallyPoint Member, I started BCT in NOV69 at Fort Jackson (Tank Hill), SC. Only one basic trainee had to dry shave that I remember. At a morning formation during inspection, it was clear he had either not shaved, or had shaved the night before and it had grown out too much to be acceptable. The Senior Field Leader (an SFC) made him dry shave in front of the entire company in the winter cold.
Needless to say, everyone made sure that they were clean shaven for morning formation from that moment on.
Mission accomplished.

Response by SGM Erik Marquez made Mar 17 at 2015 5:02 PM

2015-03-17T17:02:14-04:00

I was Drill Sergeant at Fort Jackson ...1994-1997
in one of the first Gender Integrated units. "Forced Shaving"?
I know nothing, I hear nothing, I see nothing.....
The Soldiers (Male) had allotted training time to conduct personal hygiene before 1st formation... should a male SM come out to 1st Formation unshaven, our formation area was in the quad with the laundry rooms in the back .. the Sm would be taken to the laundry room, which had a sink...provided a disposable razor which the MED detail provided us... and told to shave...there may or may not have been a time limit for this activity and it may or may not have been timed with a stopwatch that only had a sweep second hand.......

But Dry shave? no... Instill personal responsibility and discipline as well as provide some negative reinforcement for failing a duty absolutely...But do something that was likely to end my career and / or send me to jail? No thanks Not Needed to get the job done, unprofessional and stupid.

Response by TSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 17 at 2015 7:22 PM

2015-03-17T19:22:40-04:00

I was never forced to dry shave, but I did do it a few times in order to save time

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 17 at 2015 7:26 PM

2015-03-17T19:26:29-04:00

I saw two guys stand outside the CQ office and dry shave for about 20 minutes for not being clean shaven. Also had a kid in my bay who only shaved a few times all of OSUT, he managed to get by with it. Just didn't have any facial hair.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 20 at 2015 12:25 AM

2015-03-20T00:25:52-04:00

I went through Ft. Benning in 2006. We never had anyone have to dry shave, although the Drill Sergeants made us shave the night before and used a stop watch to time our showers in the evening. I did have somebody swipe my razor and have to use a disposable head by itself for awhile. That was fun.....

Response by MAJ Todd Lamb made May 8 at 2015 10:24 AM

2015-05-08T10:24:13-04:00

As a former Infantry Basic Training Commander, the thing you have to think about is (1) personal hygiene around 240 strangers and (2) The safety of your unit. I never would allow my Drills to make someone Dry Shave, but I could and would make them shave. You wind up with a few pigs at Benning who have never made a rack in their lives, so personal hygiene has to be enforced, since some wont do it. Hint: shave before first formation.

Response by PFC Tuan Trang made Aug 31 at 2015 5:08 PM

2015-08-31T17:08:01-04:00

It was not long ago, 2013-2014, Drill instructor still do that.

Response by SGT Jerrold Pesz made Aug 31 at 2015 5:09 PM

2015-08-31T17:09:26-04:00

I was lucky. I didn't have to shave until I was about 40. I still can get by with about every 3 days. I often dry shave because I can knock out the job in about 30 seconds and if I use a good razor I can barely feel it. Therefore I never had to do it in basic training. Later I never made the trainees in my platoon dry shave although there were penalties for not shaving. Usually some other drill sergeant would make someone do it at morning formation and the rest in the company got the message.

Response by SGT Donald Croswhite made Dec 2 at 2018 3:35 AM

2018-12-02T03:35:58-05:00

When did the the Army enforce dry shaving? Unless your in a field op and you can't find shaving cream, that would be the only time you would have to. The Army has never enforced this, as far as I know. Seems like a click baity question.