United States Army Lifts Ban on Dreadlocked Hairstyles - Polidicks

[QUOTE]Black women serving in the United States Army are cheering revised regulations that permit hair locks, ending what critics said were years of scrutiny and confusing enforcement of rules about their appearance. The change surfaced last month in an Army directive that focused largely on grooming policy changes related to religious accommodations. Buried in the directive was text allowing female soldiers to wear “dreadlocks/locks,” which were previously banned. “We understood there was no need to differentiate between locks, cornrows or twists as long as they all met the same dimension,” he said, according to The Northwest Guardian, a publication of Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington State. “Females have been asking for a while, especially females of African-American descent, to be able to wear dreadlocks and locks because it’s easier to maintain that hairstyle.” In 2014, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel ordered the military to review its policies about hairstyles popular with black women after complaints that new Army regulations banning large cornrows, twists and dreadlocks unfairly targeted black women. A few months later, some of the rules were relaxed. The Marine Corps approved lock and twist hairstyles in late 2015.[/QUOTE] [URL="https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/10/us/army-ban-on-dreadlocks-black-servicewomen.html?module=WatchingPortal&region=c-column-middle-span-region&pgType=Homepage&action=click&mediaId=thumb_square&state=standard&contentPlacement=7&version=internal&contentCollection=www.nytimes.com&contentId=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nytimes.com%2F2017%2F02%2F10%2Fus%2Farmy-ban-on-dreadlocks-black-servicewomen.html&_r=0"]Source[/URL]

[quote]“For me, it wasn’t just about hair,” she said. “I am completely against blind conformity, and I’m rebellious by nature.”[/quote] You might be in the wrong line of work.

Can't really see an issue with this - hair still has to fit within regulation sizes. Hell, the BAF actually allow beards. I believe the Canadian Forces do, too.

[QUOTE=archangel125;51807958]Can't really see an issue with this - hair still has to fit within regulation sizes. Hell, the BAF actually allow beards. I believe the Canadian Forces do, too.[/QUOTE] Gas masks can't properly seal when you have a beard, which has been the primary excuse for not allowing beards generally with the US at least.

[QUOTE=archangel125;51807958]I believe the Canadian Forces do, too.[/QUOTE] Navy only iirc Edit: Was misinformed; more information here though :[url]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Facial_hair_in_the_military#Canada[/url]

[QUOTE=Senscith;51808015]Gas masks can't properly seal when you have a beard, which has been the primary excuse for not allowing beards generally with the US at least.[/QUOTE] Our new minister of defense, who is Sikh, [URL="http://gizmodo.com/canada-s-badass-new-defense-minister-patented-this-gas-1741012986"]came up with a special mask to allow Sikh-Canadian soldiers to adapt.[/URL] He served three tours in Afghanistan, including as an 'intelligence asset', and became the first Sikh to command an Army regiment in the Canadian Forces, I believe. [t]https://i.cbc.ca/1.3304912.1446689742!/fileImage/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/16x9_1180/harjit-sajjan.jpg[/t] Anyway, I digress. Beards aren't a problem if you engineer solutions that work with them, and they're relatively inexpensive solutions, too.

Wouldn't it be a problem for helmets? Also, if you do tours in somewhere hot as fuck like iraq/afghanistan/Middle East why would you want to have such hair

[QUOTE=shian;51808084]Wouldn't it be a problem for helmets? Also, if you do tours in somewhere hot as fuck like iraq/afghanistan/Middle East why would you want to have such hair[/QUOTE] Cornrows, or that guy's beard? I can't imagine cornrows being that warm, and honestly beards don't make you much hotter than you'd be without one. [editline]11th February 2017[/editline] For Sikhs, their beard and hair are symbols of their faith, very important to them spiritually. Here's the deal with Sikhs, and why more considerations should be made to accomodate them in the Police and military: Sikhism is a religion very much based around a warrior culture, with a strong sense of honour, and a spiritual duty to protect the weak and the innocent. It is a non-evangelical faith, meaning it is not usually expansionist, and focuses heavily on self-discipline. As a result of this faith, Sikhs are driven to join the Police force and military, out of a desire to serve their countries and their communities, but they've run into trouble in the West associated with ignorance and fear. So you've got a good set of men and women who historically have made excellent soldiers and cops, but they run into obstacles in joining up with law enforcement and the military. [media]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oa-XV6qLT2A[/media]

[QUOTE=archangel125;51808032]Our new minister of defense, who is Sikh, [URL="http://gizmodo.com/canada-s-badass-new-defense-minister-patented-this-gas-1741012986"]came up with a special mask to allow Sikh-Canadian soldiers to adapt.[/URL] He served three tours in Afghanistan, including as an 'intelligence asset', and became the first Sikh to command an Army regiment in the Canadian Forces, I believe. [t]https://i.cbc.ca/1.3304912.1446689742!/fileImage/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/16x9_1180/harjit-sajjan.jpg[/t][/QUOTE] What I don't understand is how he wears a helmet with a turban underneath.

[QUOTE=_Axel;51808098]What I don't understand is how he wears a helmet with a turban underneath.[/QUOTE] Maybe the turban is wrapped around the helmet

[QUOTE=_Axel;51808098]What I don't understand is how he wears a helmet with a turban underneath.[/QUOTE] Sikh religion is a different style Turban referred to as a Pagri, Paag or Dastar and I've seen they have multiple layers, so if needed he could take the large top layer off and still have a small layer on top of his head that would probably also act as a comfortable cushion for the helmet.

[QUOTE=_Axel;51808098]What I don't understand is how he wears a helmet with a turban underneath.[/QUOTE] TBH I wonder that myself. It may well be that Sikhs in the army have the option to not wear a helmet. [editline]11th February 2017[/editline] [QUOTE=JCDentonUNATCO;51808104]Sikh religion is a different style Turban referred to as a Paag or Dastar and I've seen they have multiple layers, so if needed he could take the large top layer off and still have a small layer on top of his head that would probably also act as a comfortable cushion for the helmet.[/QUOTE] Thanks, man. I didn't know that myself. I've seen a few of my Sikh friends in the police college wearing the lower layer, but I didn't realize it was only the partial turban.

[QUOTE=_Axel;51808098]What I don't understand is how he wears a helmet with a turban underneath.[/QUOTE] Doesn't need a helmet. Kevlar Turban

[QUOTE=shian;51808084] Also, if you do tours in somewhere hot as fuck like iraq/afghanistan/Middle East why would you want to have such hair[/QUOTE] i imagine you would simply cut it if you really needed to

A beard is itchy, gives you no tactical advantage and obstructs facial equipment. Is wearing a beard worth all that inconvenience on the field?

[QUOTE=Senscith;51808015]Gas masks can't properly seal when you have a beard, which has been the primary excuse for not allowing beards generally with the US at least.[/QUOTE] You can seal them. you just need to put the beard in your mouth.

[quote]“For me, it wasn’t just about hair,” she said. “I am completely against blind conformity, and I’m rebellious by nature.”[/quote] This is a joke, right?

[quote]“For me, it wasn’t just about hair,” she said. “I am completely against blind conformity, and I’m rebellious by nature.”[/quote] So you'll be taking up another haircut since "The Man" approves of this haircut, right?

I would have asked "Why aren't they using electronic shavers" but then I remembered that they probably have no way to charge the things.

[QUOTE=archangel125;51808090]Cornrows, or that guy's beard? I can't imagine cornrows being that warm, and honestly beards don't make you much hotter than you'd be without one. [editline]11th February 2017[/editline] For Sikhs, their beard and hair are symbols of their faith, very important to them spiritually. Here's the deal with Sikhs, and why more considerations should be made to accomodate them in the Police and military: Sikhism is a religion very much based around a warrior culture, with a strong sense of honour, and a spiritual duty to protect the weak and the innocent. It is a non-evangelical faith, meaning it is not usually expansionist, and focuses heavily on self-discipline. As a result of this faith, Sikhs are driven to join the Police force and military, out of a desire to serve their countries and their communities, but they've run into trouble in the West associated with ignorance and fear. So you've got a good set of men and women who historically have made excellent soldiers and cops, but they run into obstacles in joining up with law enforcement and the military. [media]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oa-XV6qLT2A[/media][/QUOTE] I was more specifically referring to people with dreads, but I know that shiks just wear their tubans.

[QUOTE=Nitro836;51808541]I would have asked "Why aren't they using electronic shavers" but then I remembered that they probably have no way to charge the things.[/QUOTE] you'll usually have access to power at a fob I think. a good electric razor will probably last for as long as you're away on mission.

[QUOTE=_Axel;51808098]What I don't understand is how he wears a helmet with a turban underneath.[/QUOTE] Its a bunch of hair tied around a turban anyway, and its really thick, long hair. So I doubt its going to affect them with bullets going into it Probably make them more angry.

[QUOTE=Nitro836;51808198]A beard is itchy[/QUOTE] I think you might have lice

[QUOTE=archangel125;51807958]Can't really see an issue with this - hair still has to fit within regulation sizes. Hell, the BAF actually allow beards. I believe the Canadian Forces do, too.[/QUOTE] Afghanistan populace was more trusting of people with a beard, so if you could grow a proper full-face beard then you were allowed to keep it, albeit neatly trimmed, a moustache is always allowed if you can grow it too but the same rule applies. I still believe the only other acceptions to the beard rule was that and a medical or religious reason to have a beard.

[QUOTE=Senscith;51808015]Gas masks can't properly seal when you have a beard, which has been the primary excuse for not allowing beards generally with the US at least.[/QUOTE] I dunno about that. That's the excuse they use, but it isn't quite true. Underway, submariners virtually never shave, yet our EAB and SCBA masks still form perfect seals on bearded individuals.

[QUOTE=Thomo_UK;51808997]Afghanistan populace was more trusting of people with a beard, so if you could grow a proper full-face beard then you were allowed to keep it, albeit neatly trimmed, a moustache is always allowed if you can grow it too but the same rule applies. I still believe the only other acceptions to the beard rule was that and a medical or religious reason to have a beard.[/QUOTE] Plus you look badass if you special forces with a beard

[quote]“For me, it wasn’t just about hair,” she said. “I am completely against blind conformity,[/quote] I mean I guess [I]this part[/I] of her sentence makes some sort of sense. If a rule is pointless, why have it? Though honestly when it applies to other things in the military this isn't a good attitude to have.

I thought part of the point for not having long hair was so someone cant crab you by it, throw your head back and slit your neck. Or was that just a myth? [editline]11th February 2017[/editline] [quote]“For me, it wasn’t just about hair,” she said. “I am completely against blind conformity, and I’m rebellious by nature.”[/quote] I've said it before, I'll say it again, a lot of the time rules and regs in the army aren't just to keep soldiers the fuck in line but because when it comes to the life or death situations of people shooting and being shot at we need good soldiers, not [I]FEEL[/I]-good soldiers. We need people who can do the task assigned to them as quickly and efficiently as possible, if you can't do that you need to be doing something else. If you're complaining that your hair gets in the way of your rifle scope why the fuck did you join the marksman corp? Hot steamy conditions of a tank making your makeup run? Fuck you! If you can't handle the heat, stay the fuck outta the tank corp. The military is all about practical solutions to the problems of reality in warfare, mud does not give a shit if it hurts your fee-fees, bullets do not give a shit if they are "oppressing you" trenches don't dig themselves and organic free range fairtrade tofu is too expensive to be passing out to the thousands of people working in the armed forces. By all means, join the military, I wholeheartedly understand if you want to serve your country and respect that you wish to make that commitment. But you gotta bend into shape for them because they cannot afford to change the rules just for you.

[QUOTE=Nitro836;51808198]A beard is itchy, gives you no tactical advantage and obstructs facial equipment. Is wearing a beard worth all that inconvenience on the field?[/QUOTE] Obviously yes since it makes you look operator as fuck and allows you to deal + 10 morale damage to the enemy. Fear the beard!

Having no beard on your face has two purposes. One is obvious and the other is well, a bit harder to justify. Generally a clean shaven soldier is seen more "disciplined" and have higher morale considering he has taken time to get rid of his facial hair to look proper. Small details like that makes the enemy know you are well supplied and not lazy. It's also just a cosmetic thing for soldiers to look better, not everyone can grow a proper beard and seeing a company of unshaven a la 15 year old look mustaches/beards is not very proper or nice anyway. You shave yourself before you go to a job interview if you cannot grow a beard right? It also has a combat aspect, just like females with long hair, enemies can grab your beard in a close combat situation and use your beard to their advantage. Now I dont know how often this actually happens compared to situations with long hair but I suspect there must be a reason to it.