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New U.S. Army Shaving Rule Could Affect Many Black Soldiers (www.nytimes.com)
submitted 7 months ago by silence7@slrpnk.net to c/news@lemmy.world
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Soldiers with skin conditions like razor bumps will no longer be granted permanent medical waivers that allow them to grow beards and could be kicked out of the Army if they are not clean shaven.

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[-] jws_shadotak@sh.itjust.works 18 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago)

“This update reinforces our culture that fosters discipline — and discipline equals readiness,” Michael R. Weimer, the sergeant major of the Army, said in the statement

Threatening to kick out 40,000 people doesn't equal readiness.

A 2021 study in the journal Military Medicine said that grooming techniques and topical medications could be effective in treating mild-to-moderate cases of pseudofolliculitis barbae, but more severe cases responded best to laser therapy. Long-term shaving exemptions “may be needed for treatment-resistant cases,” the study said.

I saw many cases first-hand that did not resolve with topical treatments and would have led to scarring unless a permanent waiver was granted. Laser treatment is a terrible compromise on this issue - would you permanently alter yourself to conform to the standards or would you say "Fuck that" and get out when your contract ends?

With how bad the military as a whole is hurting for people, I'm surprised they're threatening more bullshit like this.

[-] Vedlt@lemmy.world 25 points 7 months ago

Whole lot easier to use the military for violent racism when there's less brown people in it.

[-] RustyShackleford@literature.cafe 13 points 7 months ago

This is exactly why they're doing it, thin out the soldiers who stand a chance of saying no to questionable orders.

[-] Diplomjodler3@lemmy.world 3 points 7 months ago

Always remember who Trump works for. Then it all makes sense.

[-] Archangel1313@lemmy.ca 11 points 7 months ago

This is intentional.

[-] BigDanishGuy@sh.itjust.works 2 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago)

As was mentioned last time this was posted, it's a matter of being able to use gas masks properly. If the masks don't form a seal with the skin the wearer is dead.

When was the last time the US fought an enemy with a credible chemical stockpile? That's why it hasn't been important the last 30years. But Russia has shown to still possess chemical weapons and the will to use them. North Korea is known to have CW in their arsenal, and it would be naïve to assume that the PRC doesn't.

At the moment allies for WW3 are still blurry, but I guess it's better safe than sorry. So it's not a rule intentionally targeting black people, it's protecting all soldiers. The rest of NATO should probably enforce the same rule.

[-] gravitas_deficiency@sh.itjust.works 1 points 7 months ago

I’ve shared the same data on other similar posts around this topic, and gotten downvoted for it too.

[-] Allemaniac@lemmy.world 1 points 7 months ago

looks fuckin ready to me.

[-] BigDanishGuy@sh.itjust.works 2 points 7 months ago

What a mighty warrior, he'd be dead with the first chemical strike.

[-] rebelsimile@sh.itjust.works 1 points 7 months ago

Can’t handle a little chemical warfare? What a bitch.

[-] fittedsyllabi@lemmy.world 0 points 7 months ago

I thought real men had beards.

this post was submitted on 10 Jul 2025
44 points (97.8% liked)

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