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Did the military always have crew cuts?

I

imported_goku

Diamond Member
Did our military always have crew cuts? I could have sworn when watching band of brothers that the soldiers would have relatively normal hair. Maybe some one can enlighten me about this 'hair requirement' that maybe it's just short hair that is needed and not a crew cut/shaved etc.
 
Originally posted by: goku
Did our military always have crew cuts? I could have sworn when watching band of brothers that the soldiers would have relatively normal hair. Maybe some one can enlighten me about this 'hair requirement' that maybe it's just short hair that is needed and not a crew cut/shaved etc.
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Crew cuts are usally setup for new recruits. Standardization and remove the indivigual's uniqueness

Then it is allowed to grown longer once at an active duty station.

However, the limitation/style will vary based on unit and tradition.

 
Originally posted by: goku
Did our military always have crew cuts? I could have sworn when watching band of brothers that the soldiers would have relatively normal hair. Maybe some one can enlighten me about this 'hair requirement' that maybe it's just short hair that is needed and not a crew cut/shaved etc.
Click to expand...

Things are relaxed in the field (especially during wartime).

To paraphrase something I heard once...A war ready unit will never pass a stateside inspection.
 
Exposure times were quite long (sometimes up to like 5-10 minutes) for a picture. It?s probably for stability.
 
Originally posted by: mugs
Originally posted by: funkymatt
Exposure times were quite long (sometimes up to like 5-10 minutes) for a picture. It?s probably for stability.
Click to expand...

Could be, but since Napoleon was doing it before cameras were invented I'm guessing not.

Maybe they just like to scratch their stomachs.

Or maybe they're getting ready to pull a gun on the photographer if he does anything shady.

😉
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An old rumor is Napoleon chewed his finger nails and wanted to hide it, that or something about a disfigured hand, can't remember. But, also I think it was adopted as a sign of authority when taking a picture.
 
"Crew Cuts" are optional, but all branches of the military have hair length regs, and have since WWII. No, in the field during wartime, you're not required to find the nearest barbershop and keep it high & tight, but you WILL be expected to get it cut when you get back to a rear area that has facilities for such. During Vietnam, lots of us ended up in the bush for weeks on end, and haircuts weren't always available. Got pretty shaggy sometimes, (and many even grew moustaches and beards) but as soon as possible, we got it cut back to regs or nearly so anyway...A lot depended on your commanding officer, and the NCO's you had to deal with.
 
depends on what service you serve...
Navy and Coast Guard and AF all have pretty relaxed hair grooming rules...
where as Army and Marines do require a much shorter cut..

also depends what Unit you are attached to... some of the "special groups" are supposed to look like civvies so they are encouraged to grow thier hair and facial hair longer. so they can fit in where they serve...
 
back in the hippy era i believe it was permitted in the Air Force to wear a wig if you wanted long hair. It was quite common to see people with really short hair, and at the end of the day they would pull their wig off and expose a pony tail.
 
Originally posted by: huberm
back in the hippy era i believe it was permitted in the Air Force to wear a wig if you wanted long hair. It was quite common to see people with really short hair, and at the end of the day they would pull their wig off and expose a pony tail.
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Don't know that it was "permitted" in the active duty branch, but it was pretty common in the reserves/guard units. Usually, if someone got caught, they were ordered to get it cut. I remember a couple of court battles about it...and the serviceman almost always lost. Remember, in the military, you don't have a lot of rights...especially when it comes to dress and appearance issues.
 
Originally posted by: CVSiN
depends on what service you serve...
Navy and Coast Guard and AF all have pretty relaxed hair grooming rules...
where as Army and Marines do require a much shorter cut..

also depends what Unit you are attached to... some of the "special groups" are supposed to look like civvies so they are encouraged to grow thier hair and facial hair longer. so they can fit in where they serve...
Click to expand...

Pretty much only Delta and Devgru are allowed "relaxed grooming standards."
 
Originally posted by: F22 Raptor
Originally posted by: CVSiN
depends on what service you serve...
Navy and Coast Guard and AF all have pretty relaxed hair grooming rules...
where as Army and Marines do require a much shorter cut..

also depends what Unit you are attached to... some of the "special groups" are supposed to look like civvies so they are encouraged to grow thier hair and facial hair longer. so they can fit in where they serve...
Click to expand...

Pretty much only Delta and Devgru are allowed "relaxed grooming standards."
Click to expand...

thats why "special groups" was said like that... 😉
 
Originally posted by: mugs
Originally posted by: funkymatt
Exposure times were quite long (sometimes up to like 5-10 minutes) for a picture. It?s probably for stability.
Click to expand...

Could be, but since Napoleon was doing it before cameras were invented I'm guessing not.

Maybe they just like to scratch their stomachs.

Or maybe they're getting ready to pull a gun on the photographer if he does anything shady.

😉
Click to expand...

Yeah...it's to keep your trigger finger warm and ready for action 😉

Army Regulation 670-1 is much more flexible than you would think regarding hair:
Male haircuts will conform to the following standards.

The hair on top of the head must be neatly groomed. The length and bulk of the hair may not be excessive or present a ragged, unkempt, or extreme appearance. The hair must present a tapered appearance. A tapered appearance is one where the outline of the soldier?s hair conforms to the shape of the head, curving inward to the natural termination point at the base of the neck. When the hair is combed, it will not fall over the ears or eyebrows, or touch the collar, except for the closely cut hair at the back of the neck. The block-cut fullness in the back is permitted to a moderate degree, as long as the tapered look is maintained.... Males are not authorized to wear braids, cornrows, or dreadlocks (unkempt, twisted, matted, individual parts of hair) while in uniform or in civilian clothes on duty. Hair that is clipped closely or shaved to the scalp is authorized.
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However, every unit I've been in has enforced a much stricter standard...
 
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