Black women worried about Army hair regulations

AP via Yahoo! ^ | April 4, 2014 7:17 PM | JESSE J. HOLLAND

[wetphoenix]

WASHINGTON (AP) — New Army regulations meant to help standardize and professionalize soldiers' appearance are now coming under criticism by some black military women, who say changes in the hair requirement are racially biased.

The Army earlier this week issued new appearance standards, which included bans on most twists, dreadlocks and large cornrows, all styles used predominantly by African-American women with natural hairstyles. More than 11,000 people have signed a White House petition asking President Barack Obama, the commander in chief, to have the military review the regulations to allow for "neat and maintained natural hairstyles."

Some black military women, who make up about a third of the women in the armed forces, feel they have been singled out with these new regulations.

"I think that it primarily targets black women, and I'm not in agreement with it," said Patricia Jackson-Kelley of the National Association of Black Military Women. "I don't see how a woman wearing three braids in her hair, how that affects her ability to perform her duty in the military."

[Terabitten]

Somehow the Army has managed to survive this long without these regs. I think the black servicewomen have a reasonable objection.

Nope. Those hair styles have never been allowed. There was, however, some wiggle room for NCOs enforcing those standards. The new regulation simply spells it out more explicitly, thus reducing any interpretation or discretion by the NCOs charged with enforcing the standards.

Here's the current reg:

Extreme, eccentric, or trendy haircuts or hairstyles are not authorized. If soldiers use dyes, tints, or bleaches, they must choose those that result in natural hair colors. Colors that detract from a professional military appearance are prohibited. Therefore, soldiers should avoid using colors that result in an extreme appearance. Applied hair colors that are prohibited include, but are not limited to, purple, blue, pink, green, orange, bright (fire-engine) red, and fluorescent or neon colors. It is the responsibility of leaders to use good judgment in determining if applied colors are acceptable, based upon the overall effect on soldiers’ appearance.

Cornrows and dreads were already covered under the first sentence - extreme, eccentric, or trendy hairstyles.

[Eagles6]

Doesn’t matter. If it affects an aggrieved, protected group disproportionately then heads must roll.

[Morgana]

“Somehow the Army has managed to survive this long without these regs. I think the black servicewomen have a reasonable objection.”

I have to agree

[fella]

If it’s equality they want then all GI’s should have the burr cut. No special privilege for ‘special’ people, none.

[galtman]

How about nationwide segregation ... build a giant wall around Montana and put all liberals inside ... black and white alike! How long would it take for them to start eating each other?! It would be sad to lose Montana ... but it would eventually revert back to us after they killed each other off!

[Jack Hammer]

One has to suppose that, these days, it would be too much to hope that they might spend their time worrying about the defense of their nationand let the concern for their hairstyles go by the boards?

[BerryDingle]

I think the black servicewomen have a reasonable objection.

The objection deserves a response but representing a union in our military smacks of mutiny and may be a courts martial offense under some "circumstances".

said Patricia Jackson-Kelley of the National Association of Black Military Women.

[CorporateStepsister]

Our military is being turned into a social club and any bets that our enemies are just sitting back and anticipating the end of the mighty American military? I’m sure the Chinese are looking forward to their day in the glorious sun of being the only military superpower in the world in the near future.

Chinese military training videos:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUJJDU1BJw0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_e_XXUYFdyk

Meanwhile we worry about hair styles.

[egfowler3]

Actually there IS a very practical reason for proper hair styles.

As a former NBC NCO in the US Army I observed one of the biggest causes of failing the 9-sec rule for donning the individual gas mask was hair styling. When the service member complained, no problem. We just took the members into the gas chamber for some quality training time and those unusual hair styles very quickly disappeared. Funny how being unable to establish a good air seal can work wonders on one’s attitude.

[octex]

These women should be required to have hair like Grace Jones, in the movie ‘Conan The Destroyer’. ...Easy to care for, as it was essentially just a little longer crew cut.

[HotKat]

KISS. keep it simple stupid. :)

[melsec]

No wonder Putin doesn’t seemed concerned about the USA at present - surely these “soldiers” should be thinking about whether they might be going to war anytime soon!

[Altura Ct.]

How can this be? I guess that race does matter after all.

[SkyPilot]

The Pentagon says that all states are now complying with new rules allowing the same-sex spouses of military members to get ID cards in order to claim benefits. Hagel said in an October speech that the states' refusal to comply had created hardship for couples by forcing them to travel long distances to federal military bases to get the ID cards. Under Pentagon policy that took effect Sept. 3, same-sex military spouses are eligible for the same health care, housing and other benefits enjoyed by opposite-sex spouses.

Hungover Hagel, dutifully complying with his master Bathhouse Barry's orders, shoved "same sex" benefits down the military's throat. In a budget where Hagel furloughed aircraft maintainers, nurses, teachers, and low paid secretaries (stealing 20% of the paychecks from May to August) - he spent hundreds of Millions of dollars so that homosexual playthings could collect big bucks playing house.

The Pentagon is going around talking about the evils of tobacco and hairstyles - yet Hagel is paying Millions of dollars to ensure that fisting and anal sex are publicly subsidized.

Meanwhile, this garbage is taking place:

Airmen say Air Force is punishing evangelical Christians

Christians Face Culture of Fear, Intimidation in U.S. Military Today

[xzins]

I agree that braids are not an impediment to service...depending on length, of course. I also agree that braids are predominantly used by African-American women.

As with any style, the real issue is field duty or combat duty. If anything imposes additional hygiene problems in the field, then it shouldn’t be allowed. Another field concern is whether it is more dangerous in combat...a handhold for an enemy. A long braid definitely would provide that.

Any such decision, then, based on hygiene or combat safety, should counter any concern based on race, religion, etc.

The Army does not exist to perform garrison duties. It exists to perform combat duties.

[Cvengr]

Most people don’t realize the consequence for a large majority of blacks who attempt to comply with these regulations ruling out cornrows or braiding. Attempting to ‘straighten’ the African American curly hair is far less natural and time consuming than keeping it short in either cornrows or short braids.

It additionally requires extensive chemical treatment with risks of going bald in either case.

For black women in the military, the cornrows or short braids is an appropriate military hair style. For black men, the cornrows also is appropriate, just as appropriate as a flat top or a burr haircut.

To regulate out these styles is equivalent to mandating all military men must have micro curly hair, which would take white males an equally long and artificial effort to achieve in order to comply with such a regulation.

IMHO, too many regulators confuse those who seek these methods as being rebellious to grooming standards, but fail to understand or simply ignore the racial differences which effect the methods of grooming and field hygiene.

[xzins]

If is not a combat impediment or a hygiene concern, then leave the troops alone. If it is an appearance concern, that is, it makes the individual soldier look less than well-regulated and a detriment to good order and discipline, then that would be an extreme appearance that would not fit both naturally and neatly beneath any of the military’s head coverings.

[MSF BU]

Eh, I like your solution in theory, but life would be simpler if we reverted to WAVES, WACS, etc. Oh...and resume conscription; I was tired of dealing with soldiers who join for the college plan or civilians like the Romney boys who are content to watch gals fight in their place.

[waredbird]

Perhaps adoption of the Rutgers women BB team standard would suffice or ask Don Imus for input.

[castlegreyskull]

Somehow the Army has managed to survive this long without these regs. I think the black servicewomen have a reasonable objection.

Seemed in the Civil War, they did fine.