Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has directed the Services to implement grooming standards for facial hair following a rapid force-wide review of military standards.
“The grooming standard set by the U.S. military is to be clean shaven and neat in presentation for a proper military appearance,” said Hegseth.
Commanders are instructed to apply consistent criteria and consider the Department’s interests in safety and uniformity when authorizing individual exceptions. Military medical officers will provide a written recommendation for a shaving waiver to the commander, who serves as the final approval authority.
Service members approved for a shaving waiver will take part in a medical treatment plan. Unit commanders will initiate separation of Service members who require a shaving waiver after more than one year of medical treatment.
A memo outlining the policy is available online.
