Military personnel face discharge if shaving exemptions exceed one-year limit

Don’t miss the full story, whose reporting from Konstantin Toropin at The Associated Press is the basis of this AI-assisted article.

​Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has issued new military grooming standards requiring troops who need facial hair shaving exemptions for more than one year to be separated from service, marking a significant tightening of appearance policies across all military branches.

Some key facts:

• The new policy requires service members seeking shaving exemptions to provide a medical treatment plan as part of their request.

• Most shaving waivers are granted for pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB), a condition that disproportionately affects Black men and causes skin irritation from ingrown hairs.

• The memo emphasizes maintaining grooming standards that “underpin the warrior ethos” and declares the military standard is to be “clean shaven and neat in presentation.”

• The policy applies to all military services and represents a reversal from recent years when appearance rules had been loosened at service members’ requests.

• The memo does not specify what medical treatments will be offered or whether the military will cover treatment costs for affected troops.

• It remains unclear whether special exemptions for special forces in operational settings or troops in extreme Arctic climates will be affected by the change.

• The Army simultaneously announced its own grooming standard updates affecting women’s appearance standards including nails, hairstyles, earrings and makeup regulations.

READ MORE: Pentagon says troops can be exempt from shaving their facial hair for only a year