We’ve already written about Protection Secretary Pete Hegseth’s needlessly costly rant on the nation’s navy brass. However one element has slipped previous most observers—the racism behind his new prohibition on shaving profiles.
A shaving profile is a waiver letting a service member skip clean-shaving guidelines and develop a beard. The Division of Protection just lately introduced the tip of everlasting beard waivers, solely permitting the exemption for a yr.
However on Tuesday, Hegseth made his emotions clear. “No extra beardos,” he said. “The period of rampant and ridiculous shaving profiles is finished.”
U.S. navy senior management at Marine Corps Base Quantico, on Sept. 30. Not a beard in sight.
There are solely two causes for it: spiritual exemption or medical necessity. A number of religions require beards, together with Islam and Sikhism, and lots of Orthodox Jews additionally put on beards due to custom and Biblical interpretations on trim them.
That makes it apparent sufficient what’s occurring right here—Hegseth and MAGA are thrilled to cover anti-Muslim bigotry behind a supposedly religion-neutral coverage. Much less apparent is the coverage’s devastating impression on Black service members.
The medical exemption is for pseudofolliculitis barbae, or PFB, a painful situation during which curly hair grows again into the pores and skin, inflicting acne-like bumps and scarring. It disproportionately impacts Black males. A 2013 research discovered that between 45–80% of Black males undergo from PFB.
Even on the low finish, half of Black males in uniform can not serve with out completely scarring their faces. Latino males are additionally extra liable to the situation.
White males? Simply 3% are affected.
The hurt goes past ache. Shaving profiles already carried profession penalties. In keeping with a research in Army Medication, 63% of Black males on shaving profiles within the Air Pressure reported that it damage their careers. Respondents described being denied career-broadening assignments like Honor Guard, Air Pressure Band, recruiting responsibility, and Airman Management Faculty teacher—all of them pipelines to promotion.
In the meantime, no different main navy energy has such a ban. Israel’s navy permits beards. Most NATO armies permit beards. Historical past’s fiercest fighters—the Vikings—rocked them proudly. Hell, even “Game of Thrones” understood the facility of a beard.
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In order for you a fearsome-looking navy, let the beards develop. Even Vice President JD Vance sports activities one and thinks it makes him look robust.
But below Hegseth’s order, anybody who refuses to shave will likely be kicked out of the navy inside a yr. With 17% of our armed forces Black—about 346,000 service members (although a few of these are ladies, in fact)—this order may value the U.S. navy tens of 1000’s of skilled, loyal, patriotic troopers. It could cripple readiness whereas stripping away variety.
However that’s the purpose. This administration is at struggle with non-white America, and it’s keen to weaken the navy itself to make it whiter
