The Pentagon on Monday unveiled new grooming standards, which now require service members \u201cto be clean shaven and neat in presentation for a proper military appearance.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Chief Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell\u2002<\/u><\/a>said in a statement Monday<\/u><\/a> that following \u201ca rapid force-wide review of military standards\u201d Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth\u2002<\/u><\/a>\u201crecently directed the Services to implement the following grooming standards for facial hair.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe grooming standard set by the U.S. military is to be clean shaven and neat in presentation for a proper military appearance,\u201d Hegseth said in a quote in Parnell\u2019s statement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Earlier this month, President Trump\u2002<\/u><\/a>signed an order to change the name<\/u><\/a> of the Department of Defense into the \u201cDepartment of War,\u201d framing the change-up as a sign of American strength. He also suggested that prior lengthy wars under the old moniker were caused by political correctness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The president signed an executive order that allowed the department\u2019s name change and for Hegseth\u2019s title to change to secretary of War. A permanent name change will require an act of Congress<\/u><\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cCommanders must apply consistent criteria and appropriately consider the Department\u2019s interests in safety and uniformity when authorizing individual exceptions,\u201d Parnell said in his Monday statement<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMilitary medical officers will provide a written recommendation concerning a shaving waiver to the commander who is the final approval authority. Service members with an approved shaving waiver will participate in a medical treatment plan,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n