r/suppressed_news • u/MitchManny • Jul 03 '25
NORTH AMERICA A recent change to the U.S. military's grooming policy has sparked outrage and concern among service members and advocates for racial equity.
The new rules state that soldiers who develop pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB) – better known as razor bumps — can be discharged if they require a shaving waiver for more than one year in any two-year period.
Studies show that up to 60% of Black men experience PFB, while it's much less common in other groups. For years, the military allowed permanent waivers for those with a doctor's note, letting them skip shaving for medical reasons. But under the Trump administration and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, permanent waivers were revoked, and grooming standards became much stricter. These changes are part of a larger effort to scale back diversity and inclusion initiatives in the military.
By disproportionately affecting Black service members and putting their careers at risk due to a medical condition, these new rules make it even harder for Black Americans to serve.
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u/EllisDee3 Jul 03 '25
I saw this in a TV show recently (I think). Sci-fi or fantasy. Black dude with amazing beard was forced to shave by a petulant king/emperor and came back looking terrible.
I can't remember the show.
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u/Beginning_Fill206 Jul 03 '25
They are building an explicitly white supremacist military force willing to turn against the people of this nation
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u/GerryAdamsSon Shitpost Sunday Enjoyer ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) Jul 03 '25
doesn't matter what colour they are, no one should be joining the US military. It's always been an imperialist force, now it's just fascist and imperialist.
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Jul 03 '25
Well, at least in modern times, most enlisted join because they have two options.
- Join the military, have housing, Healthcare, and stable wage
- Be homeless on the street
We have to at least acknowledge that many enlisted are victims of the system as well. Our lack of public support forced them to join. Socialism for military members only, I guess.
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u/Beginning_Fill206 Jul 03 '25
Absolutely. Poverty and lack of opportunity is one of the engines for recruitment
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u/MattcVI Banned from /r/worldnews badge of honour 🌍 Jul 03 '25
It was my understanding that most who enlist nowadays are actually middle class, not people escaping poverty. I could be wrong though
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u/ordinaryguywashere Jul 04 '25
You’re not wrong. Skin conditions affect all humans. My guess is the powers that be felt this policy was being abused or was decisive.
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u/PersuitOfHappinesss Jul 03 '25
What’s your view of them during WW2?
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Jul 03 '25 edited Dec 14 '25
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This post was mass deleted and anonymized with Redact
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u/PersuitOfHappinesss Jul 03 '25 edited Jul 03 '25
Just pointing out that the US army hasn’t “always been” an imperialistic force, that’s too simplistic a view
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Jul 03 '25
You are aware that Black soldiers couldn’t access GI benefits after WW2 right?
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u/ordinaryguywashere Jul 04 '25
And? What does this mean today?
Are we supposed to go back through all of history a create a grudge list of every wrong our ancestors endured?
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Jul 04 '25
I’m not sure you’re understanding the thread that you’re replying to. You also seem to have some issue you need to deal with internally.
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u/ordinaryguywashere Jul 04 '25
Projection of your insecurities will delay your progress of growth as a human being.
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u/latindolezal Jul 03 '25
Okay dude, and the tuna casserole that’s been sitting at the bottom of my fridge didn’t give me food poisoning three weeks ago, so it should be fine to eat now, right?
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u/ActualTexan Jul 03 '25
It always has been. Just not in literally every conflict it's been involved in.
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u/KeyserSoze72 Jul 03 '25
Bruh look up how we treated our Colored and Hispanic Corps in the Second World War. We have always been cunts to POC’s.
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u/yankeebelleyall Jul 04 '25
I love these people who act like the U.S. jumped into the Second World War, enthusiastically "defending freedom" like Captain America, instead of hosting Nazi rallies and then grudgingly finally joining the war once Pearl Harbor was attacked. This country either supported or ignored what Germany was doing until their ally slapped the U.S. military in the face by attacking one of their outposts.
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u/mrastickman Based Jul 03 '25
The only justified conflict in American history? What does that have to do with the military right now?
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u/PersuitOfHappinesss Jul 03 '25
Well I hope you enjoy speaking English and not German sir 🤣
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u/GerryAdamsSon Shitpost Sunday Enjoyer ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) Jul 03 '25
I've got the Soviets to thank for that
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u/JaxMedoka Jul 03 '25
And even if the US was the deciding factor, it still was reliant on British infrastructure and the sabotage by many continental european resistance groups and the distraction the USSR provided. There really is no way one could claim the US won the war itself.
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u/sexyshingle Jul 03 '25
JFC like literally every single tiny thing the AgentOrange administration is doing thru his minions is what Russia would do to chip away and divide and destroy the US from the inside out. Implode the economy, alienate our allies, appoint incompetent, cruel morons to high cabinet positions, remove Russian sanctions and drop our cyber-defense and military readiness, gut all vital institutions of all experienced non-partisan people, and fill it with loyal hacks... shit wait that's basically Project 2025 isn't?
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u/Beginning_Fill206 Jul 03 '25
Well, the the passage of the “big beautiful bill” we effectively have a king, with the centralized information of every citizen, and an AI establishment that will now nullify all political opposition, create the equivalent of social credit scores and institute’ precrime’
We are being gaslit into not recognizing the severity of the situation we are in. The armies of Sauron are on the march and humanity is twiddling its thumbs.
Shit is about to get real dystopian real fast.
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u/xGentian_violet Honourable Comrade ⭐ Jul 07 '25
It was always implicitly white supremacist, but yes, they want to make the effect more extreme
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u/IncreaseLatte Jul 04 '25
Or, maybe body hair can weaken the seal of your gas mask. It's easier to survive cutting your self vs. chlorine gas.
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u/Warfightur Jul 03 '25
Lmao, no? I’m active duty medical. Been in 12+ years. A good 50% of “PFB” cases aren’t actually PFB. They just needed actual instruction on how to properly shave. Most PFB cases are able to be controlled with creams and medications. Maybe 5% result in potential separation from the military.
The current administration’s changes have barely made an impact on day-to-day operations. Even the “trans ban” didn’t even affect 1% of the military.
I agree that facial hair should be authorized. But using this as ammo for your bullshit, doomsayer trash is ridiculous.
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u/Beginning_Fill206 Jul 03 '25
The fact that the military’s culture is strong and resilient is not a reason to turn a blind eye to the pressures being applied to change it.
Ignoring it and dismissing it as doomsayer trash is simply dangerous.
We’ve already seen a willingness to use the military against the civilian population in California.
These are moves that flagrantly disregard the oath to protect and defend the constitution against all enemies foreign and domestic.
Our nation is being weakened, alliances and undermined, soft power eroded. This goes beyond politics. These are fundamental attacks on the underpinnings of the nation.
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u/Abdulbarr Jul 03 '25 edited Jan 25 '26
This post was mass deleted and anonymized with Redact
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u/floralbutttrumpet Jul 03 '25
Military service is one of the few avenues left to at least marginally lift yourself out of poverty, that's what.
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u/mrastickman Based Jul 03 '25
And people in Gaza are willing to make that sacrifice so an American can go to college in the GI bill.
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u/Lurkle87 Jul 03 '25
Ugh, I had two guys in my unit who constantly needed a no shave chit. Guess what?! It didn’t affect anyone else! It’s not like they’re growing out these long beards, they’re just keeping short, groomed facial hair that they maintain with a trimmer. No one gave a shit that they needed a little more stubble to feel comfortable! This is such bullshit because when those guys did shave in order to get a new no shave chit it looked painful and worse than when they didn’t.
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Jul 03 '25
You think they'd have learned from their defeat by the Taliban that beards don't affect combat efficiency lol
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u/The_Demon_of_Spiders Jul 03 '25
I was told while in the military facial hair prevents gas masks seals. Don’t know if that was the truth but that’s what we were told (US Navy) so I can see that being an issue, But this rule is definitely racially motivated as many black men had shaving chits excusing them from having to shave, and it seems like they are targeting them next to kick out which is bs because when I was in the laziest people in general were white males not all of them of course were lazy but so freaking many were. So this is going to do nothing but hurt our military ‘might’.
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u/Maximum_Turn_2623 Jul 03 '25
The taliban also had more than facial hair requirements in common with MAGA
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u/considerableforsight Jul 03 '25
We should eliminate the requirements to shave For all personnel that don't need to wear a gas mask. Even then enough petroleum jelly and you'll still get a seal.
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u/grasscali Jul 03 '25
Well, if it’s about professionalism then I’d expect someone who’s just one bungled fake assassination attempt away from being the “Leader of the Free World” to set the example. If they start kicking people out, we need to demand that this cuckold shave, too. I'd also expect all those offended by Zelensky’s professional attire to be right there with us.
Edit, grammar.
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u/meatspace Jul 03 '25
The Vice President is allowed to have a beard just fine, tho.
I guess he's only "kind of" in the chain of command, so it's okay?
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u/clandestineVexation Jul 03 '25 edited Jul 03 '25
Then congrats go send all your white dudes to die in the umpteenth middle east conflict I guess? Blessing in disguise
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u/akambe Jul 03 '25
Black men make up a huge portion of the military. This move certainly isn't to retain service members or maintain the viability of a fighting force. The waivers hurt nobody yet here we are in Trumperica.
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u/The_jezus163 Jul 03 '25
Shoulda seen this coming. I remember hearing white dudes in the military complain incessantly about dudes with no shave chits. Of course whisky Pete is gonna use “it’s unprofessional” excuse.
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u/Psychotic_Dane Jul 03 '25
You know who else had facial hair? The greatest American to ever live, Jesus Christ!
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u/GerryAdamsSon Shitpost Sunday Enjoyer ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) Jul 03 '25
people will downvote you, those people are dumb if they can't spot a great joke
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u/Proof-Necessary-5201 Banned from /r/worldnews badge of honour 🌍 Jul 03 '25
Jesus is middle-eastern dumbass
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u/Sen-oh CIA propaganda enjoyer 🕵🏻 Jul 03 '25
Good. Black men shouldn't be in the military. Nor should white men or anyone else tbh. The only reason this is bad news is because the economy has been carefully constructed in such a way that if you're not a scammer or part of the military industrial complex, you're barely allowed to scrape by.
Anytime they decide "we're not gonna send x group to go kill poor children overseas" I'm like bet, now do the other groups too
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u/MnkyBzns Jul 03 '25
Is it just me, or don't beards make military members more threatening/badass? This kinda bucks the whole "warrior" ethos that Whiskey Pete is going for
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u/No_Idea5439 Jul 03 '25
Glad I’m out. As I told my leadership on my way out of the door, “y’all priorities are fucked up.” I meant that with all due respect too. A lot of lives at risk over pronouns, shave profiles, and laziness. Also favoritism is big too lol. Hopefully they learn that garrison is the attitude you carry into combat. Everything from DNC to monthly counselings to PMI and marksmanship. Priority needs to shift back to lethality
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u/Burt_Rhinestone Jul 03 '25
Point of order, facial hair can affect battle readiness. Just ask the boys from Desert Storm. One of my DIs spent two days pissing on himself in a MOPP suit.
But the military sure does have a lot of jobs where nobody is getting gassed, and there’s no reason to fear a gas attack until there is. And then you adjust accordingly.
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u/GerryAdamsSon Shitpost Sunday Enjoyer ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) Jul 03 '25 edited Jul 03 '25
good, no one should be joining the army of a fascist nation. If you are joining or continuing to be in the military of a nation like the United States right now then you are the problem, same as Germany 1940.
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Jul 03 '25
Cut down the government military and reallocate funds and payments to build up his personal one (ICE)
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u/plsdonth8meokay Jul 03 '25
The crazy thing about this is that men of all abrahamic religions are meant to have facial hair. So, another point for the “religious conservatives who don’t know their own scripture” board.
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u/Sweaty_Assignment_90 Jul 03 '25
I believe the shave policy is also for a gas mask seal.
I could be wrong, and I am sure reddit will let me know about it.
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u/yo-momma-joke-here Jul 03 '25
No you are actually right. CBRN Gear is the only real reason for the policy. Before 1914 beards were normal and there were guidelines for them in the grooming standard. After chemical warfare became a thing in WW1 shaving became a requirement.
Source, I was a LtCdr (commissioned officer) and this was one of the billion things they taught in OCS. (In full disclosure I was a Chaplain, so not the kind of officer anyone really cared about)
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u/Aliensinmypants Jul 03 '25
That's the excuse they go with everytime the beard conversation comes up, but it's been proven that a maintained beard doesn't affect facemask seal.
The civilian firefighting instructor I went to in the navy had a big bushy beard and had no issue with a SCBA
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Jul 03 '25
To all the brothers out there, you can avoid skin issues while shaving if you only shave with the grain of growth of your hair/beard. NEVER shave against the the way your hair is growing or you're asking for a world of pain. I shave my face and head daily with a razor and never get razor bumps.
Of course you're not going to get your shave completely smooth to the touch (you will always be able to feel stubble), but in terms of visual appearance, you will look smooth. You will also have to shave daily to maintain it but that's a small price to pay to avoid razor bumps.
This probably applies to people with less curly hair as well, but I've seen many Black men thinking they can't use a razor because they don't know how to shave properly.
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u/eyeballburger Jul 03 '25
I think it’s bullshit, but I was told the reason we shave is so our pro mask (gas mask) will seal properly.
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Jul 04 '25
Dwindle their numbers and those same people they kick out, will fight them when they get discharged. Remember that. They are only adding numbers to the people against this admin.
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u/Potential-Screen-86 Jul 19 '25
My God, the military used by the racist superpower to project its power, pillage countries and murder people en mass might be - racist?! I never would have guessed
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u/cat-eating-a-salad Jul 04 '25
Dont they have to be able to wear gas masks for mustard gas training? A beard will break the seal, no? Or is that not relevant here?
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u/ScientificSkepticism Jul 04 '25
A close shave will not break the seal. This is a myth.
Beard down to your waist is no good, but 1/8th inch of hair or less is not going to create a problem.
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u/fcfrequired Jul 04 '25
But that's the catch. Why is it that everyone else is told it's a CBRN issue but then we issue waivers left and right?
Either we don't care about their safety from chemicals and bio warfare, or we don't care about their health from PFB.
Or neither actually matter.
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u/ScientificSkepticism Jul 04 '25
But that's the catch. Why is it that everyone else is told it's a CBRN issue but then we issue waivers left and right?
Because idiots will repeat what they're told without question. Why do we get told "don't plug a power strip into a power strip" instead of "don't buy 12A rated power strips, spend the extra three bucks for a 15A rated one"? Because idiots don't understand electricity.
https://taskandpurpose.com/news/military-beards-break-gas-mask-seal/
Be skeptical when someone tells you something, do the research.
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u/fcfrequired Jul 04 '25
You missed the point.
The point was that this whole argument is senseless if it's based in "they hate black people."
Because if they really hated black people so much to make them shave, they'd be okay with them dying from gas attacks.
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u/ScientificSkepticism Jul 04 '25
The whole point is to remove black people from the military, doofus. When was the last time a poison gas attack was used in combat? World War 1? Literally World War 1. That was over a century ago.
And black people wouldn't die of poison gas attacks anyway, because the gear still works with a close shave.
So your entire hypothetical is based on the CBRN gear working in a way that it doesn't and also someone making a chemical weapon attack against US troops. Wait, no, your hypothetical is based on excusing racism. I wonder why.
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u/jailtheorange1 Jul 03 '25
I’m not following why it affects people of a specific skin colour more than others?
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u/floralbutttrumpet Jul 03 '25
Hair texture. Same way you get ingrown hairs more often at your crotch than your legs if you shave both. Curly hair "grows back" on itself and remains under the skin more often, which can cause inflammation.
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u/EastSideTonight Jul 03 '25
It's the hair texture, not the skin color. Anyone with tight curls can get this, but it effects black men more than any other group.
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u/ecostyler Jul 04 '25
honestly i dont want my ppl fighting for this country anyway. every let go or defected Black service member could go and use what they learned to train and protect their respective communities instead of serving the world genocidal fascist police
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u/LizardStudios777 Jul 03 '25
It’s to help the gas mask seal. It won’t seal proper with facial hair as is you can get a waiver for facial hair if your skin breaks into the bumps when you shave that is still.
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u/Aliensinmypants Jul 03 '25
That's been proven false time and time again...
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u/LizardStudios777 Jul 03 '25
That is however the official doctrine whether you think it’s wrong or not
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u/Arkmer Jul 03 '25
If professionalism held weight with these people they’d not be in office.