Military Rules That Should Be Changed Essay Example

It is widely accepted that the men and women accepted into American’s military are upstanding citizens. They are the best and the brightest the country has to offer. As such, there are rules that they must adhere by while they are in uniform to ensure that they give off this quality. They must look neat, clean, and orderly. Hair must be cut evenly and in a timely manner. Men growing facial hair may only grow mustaches that do not exceed the width of their lips; no beards, long hair, or shaggy sideburns are tolerated. If a woman wears her hear long, it must be fastened back in an approved manner to ensure neatness. Women were able to wear cosmetics as well. Uniforms must meet regulatory policy, as well. Typically while off duty or on leave these rules did not generally apply to any military personnel. Men and women could dress as they wanted and grow or wear their hair as they wished. These rules suited the military until 2012 when 17 new rules concerning appearance, while military personnel are on and off duty, were introduced. The rules made appearance regulations stricter and changed some regulations completely. The intention of the rule is to make personnel appear even neater and orderly than they were before. However, this rule ensures that personnel also look professional while they are on leave, ensuring that they effectively get no actual downtime.
There are significant issues with many of the rules. One such rule insists that soldiers remain clean shaven on and off duty, even when they are on leave. Many soldiers take up to 30 days of leave at a time. They use this as an opportunity to relax and relent from the usual standards they uphold. This means many of them do not shave as often or at all while they are on leave. While it is the military, which is a strict environment already, insisting they shave during their downtime seems unnecessarily stringent. Another rule restricts hair grooming. When the traditional military haircut for a man is what is commonly known as a high-and-tight it is difficult to perceive how the military could enforce a more defined hair cutting regime. While there is room to enforce a harsher standard of hair care for women, when taken into account that women can tie their hair back it almost makes the rule moot.
The set of rules also restricts soldiers of both sexes from wearing facial jewelry on or off duty, as well as prohibits male personnel from wearing earrings at any time. This is arguably sexist because ear piercings are a widely accepted part of female culture, but not as widely accepted in male culture. One could argue that because the military is dominantly male, the rule is overwhelmingly sexist, and that men should be allowed to wear earrings, at least when off duty. Gauged ears are also unauthorized, but this is the case for many professional careers. Also infringing upon the free time of military personnel is a rule stating that civilian clothing standards will be better defined. While a sense of professionalism should always be present for all individuals hoping to excel in their career, we should not be required to feel as though we are always working. Work and school uniforms are one thing but “home-uniforms” are shy of a dystopian novel.
The list of rules does not need to be argued, only trimmed. Some of the rules are of no consequence to the military personnel. For example, one insists that personnel restrict their sideburns to a shorter length. Another allows women to put their hair in ponytails during exercise, while a third states that personnel will be issued a black umbrella to carry with their uniform. Trimming sideburns only takes a moment, women typically want to tie their hair back in a ponytail when they workout, and it seems like a favor that personnel are being handed an umbrella instead of being forced to go buy one. Other rules are actually helpful. For example, one rule states that women are no longer allowed to wear false nails of any kind. While this may seem like an infringement on personal expression, this is practical. When working in a fast-paced environment it is important to have full mobility of fingers; groomed nails are a part of that. Another rule prohibits women from wearing fake eyelashes while at work, which also seems practical.
When addressing all of the rules, the proposal is simple: some of the rules are reasonable while some of them are not. Practical rules such as not wearing false eyelashes to work or using a black umbrella that is issued with your uniform seem standard and common sense. However, rules that prohibit most forms of self-expression while outside of work appear to stifle the individual. They are part of a unit: the United States Military. But they are also an individual person who may want to wear their earrings or grow their hair a certain way while they are on leave. Many may argue that when you join the military you know the rules and you make the choice. Once you sign the document the military is your life. To an extent this is true but you are also yourself. People would also do well to remember that the military functioned fine before these rigorous new rules.
As you can see, not all of the new rules are bad. Some are harmless, while others are practical. It is confusing that a woman being allowed to tie their hair back during a workout even needed to be a rule. That fact remains, though, that many of the rules appear to go too far. What an individual does in their free time, as long as they do not harm anybody or misrepresent the United States military, is their own. Wearing an earring or growing a beard is not going to bring a bad name to the most powerful military on the planet.