It takes a lot of courage and discipline when you decide to do join the military. This is because you have got to follow every single rule as well as every single order that is given to you. Unfortunately, there are times that personal choices that involve race or religion get compromised.
However, this year has indeed been incredible when it comes to things like that. Just like what happened a few months ago during the Queen of United Kingdom’s birthday, wherein she has finally allowed Sikh soldiers to wear their turbans, instead of the traditional bearskin hat.
Looks like another military rule would totally shock you, but this time around it is not just going to be something about the change in uniform, but with the overall look. For years now, every branch of the military from all over the world have been very strict when it comes to their soldiers, especially with how they’re supposed to look like. Then again, things are about to change and it is somewhat in a really good way in favor of people of color.
US Navy’s New Hair Rules
The United States Navy made an official announcement regarding the all-new hair policy that they just made. Let’s just say that this new policy in particular will have your wigs totally snatched, in the most literal manner.
That is because the military has taken such a huge step for this major change. According to the recent report from the AP News, the women of the navy will now have the opportunity choose how they could wear their hair, this change would mostly affect the women of color since they tend to have a hard time doing theirs.
It is a well-known fact that it is incredibly strict in the military especially when it comes to their dress code. The main reason for this is for them to look professional at all times and must look well-respected.
The grooming standards are indeed very strict, especially with women of color since they weren’t exactly allowed to put their hairs in braids, locks, and buns. Then again, all of those struggles will now be part of the past since the Navy has officially altered their policy when it comes to how servicewomen can actually do their hair now, but of course, it must still have the same aim and that is to maintain professionalism.
Some say this has been long overdue, but now, they could do their hair without having to worry about breaking the rules just because they are black and need their hairs properly locked in.
These changes have been pursued by servicewomen of color for quite awhile now, so technically it is definitely about time that they realized how convenient it will be for them, instead of feeling the nuisance that could affect other people.
Navy women think it’s about time they change the rules when it comes to hair
Natural Hair; Don’t Care
The United States Navy has decided to officially announce this amazing news via Facebook through their CNO and CNP broadcast. They posted it as a live video and it was Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John Richardson together with Chief of Nava, Personnel Adm. Robert Burke who was there to share the great news. The announcement even became even more meaningful when they were finally joined by some of their servicewomen of color.
New NAVADMIN officially released detailing the #USNavy's most recent update to uniform and grooming standards – https://t.co/BQePQqR8vL pic.twitter.com/nKxc73WVuq
— U.S. Navy (@USNavy) July 12, 2018
Servicewomen who belong to the African-American race admitted that they have been struggling to tame and do their hair. One of them even said that all throughout her military career, she had felt the struggle. The texture of their hair is obviously different in that there are only quite a few ways for them to tame it. However, with the alteration in the hair policy, servicewomen in the Navy who are of color will no longer have to deal with their hair struggles anymore.
According to Adm. Burke, this shall be implemented as soon as possible. Some other female sailors like Lieutenant Commander Jess Cameron said that this is indeed a very huge step. These women serve the country and the least they could do is let them do their hair the way it should without entirely comprising and forgetting about the policies. It is not exactly certain as to what the Air Force or the Army, think about the change in servicewomen’s hairstyles.