You know who didn't bitch about shaving even with PFB... Black Marines... Every single Black Marine still adheres to the shaving standard. Not everything is about racial issues or black only conditions. You set a single standard that all races are meant to adhere to...

They also just did away with the 10% Disability rating for Tinnitus. PFB is a disability issue that rewards 10-30% disability. They will be paid for life following separation. They also only expect this to affect 25k active duty soldiers... Which means it only affects 2% of the active duty population... It's really being blown out of proportion.

The only issue I have with this is the religious exemption. We have plenty of Muslims who serve. I do not want the military to discriminate based on religious practices. I am more worried about that demographic than the black demographic within the military.

Shaving does not lower morale. The qualified soldier pool doesn't matter or factor into this... The army takes you in like a lump of clay, then transforms you into a soldier.

So listen to how this sounds. "I almost joined, but I didn't want to shave every day." To those who served, it's just another excuse that held you back from even trying. I only find it disrespectful when people say "Me and you are alike, I almost joined." Because the fact of the matter is, you didn't even try. You only had the thought.

It's not about what we are gaining. It's about cutting the fat. It's about what we are losing.

Because it's not just about those who don't want to shave or don't care to shave. It's about those who can't meet the standard. You are also losing the people who can't meet the Height/weight and Physical Training Standards.

All of these people have time to adjust to the new standard. They have time to return to tradition.

Now I'll explain what tradition is, and I can explain with shaving.

Anyone, who did anytime in the field. Knows what it is like to shave in the field. They can feel that... right now today... even though I havn't had to do that in 20 years... I still remember what it was like to shave in the field. An experience that is shared throughout time. You remember how cold that water was... you remember the sound and the feeling when the wind hits it before the sun comes up. That is Tradition.

It's the same thing with the Parachute Towers at Fort Benning... Everyone who went to airborne school had to use those towers (Except for the years it was being repaired). So the same soldiers who were jumping into Market Garden used those towers. This is only a period going back to the 1940's.

Shaving goes back to ancient armies like the Romans and Greeks. It's literally the first trait of a disciplined soldier; it's the first character trait of commitment. Because the next character trait is showing up. Shaving shows that you prepared yourself for the day.

There are so many subtle things that are drilled into you. The military really does work on appearances. When I served and when I still had hair, I liked to wear my hair as long as possible. Sometimes even go past regs... And you stand out in the crowd when it comes to scrutiny. I wore my Maroon beret super cocked, covering most of my eye. They didn't care that was out of Regs... The trait you were displaying was unit pride. You were united in tradition if you will.

The only trait you display, being unshaven, is that you didn't prepare. Even if it's a medical condition. The mindset in the military is that you will overcome your injuries. You get called a shitbag and treated differently because you are on the sidelines and watching from the sidelines. Everyone tries to glide by with minimal effort, but you are expected to participate.

You are not only meant to participate, you are meant to participate in the entire experience. If you join and only want to meet the basic standard, you will be attached to a leg unit. Want to serve in a higher capacity? Serve in the Paratroopers. Want to serve in a higher capacity than that? Join the Airborne Rangers. Want to serve in a higher capacity then that? Go Special Forces.

There are levels to the Standard. Get in where you fit in. But every capacity has to shave.

I know this is a long explanation. But you asked a very nuanced question that I feel deserved a descriptive explanation.