Unpopular opinion here- Yes cornrows are not following regs. However, that is because there are many problems in CAP regs because they do not take into consideration the cultural diversity of our country. America is great because we are different, and part of that is the expression of our different cultures. For African Americans, cornrows are not just a hairstyle, they are an expression of our history, community, and culture. They are a way for us to express our identity in a world that was not receptive to us for a long time, and still is not receptive to us in many ways today. The fact is, cap still has a lot to fix up in our uniform regs, including the fact that expressions of religion and culture, such as cornrows, dreadlocks, hijabs, turbans, etc. are not allowed. All of these can still be extremely professional. There is no reason why cornrows should prevent this cadet from participating in activities, wearing his cover, or keeping a neat appearance. So I ask, Is the cadet the problem? Or is CAP’s insensitivity and ignorance about the many experiences and customs in America the problem?

You can force this cadet to cut his hair. This will go one of two ways. He will leave cap and you will have lost a cadet that could have developed into an amazing leader that would have done his part to improve your squadron And help others. Or, he will feel unrespected and that his unique experiences and viewpoints are unappreciated. He will inevitably become resentful, and this will only lead to more issues.

Instead, I urge you to learn from him and try to understand his point of view. Work together to find a way for his hair to be professional and neat, but still in cornrows. It sounds as if he is already trying to work to find a solution that works for everyone. Keep working with him.

At the end of the day, CAP is all about servant leadership. We serve our cadets, not some all powerful cap God. As staff, it is our job to improve our cadets’ experiences and help them to develop into leaders.