thedrifter
08-11-07, 07:50 AM
The few, the proud, the well-groomed
JENNIFER HLAD
August 10, 2007 - 11:59PM
DAILY NEWS STAFF
That gold "grill" has to go.
Revised Marine Corps grooming regulations have definitively prohibited ornamental caps and designs on teeth - and cemented a slew of other regulations on hair, civilian attire and accessories.
The revisions were a long time coming, said Mary Boyt, program manager for the Marine Corps Uniform Board.
The old standards were more than a decade old, she said, and did not specifically address a number of issues. Boyt's office consistently fielded the same questions from Marines all over the world, she said.
"It needed an overhaul," Boyt said.
Now the regulations are set, and many simply spell out rules that existed purely as "Corps lore" previously, she said.
For example: Marines may wear only one ring per hand, except for wedding and engagement rings. Marines cannot put their hands in their pockets while in uniform. They must not have cell phones, tobacco canisters, key chains or other personal accessories visible while in uniform.
"There's a lot of stuff that Marines were taught in boot camp that they thought was a regulation but wasn't," Boyt said. "We tried to establish regulations (for those issues)."
The standards are important for discipline, said Sgt. Maj. Ralph H. Drake, sergeant major of Marine Corps Installations East.
"Marines take pride in maintaining a higher standard than everyone else," he said. "Marines will present the best possible image at all times and continue to set the example in military presence. It's who we've been, who we are and who we will continue to be."
Another new section of the regulations explicitly describes which hairstyles are and are not acceptable for men and women. Men are not allowed to have a "teardrop," "horse shoe" or "Mohawk" haircut - even though drill instructors and other Marines have typically sported those styles in the past.
"There's a fine line between a high and tight and a Mohawk," Boyt said. "A high and tight is graduated up to that longer hair on top. We had to make that distinction."
A tear drop style - with a small, tear drop-shaped patch of hair on the top-front part of the scalp, with the rest of the head shaved - and a horse shoe style - a U-shaped patch of hair with the curved portion in the front, top of the scalp with the rest of the head shaved, were deemed "eccentric," but are allowed if the hair loss is natural, Boyt said.
Hair styles and lengths for women also are spelled out, with one of the most controversial changes - women cannot shave their heads.
"We had a lot of discussion on how short (women's hair could be)" Boyt said. "The commandant decided that he didn't want it shaved."
Females must have at least a quarter-inch of hair, the regulations say.
Regulations also require male and female Marines in civilian clothing to wear a belt when wearing pants or shorts with belt loops.
"Males and females, pants will be up around your waist," Boyt said. "Underwear's not meant to be seen. ... If you wear hip huggers, you must have a shirt that's long enough to cover your belly and your backside."
Though some of the regulations - such as not being allowed to talk on a cell phone while walking in uniform - may seem unusual to some civilians, Boyt said the behaviors appear unprofessional.
"If that telephone call is important enough, you stop and take it," she said.
Drake said it is a question of respect.
"If you are walking with your hands in your pockets or while talking on a cell phone, it interferes with such common military courtesies as saluting, rendering appropriate military greetings, or otherwise showing proper respect to senior Marines in uniform," he said.
Other regulations that prohibit visible accessories simply promote uniformity, he said.
"What we wear is a uniform. If Marines are able to wear different colored hair barrettes, visible chains, jewelry, etc. We wouldn't be very uniform, would we? Fashion statements can be made in civilian attire. When in uniform, we need to dress the same," he said.
Still, Boyt said there is one thing Marines will not see a Uniform Board regulation on: flip flops.
"A flip flop is a sandal," she said, and the only person who can determine if the shoe is a shower shoe, flip flop or sandal is the person who bought it.
"It's hard to make that call," she said.
Ellie
JENNIFER HLAD
August 10, 2007 - 11:59PM
DAILY NEWS STAFF
That gold "grill" has to go.
Revised Marine Corps grooming regulations have definitively prohibited ornamental caps and designs on teeth - and cemented a slew of other regulations on hair, civilian attire and accessories.
The revisions were a long time coming, said Mary Boyt, program manager for the Marine Corps Uniform Board.
The old standards were more than a decade old, she said, and did not specifically address a number of issues. Boyt's office consistently fielded the same questions from Marines all over the world, she said.
"It needed an overhaul," Boyt said.
Now the regulations are set, and many simply spell out rules that existed purely as "Corps lore" previously, she said.
For example: Marines may wear only one ring per hand, except for wedding and engagement rings. Marines cannot put their hands in their pockets while in uniform. They must not have cell phones, tobacco canisters, key chains or other personal accessories visible while in uniform.
"There's a lot of stuff that Marines were taught in boot camp that they thought was a regulation but wasn't," Boyt said. "We tried to establish regulations (for those issues)."
The standards are important for discipline, said Sgt. Maj. Ralph H. Drake, sergeant major of Marine Corps Installations East.
"Marines take pride in maintaining a higher standard than everyone else," he said. "Marines will present the best possible image at all times and continue to set the example in military presence. It's who we've been, who we are and who we will continue to be."
Another new section of the regulations explicitly describes which hairstyles are and are not acceptable for men and women. Men are not allowed to have a "teardrop," "horse shoe" or "Mohawk" haircut - even though drill instructors and other Marines have typically sported those styles in the past.
"There's a fine line between a high and tight and a Mohawk," Boyt said. "A high and tight is graduated up to that longer hair on top. We had to make that distinction."
A tear drop style - with a small, tear drop-shaped patch of hair on the top-front part of the scalp, with the rest of the head shaved - and a horse shoe style - a U-shaped patch of hair with the curved portion in the front, top of the scalp with the rest of the head shaved, were deemed "eccentric," but are allowed if the hair loss is natural, Boyt said.
Hair styles and lengths for women also are spelled out, with one of the most controversial changes - women cannot shave their heads.
"We had a lot of discussion on how short (women's hair could be)" Boyt said. "The commandant decided that he didn't want it shaved."
Females must have at least a quarter-inch of hair, the regulations say.
Regulations also require male and female Marines in civilian clothing to wear a belt when wearing pants or shorts with belt loops.
"Males and females, pants will be up around your waist," Boyt said. "Underwear's not meant to be seen. ... If you wear hip huggers, you must have a shirt that's long enough to cover your belly and your backside."
Though some of the regulations - such as not being allowed to talk on a cell phone while walking in uniform - may seem unusual to some civilians, Boyt said the behaviors appear unprofessional.
"If that telephone call is important enough, you stop and take it," she said.
Drake said it is a question of respect.
"If you are walking with your hands in your pockets or while talking on a cell phone, it interferes with such common military courtesies as saluting, rendering appropriate military greetings, or otherwise showing proper respect to senior Marines in uniform," he said.
Other regulations that prohibit visible accessories simply promote uniformity, he said.
"What we wear is a uniform. If Marines are able to wear different colored hair barrettes, visible chains, jewelry, etc. We wouldn't be very uniform, would we? Fashion statements can be made in civilian attire. When in uniform, we need to dress the same," he said.
Still, Boyt said there is one thing Marines will not see a Uniform Board regulation on: flip flops.
"A flip flop is a sandal," she said, and the only person who can determine if the shoe is a shower shoe, flip flop or sandal is the person who bought it.
"It's hard to make that call," she said.
Ellie