Grooming changes input sought

October 24, 2006

Grooming changes input sought

By John Hoellwarth
Staff writer

The Corps is in the early stages of overhauling its grooming standards for the first time in decades, according to the Marine Corps Uniform Board’s program manager.

Mary Boyt said a ballot circulated to sergeants major across the Corps solicits feedback from individual Marines about changes and clarifications to the regulations. The changes were recommended by working groups at the Staff Noncommissioned Officer Academy in Quantico, Va.


“We tore it apart. This is the first time the grooming standards have been looked at as a whole since probably they were written. They were old. They’re decades old,” Boyt said. “We pretty much recommended something about everything.”

The ballot asks Marines whether they agree with the working groups’ recommendations on 36 aspects of the grooming standards. She would not say what those recommendations were.

Boyt said results are due back to her office by Nov. 1, after which she will consolidate and present them to the board for discussion and possible submission to the commandant.

She said Marine Corps Forces Europe, Training and Education Command and II Marine Expeditionary Force have sent their responses. Marines in other commands can ask their sergeant major for a ballot and weigh in on the issue

Ellie