यूएस डिफेंस सचिव के निर्देश: 2010 से पहले मानक पर वापसी, दाढ़ी-रेगुलेशन सख्त

US defence secretary Pete Hegseth’s September 30 directive to all branches to return to ‘pre-2010 standards’ for grooming does not allow facial hair waivers. This memorandum provides implementing guidance pursuant to the August 20, 2025, directive, "Grooming Standards for Facial Hair," which established uniform grooming standards across the Force. In an era of increasingly complex operational demands - including high-tempo deployments, multi-domain warfare, and expanded emergency response roles - strict grooming compliance ensures personnel can safely and effectively employ protective equipment. This is critical not only for defense against chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) threats, but also for firefighting, disaster relief, and other hazardous mission sets where respiratory protection may be required, often on short notice. These standards are essential to maintaining equipment compatibility, operational readiness, and deployable force posture. Accession Standards All applicants, including reentry candidates, must meet grooming standards prior to entry. Applicants unable to comply will be deferred from accession until standards are met. In-Service Compliance All personnel must maintain a clean-shaven face. Sideburns will be above the ear opening. Beards, goatees, and other facial hair are prohibited unless specifically authorized. Mustaches are authorized but will be neatly trimmed; not to extend past the mouth corners or into a respirator seal zone. Special Operations Forces units may request modified standards via validated mission-essential requirements. However, personnel will be clean-shaven when deployed to environments with a high threat of CBRN attack. Religious Accommodations -The Department will revert to pre-2010 standards; facial hair waivers are generally not authorized. -Individualized review required per Department of War Instruction 1300.17, "Religious Liberty in the Military Services," of September 1, 2020. -Documentation demonstrating the sincerity of the religious or sincerely held belief will be a central factor in evaluating accommodation requests and must be sufficient to support a good faith determination by the approving authority. Approvals will be limited to non-deployable roles with low risk of chemical attack or firefighting requirements.