DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY
OFFICE OF THE COMMANDANT OF MIDSHIPMEN
UNITED STATES NAVAL ACADEMY
101 BUCHANAN ROAD
ANNAPOLIS MARYLAND 21402-5107
Canc: Dec 14
COMDTMIDNNOTE 1020
14 Nov 14
COMMANDANT OF MIDSHIPMEN NOTICE 1020
From:
Commandant of Midshipmen
Subj:
FIRST HAIRCUT
Encl:
(1) Excerpt of Marine Corps Order P1020.34G w/CH 1-5: MARINE
CORPS UNIFORM REGULATIONS
1. Purpose. To provide guidelines and direction on Service
Assignment Marine Corps Select haircuts.
2. Background. U.S. Naval Academy Midshipmen who have selected and
have been selected by the United States Marine Corps to serve as
Second Lieutenants upon graduation have often requested that they
receive a “first haircut” the day of their Service Assignment. This
First Haircut is an outward signal and gesture by the “Marine Selects”
that they have volunteered to adopt Marine Corps grooming regulations
and practices on their path to becoming a United States Marine. This
time-honored practice should not be used as a guise for hazing or
maltreatment of shipmates. As stated in the Marine Corps Order on
Hazing: “Many time-honored customs of the Marine Corps include events
celebrating professional achievements. Part of the Marine Corps
heritage, these events include hails and farewells, promotion and
graduation ceremonies, mess nights, dinings in/out, and other similar
activities. These events enhance morale, esprit de corps, pride,
professionalism and unit cohesiveness. Unfortunately, some Marines
have confused hazing with proper military ceremonies and traditions,
developing initiations or ‘rites of passage’ that they misguidedly
believe promote loyalty or tradition. The chain of command shall
strictly scrutinize and supervise traditional or customary activities
to ensure that all participants are treated with dignity and
respect.” Additionally, in the All Marine Message ALMAR 005/012 our
former Marine Corps Commandant, General Amos, re-iterated that “our
31st Commandant, General Krulak, established the Crucible as the sole
rite of passage to earn the title ‘Marine.’ There is no other! When
he published our hazing policy in 1997, he closed the door on other
‘rites of passage.’
3. To ensure that Marine Selects are treated with the utmost respect
and dignity, the following guidelines will apply:
COMDTMIDNNOTE 1020
NOV 14 2014
a.
First and for~most, if a Marine select elects not to receive a
haircut at one of the authorized stations, their decision will be
respected..
b.
Enclosure (1) provides guidance on Marine Corps hair
regulations for males .
In accordance with Marine Corps grooming
standards, women Marines are not authorized to shave their heads.
c.
NABSD will provide "Marine Selectsu head of the line
privileges at the Brigade Barber Shop on 20 November.
d.
As an alternative to the NABSD barbershop, on 20 November from
1215 until 1315, companies may establish a "unit barber shop" to
accommodate "Marine Selects" who volunteer for a First Haircut.
No
other times are authorized for unit barbershops.
(1) Company Commanders will select those Midshipmen authorized
to give haircuts; no other Midshipmen will be authorized to give
hiarcuts. Company Commanders and Company Officers shall ensure those
unit "barbers" are thoroughly familiar with Enclosure (1).
(2) Company Barbershops must be in the main passageway of the
company area, centrally located.
(3) Only those Marine Selects who request a haircut will be
given one; there will be no coercion, physical force, or other means
to force or shame Midshipmen into getting a haircut .
(4) Company officers or SELs will be physically present in the
passageway to ensure there is no coercion, badgering, or shaming
(either explicit or implied) of Marine Selects who do not want to get
a haircut at the unit barbershop.
4. All leaders in the chain of command- both Midshipmen and staff will ensure both the spirit and the letter of this Notice are adhered
to.
~~.~ ....
R. L. SHEA
By direction
Distribution :
Non - Mids (Electronically)
Brigade (Electronically)
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Excerpt Marine Corps Order P1020.34G w/CH 1-5:
(a) Hair Length. Hair will be neat and closely trimmed. The
hair may be clipped at the edges of the side and back and will be
evenly graduated all the way around the head (blended or faded and not
edged as an outline) from zero length at the hairline in the lower
portion of the head to the upper portion of the head. Hair will not
be over 3 inches in length fully extended (an extended hair, not the
style, determines proper length) on the upper portion of the head.
The bulk of the hair shall not exceed approximately two inches. Bulk
is defined as the distance that the mass of hair protrudes from the
scalp when styled. The back and sides of the head below the hairline
may be shaved to remove body hair. MARADMIN 504/07
1. Sideburns will not extend below the top of the orifice
of the ear, as indicated by the line A-A' in figures 1-1 and 1-2.
Sideburns will not be styled to taper, flare or come to a point. The
length of an individual hair of the sideburn will not exceed 1/8 inch
when fully extended. MARADMIN 504/07
2. No male Marine will be required to have his entire hair
length clipped to the scalp except while he is undergoing recruit
training or when such action is prescribed by a medical officer. This
does not prohibit a male Marine from having his hair clipped (or
shaved) to the scalp if he so desires. MARADMIN 504/07
(b) Hair Style. Head hair will be styled so as not to
interfere with the proper wear of uniform headgear. Hair, which
protrudes from beneath properly worn headgear in an unsightly manner,
is considered excessive, regardless of length. Male hair styles will
conform to the natural shape of the head without eccentric directional
flow, twists or spiking. One (cut, clipped or shaved) natural,
narrow, fore and aft off centered part (placed no further than the
outer corner of the eye and will not extend down the back of the head)
is authorized. The following hair style types are considered eccentric
and are not authorized (this list is not all inclusive):
(1) hair styling which include single patches of hair on the
top of the head (not consistent with natural hair loss);
(2) hair styled to run as a strip down the center of the scalp
(i.e. “Mohawk” fashion);
(3) hair styled to leave an unusually large open (bald) area
on the top of the head (not consistent with natural hair loss); and
(4) hair styles which include the etching of letters, signs or
figures, not considered natural in appearance.
Braiding of the hair is not authorized for male Marines. When used,
hair gel/mousse should provide a conservative, natural appearance.
(See figures 1-1 through 1-2) MARADMIN 504/07.
Enclosure (1)
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14 Nov 14
Figure 1-1 USMC Male Grooming Standards
Figure 1-2: Prohibited Marine Corps Hair Styles
(d) Facial/Chest Hair. MARADMIN 504/07
1. The face will be clean-shaven, except that a mustache may be worn.
When worn, the mustache will be neatly trimmed and must be contained
within the lines of B-B', C-C', D-D' and the margin area of the upper
lip, as shown in figures 1-1 and 1-2. The individual length of a
mustache hair fully extended must not exceed 1/2 inch. MARADMIN 504/07
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Enclosure (1)
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2. Except for a mustache, eyebrows, and eyelashes, hair may be grown
on the face only when a medical officer has determined that shaving is
temporarily harmful to the individual's health. In these cases, the
current edition of MCO 6310.1 applies.
3. No male Marine will be required to have his chest hair clipped.
Chest hair should not protrude in an unsightly manner above the collar
of the visible undershirt when worn, or long sleeve khaki shirt.
MARADMIN 504/07
4. Excessive plucking or removal of eyebrows is not authorized,
except for medical reasons. MARADMIN 504/07
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Enclosure (1)
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Enclosure (1)