Prep Haircuts
Happy Monday Families!
We are in the home stretch for BMT. For the gentlemen it was time for a haircut. Since everyone arrived for BMT with their hair already cut, this was their first visit to the community center barbershop. This was also their last mandatory basic buzz cut while at the prep school. Going forward the men will be able to grow their hair back out as long as it is in regulation. You will notice that we are missing a few of Charlie haircuts. Unfortunately Charlie Squadron started their haircuts 90 minutes earlier than scheduled and we missed them.
In case you are interested, here is a summary of the Air Force Grooming Standards. The most basic rule is that hair must be clean, well-groomed, and neat with only natural hair colors, including dyed hair. Additionally, use of an excessive amount of grooming aids is a no-no. The hair must not touch eyebrows when groomed, and it may not protrude below the front band of properly worn headgear. However, it is OK if hair is visible in front of a woman's flight cap.
Hair ties may be worn for safety, but they must be made of cotton or synthetic material; be of a conservative, solid color similar to the individual’s hair color; be strong enough to support and control hair, and contain no metal fasteners.
Hairstyles for men must have a tapered appearance on both sides and back, both with and without headgear. A tapered appearance is one that when viewed from any angle outlines the individual’s hair so that it conforms to the shape of the head, curving inward to the natural termination point. Block cut is permitted with tapered appearance.
The Air Force prohibits both women and men from wearing their hair in what it deems to be extreme or fad hairstyles, particularly in such a way that exceeds length or bulk standards or violates safety requirements.
Men's hair cannot touch the ears, and only closely cut or shaved hair on the back of the neck may touch the collar. It may not exceed 1.25 inches in bulk—regardless of length—and may not exceed 0.25 inch at the natural termination point. Hair cannot have any visible foreign items attached to it.
Sideburns must be neatly trimmed and tapered in the same manner as the haircut, and they need to be straight and of even width (not flared) and end in a clean-shaven horizontal line. They cannot extend below the lowest part of the exterior ear opening.
Women must wear hairstyles that present a professional appearance. They may wear plain and conservative pins, combs, headbands, elastic bands, and barrettes similar to the individual’s hair color.
Female haircuts cannot extend in length on all sides below an invisible line drawn a parallel to the ground at the bottom edge of the shirt collar at the back of the neck. They may not use ribbons or jeweled pins.
Nail polish may be worn if it is conservative, single color, and in good taste, but it may not contain any ornamentation. Similarly, cosmetics must be conservative and in good taste.
The Air Force updated the rules in 2018 to eliminate the minimum hair length for women. It also expands the maximum bulk from 3 inches to 3.5 inches, but it requires that all airmen be able to properly wear their headgear. The update also now permits a hair style known as locs, which "must be lightly fused or interwoven to present a neat, professional appearance." So there you go!
While the men were getting trimmed, the women were in briefings, but we caught a few photos. I can see some smiles behind those masks.
With haircuts complete, here's what's ahead for this week. We will have photos every day. There are three big photo opportunities ahead. The Drill Competition, The Physical Fitness Test (PFT) and BMT Graduation. We will also have one more morning PT to cover. Hopefully we will get your preppie doing something cool. It is still my understanding that the Prep School is planning to live stream the graduation ceremony. That being said, I encourage you to all stay flexible in that regard. We are confirming that plan with them and will let you know for sure as soon as we hear back. Either way, we will also have lots of photos.
That's it for now. Here's a link to todays photos. BMT PHOTOS. Be sure to sort newest to oldest for the most recent.
Be Back tomorrow.