Purposes. The induction haircut has both practical and psychological purposes. Originally, one of the reasons for the induction haircut was to reduce the chances of disease among closely quartered recruits from different geographical areas (with varying immunities), such as head lice.
There is no Marine Corps rule that dictates how often you have to get your hair cut. You cut your hair as often as you need to in order to stay within the regulations. Like female Marines, if you decide to get eccentric with your hairstyle you might have to cut your hair to get back within regulations.
The Army's official reason was "field sanitation" — meaning it wanted to control the spread of hair and body lice. It had the double effect of standardizing new US troops, creating a singular look to remind the men that they were in the Army now — and that the Army had standards.
They typically require weekly haircuts but, contrary to popular belief, they are not required to be shaved down to the scalp on the sides and back. Marine policy calls for the bottom of the hairline to be cut at “0” but tapered as it goes up.
Male Marines are not required to have hair clipped to the scalp all over the head, except when he is undergoing recruit training. A male Marine may shave his entire head. Female Marines have looser standards, as the Marine Corps has recently allowed the exception of locks, twists, and braids.
Cleaning Up: Showers
In basic training, you take group showers. There's no way out of communal showers. They're required. Everyone in your barracks will enter the shower room assigned to your barracks when commanded.
In terms of size of placement Marines are only prohibited from tattoos on their face, head, neck and hands, with the exception of one ring-like tattoo. Removing the ban on knee or elbow tattoos heralds the return of sleeves for Marines.
Since military sidewalks are usually straight lines that intersect each other at 90-degree angles, a young private may save a half of a second by cutting through the grass. If enough troops cut that same corner, then the grass will die and become a path, thus destroying the need for the sidewalk to begin with.
Hair is not permitted to be longer than three inches and may not touch the ears, collar, extend below the eyebrows (when headgear is removed), or show under the front edge of headgear when on. All in all, hair must never interfere with the safety or practicality of military headgear.
Excluding limited exemptions for religious accommodation, the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps have policies that prohibit beards on the basis of hygiene and the necessity of a good seal for chemical weapon protective masks.
"There has been no change in Army policy regarding beards, which can only be grown with the Commanding Officer's authority. Exceptions are usually only granted on medical or religious grounds, or where tradition permits." Hair is to be groomed such that its length does not reach to the collar or onto the ears.
At the very beginning of basic training, the chief drill instructor will spend the night with you in the barracks. As you progress in training, the drill instructor likely will go home each night. However, the basic training staff is constantly monitoring the barracks using closed circuit cameras.
The high and tight is a military variant of the crew cut. It is a very short hairstyle, characterized by the back and sides of the head being shaved to the skin and the option for the top to be blended or faded into slightly longer hair. It is most commonly worn by men in the U.S. armed forces.
An initial thirty seconds or so are used to get wet, followed by soap and lather without running water, which is then rinsed off in a minute or less. The total time for the water being on is typically under two minutes. Navy showers originated on naval ships, where supplies of fresh water were often scarce.
Marines are now even allowed to have sleeve tattoos as long as the sleeve doesn't extend past the wrist. What is this? Marines have the opportunity to receive waivers for cosmetic tattoos that cover up scars and other body disfigurements.
Hereafter identification tags will be issued to all officers and enlisted men of the Marine Corps. They will always be worn when engaged in field service, and at all other times they will either be worn, or kept in the possession of the owner.
And while blousing your boots may serve the purpose of keeping your slacks from flapping in the wind, loose fabric from catching while jumping out of an aircraft, or just keeping dirt from finding its way between your toes, the act of securing the bottoms of your trousers can be hard work.
The US Military offers subsidized housing to all branches of the military, the US Marines included. It's called the Basic Allowance Housing, or BAH, and it's essentially a “bonus” on top of your regular pay.
In the Marine Corps a three-day weekend is called a “72” and a four-day weekend is called a “96”
Verification of Military Service
Please use the Defense Manpower Data Center's (DMDC) Military Verification service to verify if someone is in the military. The website will tell you if the person is currently serving in the military.
"Veteran marine" or "former marine" can refer to anyone who has been discharged honorably from the Corps. "Retired marine" refers to those who have completed 20 or more years of service and formally retired or have been medically retired after less than 20 years service. "Sir" or "Ma'am" is appropriate out of respect.
The Marine Corps Physical Fitness Test, or PFT, evaluates stamina and physical conditioning. It includes 3 parts: pull-ups or push-ups, crunches or plank pose, and a 3-mile timed run. Pull-ups and push-ups are essential to building the upper body strength necessary to win battles.
The oldest you can be to enlist for active duty in each branch is: Coast Guard: 31. Marines: 28. Navy: 39.
PER CMC DECISION, THE FOLLOWING CHANGES TO REFERENCE A ARE EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY. A. CELLULAR PHONES (PERSONALLY OWNED AND ORGANIZATIONALLY ISSUED) AND OTHER ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT WILL NOT BE WORN EXPOSED ON MARINE CORPS UNIFORMS.