The Grooming Standards

The Grooming Standards

The United States Marine Corps' grooming standards,

mco p1020.34g w ch 1-5, are in place to assist us in conforming, as Marines, into a singular, uniform look. The standards keep us from being much too eccentric, unique or unconventional in appearance. While in Garrison the grooming standards assist us in maintaining a professional appearance about ourselves, and the United States Marine Corps in general, at all times. The grooming standards support our efforts of upholding the highest standard possible, and assist us in shying away from us just "looking like everyone else". In recognizing this, it helps Marines to stay a cut above the rest in both appearance and performance, including civilians and the other branches of service.

The grooming standards include regulations on almost every facet of a Marine's appearance. The standards apply, but are not limited, to style and maintaining of regulation hair including; body (chest), facial (mustaches), and head (sideburns), regular bathing (this included the unofficial care of foot health), maintaining oral hygiene and ensuring the Marine preserves a healthful and respectable state of appearance.

Beginning with the hair cut regulations; within the orders it is stated that a Marine must receive a fresh hair cut during every pay period. But that can be waved and put up to the discretion of the commanding officer. The hair standard for male Marines is clearly stated as an even fade from zero inches to no more than three inches on the top of the head as long as the hair does not interfere with any article of our uniform. There are four regulation hair styles within the Marine Corps they include; a complete shaved head, a traditional high and tight, high fide(similar to a high and tight though extends further before fading begins), medium fade (faded lower than a high fade), and lower fade (which is not authorized, but some rebels try to take advantage of).There are no exceptions for eccentric designs; this includes, but is not limited to designs shaved into a marine's head, cornrows, or any faddish hair styles. Hair is not authorized to be shaped in a "horse-shoe" on the top of the head and no Mohawks of any kind are authorized.

The United States Marine Corps official orders also state that not a single Marine shall be required to shave his head with the only exception being when the not-yet-Marine first enters into basic training, this rule has a line with females though because it is not mandatory that their heads are shaved at the beginning, or at any portion, of basic training. It is also stated that head hair will be styled and maintained so as not to interfere with any form of proper wear of uniform headgear. Official Marine uniform headgear includes Garrison cover, Garrison cap, Kevlar, 8 point cover, and boonie cover. In the Marines, hair which protrudes from beneath properly worn headgear in an unsightly and unprofessional manner is considered excessive, regardless of length, and out of regulation. For female Marines there are three regulation hair styles, all corresponding with the length of the female Marine's hair. The first is for women that have long hair, it entails that all of the female's hair must be wrapped in a tight, circular bun in the center of the back of the head. The bun will not exceed more than three inches from the female Marine's scalp, and can be no wider than the width of the mentioned Marine's head. The second is for females that have a relatively short, more masculine hair cut, the hair must be no more than one inch from the scalp but may gradually fade at the hair line at the neck. The third style is for females that have shoulder length hair, this is considered medium length and may have no more than a one-inch difference from the front to the back and can not touch the bottom hem of the collar. The female hair regulations state bangs may be wore, but they can not fall into the line of sight and can not affect the wearing of any of the official headgear used by the United States Marine Corps. For both male and female bleaches, tints, and dyes are authorized only as long as they give a natural look and/or appearance.

The Marines also have strict but reasonable standards for male Marines' body and facial hair. They state that no Marine will be required to shave his chest hair, but the hair cannot protrude, or be visible, from the skivvy shirt collar or while in khakis. Marines must maintain a clean shave every day with the exception of a regulation mustache, this word originates from the Italian word moustacio coming from the 14th century Common Era (CE), and this time period is commonly known as AD or After Death or Anno Domini. The mustache which may not extend past the corners of the lips and is required to remain within the margin of the upper lip. Mustache hair when fully extended may not extend past half of an inch. Marines are allowed to have sideboards or side whiskers, both are synonyms with the term sideburns, but they may not extend past the top of the upper orifice of the ear, in common medical terms the upper edge of the ear's canal opening, and may be no longer than one eighth of an inch when fully extended. Sideburns, the patches of facial hair that grow in parallel with one's ear, are not authorized to be styled to a taper or a flare.

The USMC general grooming standards for all Marines, both male and female, are in place to ensure that all marines maintain a healthy and clean appearance. By upholding the grooming standards it helps in preventing marines from getting sick from lack of hygiene, and also to maintain the aura of professionalism within the Corps. By upholding the grooming standards properly a Marine can show the proper amount of motivation. As a direct result, a properly groomed Marine will be more likely to receive additional responsibilities which will assist in the process of promotion and may assist in