Army Policy Severely Limiting Shaving Waivers Goes into Effect
The Army is eliminating permanent shaving waivers and will boot soldiers who can’t meet grooming requirements, even those with medical conditions that make shaving painful or harmful, a controversial shift that disproportionately affects Black service members. Under the new rules, soldiers will no longer be able to rely on indefinite exemptions, the service announced Tuesday. […]
New Army Shaving Policy Will Allow Soldiers with Skin Condition that Affects Mostly Black Men to Be Kicked Out
The Army is preparing to roll out a new policy that could lead to soldiers diagnosed with a chronic skin condition that causes painful razor bumps and scarring to be kicked out of the service — an issue that disproportionately affects Black men. The new guidance, expected to take effect in the coming weeks, would […]
Army Birthday Celebration Falls in Shadow of LA Military Deployment, Immigration Policy Protests
This week marks a jarring collision of the military and civilian relationship, one that has traditionally remained carefully apolitical. It’s a week bookended by two high-profile events, both steeped in Trump-era symbolism. Since Sunday, President Donald Trump has mobilized 4,000 California National Guard troops to deploy into Los Angeles amid widespread protests against his sweeping […]
Army Adjusts Tracker Policy and Flight Training Following January Collision with Passenger Jet
WASHINGTON — The Army has made changes to how its helicopters use a safety system that broadcasts aircraft location and has reduced the number of flights over Washington following a collision with a passenger jet that killed 67 people, the head of Army aviation told The Associated Press on Tuesday. Investigators are still determining why […]
The Rise of Soldier-Influencers: Army Eyes Policy for Troops with Millions of Online Followers
For Capt. Michael Villahermosa, the Army made him the man he is. “I went from having no college education to being an officer,” Villahermosa, a company commander at the service’s bomb disposal school, told Military.com. “I have a wife, the kid, the two-car garage, picket fence. … The Army gave me all of that.” Now, […]
Prep Courses, Policy Tweaks Largely Drove the Military's Recruiting Success in 2024
After years of negative recruiting news and headlines, all the military branches managed to eke out wins this year and meet their recruiting goals — largely aided by new programs and policies that allowed them to sign up recruits who would have been disqualified in previous years. However, despite the wins this year, between ambitious […]
Soldiers Now Face Punishment for Sharing, Liking Extremist Content on Social Media Under New Army Policy
Soldiers can be more easily held accountable for liking and sharing what is considered extremist content on social media under a new policy revision unveiled by the Army on Wednesday. The new set of rules also allows disciplinary action — including being kicked out of the service — for knowingly displaying flags and symbols or […]
Overseas But Paying the Price: Army Ends Policy that Allowed Soldiers to Store Belongings While Deployed
The Army has ended a major program that allowed soldiers to store their home goods and vehicles at no cost while they are away from home for extended periods of time. Army Sustainment Command, which oversees logistics for the force, discontinued the use of funds across the service to store vehicles and other goods owned […]
Army Noncommissioned Officers May No Longer Get Promoted Before Required Schooling Under New Policy
The Army is dramatically scaling back a two-year-old policy that allowed noncommissioned officers to be promoted before they attended an academy required for their next rank, according to a policy memo recently issued to the force. In January, active-duty enlisted soldiers and their full-time counterparts in the Army Reserve will no longer be able to […]
After Delays, Army Secretary Signs ‘Brandon Act’ Policy on Self-Referrals for Mental Health Evaluations
Army Secretary Christine Wormuth signed new instructions for soldiers this week that are intended to improve access to mental health treatment by allowing them to request an immediate referral for an evaluation from a supervisor or commander. Following a months-long delay in implementing a Defense Department policy announced in May, Wormuth issued a memorandum to […]