Changes to AR 670-1

[HR NCO]

So I saw a powerpoint presentation with proposed changes from the SMA concerning many things in the 670-1. Some of the big changes included requiring males to be clean shaven on AND off duty and also no fingernail polish for females in uniform. It will be interesting to see if he can actually get everything he wants implemented. Have any of you seen this yet?

[Polo08816]

So I saw a powerpoint presentation with proposed changes from the SMA concerning many things in the 670-1. Some of the big changes included requiring males to be clean shaven on AND off duty and also no fingernail polish for females in uniform. It will be interesting to see if he can actually get everything he wants implemented. Have any of you seen this yet?

That is hilarious. I wonder how many M-day soldiers are EVER going to take that seriously.

[Chief Kemosabe]

I did a google search and found this. Is this what they talked about RSP?

These are some notes from the Sergeant Major of the Army's Board of Directors meeting that took place 9-11 January 2012. They are not yet in effect but will be published and clarified in an upcoming update to AR 670-1.

Some of these are going to cause quite an uproar. I'm dying to hear comments on these!

*AR 670-1 update
-Many changes are coming to AR 670-1. This is just a summary of some of them. Do not begin to enforce until the regulation is complete and published!
-New revision of the regulation will define the following terms; eccentric, faddish, conservative, inconspicuous, unsightly, hair braids/plaits.
-AR 670-1 will be a punitive order in the future.
-Sideburns will not extend below the top of the ear.
-Soldier will be clean shaven on and off duty.
-Female and male hair grooming standards will become more restrictive and better defined.
-Females will be allowed to put their hair into a pony tail during PT.
-Males will be prohibited from wearing cosmetics to include nail polish, females may wear cosmetics conservatively, but can only wear nail polish in service, mess or dress uniforms.
-Females fingernail length will not exceed ¼ in, no fake nails, add-ons, or extensions will be authorized.
-Tattoos will not be visible above the neck line when the IPFU is worn. Tattoos will not extend below the wrist line and not on the hands. Sleeve tattoos will be prohibited (this one will be grandfathered).
-Soldiers will not walk while engaged in activities that require the hand salute. (eating, cell phone use, etc…)
-ACUs will not be commercially pressed; hand ironing of the ACU (UCP) only will be authorized.
-Bags worn over the shoulder will only be black or ACU without logos.
-The new regulation will specify civilian clothes standards both on and off duty and both on and off post.
-No visible body piercings on or off duty and on or off post, males will never wear earrings. Ear gauging will be unauthorized.
-No dental ornamentation will be authorized.
-Soldiers will be authorized to wear authorized ballistic eyewear in garrison.
-Officers will wear non-subdued rank on their headgear in garrison.

http://www.militarytimes.com/forum/s...es-to-AR-670-1

[Chief Kemosabe]

The last one about officers rank has been going back and forth. I just sew it on than have the shiny brass gleaming.

[Polo08816]

I did a google search and found this. Is this what they talked about RSP?

These are some notes from the Sergeant Major of the Army's Board of Directors meeting that took place 9-11 January 2012. They are not yet in effect but will be published and clarified in an upcoming update to AR 670-1.

Some of these are going to cause quite an uproar. I'm dying to hear comments on these!

*AR 670-1 update
-Many changes are coming to AR 670-1. This is just a summary of some of them. Do not begin to enforce until the regulation is complete and published!
-New revision of the regulation will define the following terms; eccentric, faddish, conservative, inconspicuous, unsightly, hair braids/plaits.
-AR 670-1 will be a punitive order in the future.
-Sideburns will not extend below the top of the ear.
-Soldier will be clean shaven on and off duty.
-Female and male hair grooming standards will become more restrictive and better defined.
-Females will be allowed to put their hair into a pony tail during PT.
-Males will be prohibited from wearing cosmetics to include nail polish, females may wear cosmetics conservatively, but can only wear nail polish in service, mess or dress uniforms.
-Females fingernail length will not exceed ¼ in, no fake nails, add-ons, or extensions will be authorized.
-Tattoos will not be visible above the neck line when the IPFU is worn. Tattoos will not extend below the wrist line and not on the hands. Sleeve tattoos will be prohibited (this one will be grandfathered).
-Soldiers will not walk while engaged in activities that require the hand salute. (eating, cell phone use, etc…)
-ACUs will not be commercially pressed; hand ironing of the ACU (UCP) only will be authorized.
-Bags worn over the shoulder will only be black or ACU without logos.
-The new regulation will specify civilian clothes standards both on and off duty and both on and off post.
-No visible body piercings on or off duty and on or off post, males will never wear earrings. Ear gauging will be unauthorized.
-No dental ornamentation will be authorized.
-Soldiers will be authorized to wear authorized ballistic eyewear in garrison.
-Officers will wear non-subdued rank on their headgear in garrison.

http://www.militarytimes.com/forum/s...es-to-AR-670-1

A Sergeant Major once attempted to correct a 1LT friend of mine in a very condescending and needlessly impolite manner. That 1LT said, "Since we're going to go by the book for everything, why don't you stand at the position of attention while you talk to me."

[iambrian90]

eye-pro in the armory.. score one for the good idea fairy!

[HR NCO]

Yes sir, thats the basic compilation of what I was talking about. One of the actual good ideas included that you could wear sunglasses that were issued to you even if they had writing on them. Thats one thing that always bothered me, we were issued wiley x's, but according to 670-1 they were out of regs. Never made much sense.

[ack202]

Doesn't seem like that big a deal to me. I've spent the majority of my time in the military as active duty stationed at Ft Lewis where most of these policies have been in effect for years (Now in the guard, and at Ft Rucker for WOFT where they are also post regs). We were always required to be clean shaven at all times, females were never aloud to wear fake nails/nail polish or any makeup that isn't permanent (i.e.. drawn on eyebrows), males were never aloud to wear any piercings in or out of uniform, no dental ornamentation was ever authorized, and walking and talking on a cell phone or eating or smoking while walking was never authorized. The wear of non-subdued rank insignia on headgear in garrison has been in AR670-1 for quite some time.

[Daric Wade]

Army Times published an article in which one proposed change would be the rendering of hand salutes in civilian clothing. My head exploded thinking about how to enforce that one...

[Polo08816]

Army Times published an article in which one proposed change would be the rendering of hand salutes in civilian clothing. My head exploded thinking about how to enforce that one...

Personally, I'm not planning on enforcing anything unless both:
1. I'm 100% certain I am correct.
2. I'm 100% certain that the reg applies to the person in question. If I don't know the person, I'm not going to be the one being an *ss and the person is actually a civilian.

Robocops are almost always trouble.

[Daric Wade]

I have no intent of enforcing such a requirement either, for much the same reasons. I wouldn't know how to do it. But I want to know how senior Army leadership thinks it will be enforceable.

[Daric Wade]

And honestly, that applies to just about anything involving civilian clothing. Especially within an M-Day environment, where I'd rarely see the people that worked for me. Even being on active duty right now, I let my facial hair go during my days off, and unless my supervisor showed up at my house, he'd never know.

[ParalegalNCO1]

So I saw a powerpoint presentation with proposed changes from the SMA concerning many things in the 670-1. Some of the big changes included requiring males to be clean shaven on AND off duty and also no fingernail polish for females in uniform. It will be interesting to see if he can actually get everything he wants implemented. Have any of you seen this yet?

A lot of this is just the SMA doing what E-9s do and coming up with a variety of crazy issues and call them new standards. I don't foresee how a majority of this will get published, at least not in a way where it will be relevant. In the case of the Guard, even if they make the policy punitive, and I am off duty (not on drill) and violating some crazy new rule there won't really be any course of action someone can take...I would not be subject to the UCMJ. E-9s don't think that way, but I am sure by the time they finalize this policy the legal advisors at the pentagon will explain it to them.

[ParalegalNCO1]

Doesn't seem like that big a deal to me. I've spent the majority of my time in the military as active duty stationed at Ft Lewis where most of these policies have been in effect for years (Now in the guard, and at Ft Rucker for WOFT where they are also post regs). We were always required to be clean shaven at all times, females were never aloud to wear fake nails/nail polish or any makeup that isn't permanent (i.e.. drawn on eyebrows), males were never aloud to wear any piercings in or out of uniform, no dental ornamentation was ever authorized, and walking and talking on a cell phone or eating or smoking while walking was never authorized. The wear of non-subdued rank insignia on headgear in garrison has been in AR670-1 for quite some time.

This is all "on post" policies. The news proposing the same standards in a civilian enviroment. (It wont happen)

[Chaplain4me]

No nail-polish for males? I thought this was America?

[Chief Kemosabe]

SMA left our FOB today and talked to many of the senior NCO leadership and was asking for feedback on uniform changes relative to the ACU. He discussed about putting the ranks back on the collar and took a vote in which the majority wanted a return to it. One NCO said that with the weapon body slinged; that it covers the rank (soldier might not have his PC on). He acknowledged so let us see what happens. There is also discussion on getting rid of the mandarin collar.

I am for that change.

[Chaplain4me]

We should do it like the Marines, just rank and name no other frills. This would go a long way toward unit cohesion and discipline. No one would look down on someone for not having a combat patch, CIB, air assault, or any other designation. I think the Marines have it right on this one.

[Chief Kemosabe]

We should do it like the Marines, just rank and name no other frills. This would go a long way toward unit cohesion and discipline. No one would look down on someone for not having a combat patch, CIB, air assault, or any other designation. I think the Marines have it right on this one.

As a former Marine, I knew many Marines that looked down on other Marines haha.

The ones who went to airborne wear their wings. And the Marines removed the unit patches after WWII and they do have the CAR.

Branch Insignia was a deep Army tradition. They should bring it back. Thank goodness for losing the berets with the ACU unless a Commander requires it as special events.

[Chaplain4me]

Every Marine I meet has impeccable military discipline. I think simpler is better.

[JR7775]

I only have problems with these two:

-Sideburns will not extend below the top of the ear.
-Soldier will be clean shaven on and off duty.

I personally look more professional with my sideburns at about mid ear opening, that is the spot that gives a natural fade for me. It wouldn't took right to have them above my ears. and I always let my facial hair grow out between drills.

[Polo08816]

I'm going to try the "inverted" high and tight which is guess is "low and wide" one of these days.

[Daric Wade]

I'm going to try the "inverted" high and tight which is guess is "low and wide" one of these days.

I had to give up on the high and tight when I started losing my hair. Genetics were not kind to me in that regard.

[Hunter]

Back in BCT there was a reception holdover guy in our barracks...yeah, one of those types. I never quite understood how someone can get off a bus and immediately become suicidal, but somehow there were a ton of these when I went in. And seriously, they just look sad...sad to be there, and sad to look at. I feel bad for those people to this day. Anyways, this one guy must have lost his mind--he got a hold of AR 670-1 and read the part about the hair coming below the ear, and then proceeded to give himself a bowl cut, convinced that we were "all out of regulations." No joke, this guys head was shaved below the top of his ears.

Come to think of it, doesn't make any sense to take his shoe laces but let him keep a razor, but I'm glad they overlooked it because that was funny.

[Daric Wade]

When I reclassed, all my soldiers came to me asking me to cut their hair, because their PSG wouldn't phase them up unless they were baldish. Guess the PSG thought it'd be funny to make the soldiers jump through hoops, but I acquired a trimmer and all of them showed up to his office bald as can be. It wasn't a pretty sight.

[inquiring]

Looks like the standard we've had here since I got here....
173rd Airborne 1/503rd Legion
09-Present