The U.S. Army announced it has
updated controversial regulations governing what tattoos and hairstyles
are acceptable for its soldiers. The revisions to Army Regulation 670-1,
the policy for soldiers' appearance, come about six months after the
Army said it was banning female hairstyles such as dreadlocks and
twists, drawing backlash from the chair of the Congressional Black
Caucus and others.
While dreadlocks are
still prohibited, the Army no longer uses the words "unkempt" and
"matted" in Regulation 670-1 to describe the banned hairstyles, which
the Congressional Black Caucus had called "offensive and biased" to
women of color. Twists, on the other hand, are now allowed to be worn by
female soldiers, along with braids and cornrows, so long as they are
not wider than a diameter of more than a half-inch. Previously, they had
been limited to a quarter of an inch wide. They must also be evenly
spaced, but there is no longer a requirement that no more than an eighth
of an inch of scalp be between the braids and cornrows.
Tattoo regulations have
been relaxed as well. Soldiers who have grandfathered-in tattoos can now
be considered for an officer position or to make warrant without
needing an exception to the policy. Racist, extremist, and sexist
tattoos remain banned.
Source: http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/army-loosens-regulations-soldiers-tattoos-hairstyles-n206126
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