Pentagon Enforces Clean Shaven Grooming Standards

Military medical officers must provide a written recommendation for a waiver to the clean-shaven standard for those seeking an exemption.

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth speaks during a ceremony to commemorate the 24th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, at the Pentagon on Sept. 11, 2025. Evan Vucci /AP Photo

The Pentagon on Sept. 15 unveiled grooming standards for facial hair, which orders military personnel to be clean shaven, with those granted medical exemption needing to be put on a treatment plan.

Chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said in a statement that Secretary of War Pete Hegseth “recently directed the Services to implement the following grooming standards for facial hair” following the rapid force-wide review of military standards.