I Am Unbeatable: Donna Ferrato's Commitment to Abused Women

In the bleak days during the war in Iraq, the Army was hungry for troops. So the service eased up on some of its grooming standards, and issued waivers for recruits who had used drugs or committed similar infractions that used to be sufficient to keep them out of the Army. But after peaking at 570,000 troops, the Army is now slated to fall to as low as 420,000 over the next several years—a reduction of more than 25%. And that means the Army is getting increasingly picky. So waivers are disappearing, along with some of the relaxed personal-appearance regulations that the Army tolerated during its lean recruiting years. The new regulations, released Monday, clamp down on tattoos, haircuts and sideburns, fingernails, teeth and jewelry. Tattoos are a big deal in the military. But from here on out, tattoos are barred from a soldier's head, face, neck, wrist, hands and fingers (existing tattoos in those locations are permitted). Anyone enlisted soldier with such tattoos will not be considered for promotion to warrant officer or officer ranks. Also controversial are rules for female hairstyles, which some soldiers say are “racially biased” against minorities. More than 7,500 people have signed a White House petition seeking to change the Army’s new ban on hairstyles including “twists, both flat twists as well as two strand twists; as well as dreadlocks, which are defined as ‘any matted or locked coils or ropes of hair.’” The tightened regs “give soldiers and leaders the responsibility for ensuring our appearance reflects the highest level of professionalism,” says Lieut. Colonel Justin Platt, an Army spokesman. “All adjustments made within these regulations went through an extensive decision-making process with continuous input from various levels of Army leaders.” Among other excerpts from the new regulations: Males may not wear nail polish. Attaching, affixing, or displaying objects, articles, jewelry, or ornamentation to, through, or under their skin, tongue, or any other body part is prohibited. The use of gold caps, platinum caps, or caps of any unnatural color or texture (permanent or removable) for purposes of dental ornamentation is prohibited. Unnatural shaping of teeth for nonmedical reasons is prohibited. Soldiers are prohibited from willful mutilation of the body or any body manner parts in any manner. Examples include, but are not limited to, tongue bifurcation (splitting of the tongue) or ear gauging (enlarged holes in the lobe of the ear, which are beyond the post hole size for conservative earring wearer, no more than 1.6mm). Soldiers are not authorized to wear wireless and nonwireless devices such as earpieces while wearing Army uniforms. And, in a sure sign the nation is returning to a peacetime Army: "Personnel on official travel and traveling by commercial travel means will wear the service uniform or appropriate civilian attire. Combat uniforms are no longer authorized."