When you think of the armed forces, it's easy to imagine a ton of strict regulations and guidelines. After all, the people who defend the world go into some pretty dangerous situations - and the last thing they need to worry about is a rash that won't heal. So, understandably, military hygiene rules are pretty exacting. And we're not just talking about brushing your teeth.
From how to properly
trim facial hair to dealing with local wildlife, hygiene in the military is a
pretty serious thing. What's weird is just how specific some of these
guidelines can get. It's like they gathered a bunch of generals in a room and
made a list of all the little things they've seen soldiers do, then tried to
make a guide to prevent all of it.
So, whether you've seen these rules in action or
you're just curious, check out this list of weird hygiene regulations.
1- Sleep
Like Your Life Depends On It
Soldiers must keep up with their food, water,
and ammunition needs. But sleep is just as important, to the point where
leadership insists you get at least 7 hours of sleep each day. According to the
United States Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC): Sleep is best viewed
as a critical item of resupply like water, food, fuel, and ammunition. The
longer a Trainee/Soldier goes without sleep, the more their thinking slows and
becomes confused, and the more mistakes they will make. Leaders need to plan
adequate sleep for themselves and their Trainee/Soldiers in training and ta
2- Use
Absorbent Body Powder Like It's Going Out Of Style
Moisture can cause infections, bad smells, and
any number of health problems. So, the Army encourages the application
of body powder "to areas where wetness is a problem such as underarms,
between the thighs and buttocks," and for women, "under the
breasts."
3- When In
Doubt, Urinate As Much As Possible
Dehydration is a serious
threat out in the field. To make matters worse, some troops tend to
hold it in when they have to urinate. That combined with drinking
less water sets the stage for a variety of infections. So, the order of
the day is to drink and urinate as much as possible. Chug! Chug! Chug!
4- You Need
To Get Regular Haircuts
It's a staple of modern service organizations to
prescribe short, neat hairstyles, but how do they maintain that fresh look?
Different outfits have different rules, but the standard requires you to
get extremely specific
haircuts - although in recent years they have made some noteworthy
exceptions.
5- Wash Your
Hands After Pretty Much Everything
In order to stop the spread of disease,
one hygiene
manual states you need to wash your hands:
- Before eating or snacking.
- After eating or snacking.
- Before handling or preparing food.
- After using the latrine.
- After handling anything that could potentially
transfer germs.
- Frequently during the work day to keep your
hands free of germs.
- After coming into contact with any local flora
or fauna.
- After physical contact with local nationals.
We just hope there's enough soap.
6- Wearing
Cologne Or Perfume In The Field Is Pretty Much Forbidden
While it seems strange that anyone would wear
fragrances during operations, the practice is banned regardless. They may
draw more
attention from the insects than any potential romantic interest.
Scented soaps are also highly discouraged.
7- No
Cosmetics Allowed In The Field
Everyone likes to look their best, but cosmetics
just aren't permissible when you're on deployment. We suppose when
you're constantly moving and every pound counts, they don't want you taking up
valuable space with something that won't help you do your job. Plus, anyone
who's slept in their makeup knows it can be a pain.
8- You're
Encouraged To Play Sports For Health
Exercise is important for physical effectiveness
and morale. But you can only do so many push-ups in the field before you get
downright sick of it. So, unit
leaders are strongly encouraged to give sports equipment to their
personnel so they can play some friendly team-based games.
9- Hauling
Poop Away Is Better Than Burning It
The Army is incredibly strict about how it deals
with human waste. After all, improperly handled feces can cause rampant
disease, which is why they have several
plans for disposing of it.
In the past, it was
burned, but present regulations call for transporting it back to the
garrison or even using contractors to remove it.
10-
If You Can, Try To Avoid
Noise
The Army wants its people in "high
intensity noise areas" only for the "time required to perform
critical tasks." So, you're only
allowed play your music too loudly as long as strictly
necessary.
11-
If You're Menstruating, You
Better Have A Full Canteen Of Water
Menstruating in the field can be challenging,
especially when you don't have a shower on hand. That's why many branches advise you
to clean the area with soap and water, or even baby wipes. They also
stress the importance of proper hygiene to avoid infections.
12-
Animal Mascots May Not Be
Kept
Everyone loves pets. Having an animal companion
to curl up with just tends to make things better - unless you're in the
field. In order to stop the possible spread of disease or attracting unwanted
animals, the military doesn't allow you to keep "animal
mascots." So, as much as you love your friend Gary the Rat, you're
going to have to leave him where you found him.
13-
f It's Super Cold, You
Can't Wear Facial Camo
Combatants and camouflage go together like
peanut butter and jelly - they were just made for each other. But sometimes
it's more trouble than it's worth. One
regulation states you cannot wear facial camo in any weather below minus
10 degrees Fahrenheit (with windchill) because the colors make it hard to spot
cold weather injuries like frostbite.
14-
You May Not Wear Hairnets
Unless You're Cooking
Unless you're cooking up a storm, you are
reportedly not
allowed to wear a hairnet. We don't know why anyone would want to wear
them casually, but it's clear that having a different fashion sense won't
excuse you. That order goes for other hair coverings, too.
15-
Mustaches Are Okay, But
Ditch The Beards
In a regulation seemingly written in the 1970s,
the only facial hair permitted while in uniform is a neatly
trimmed mustache. Even then, there are major restrictions:
Mustaches are authorized but shall be kept
neatly and closely trimmed. No portion of the mustache shall extend below
the lip line of the upper lip. It shall not go beyond a horizontal line
extending across the corners of the mouth and no more than 1/4 inch beyond a
vertical line drawn from the corner of the mouth. The length of an
individual mustache hair fully extended shall not exceed approximately 1/2
inch.
16-
You're Allowed To Wear A
Wig If You're Bald
We likely all expected wigs and hairpieces
wouldn't be allowed in uniform, but it seems exceptions are made for
baldness and certain disfigurements. Of course, there are limits -
the wig in question has to conform to their haircut criteria. So much for
adding a little flare.
17-
You Can Have Cornrows, But
There's A Catch
The traditional close-cropped hairstyles remain
in effect, but they're starting to take modern styles into account. Female
soldiers with medium or long hair don't always need to chop it. Instead,
braids, cornrows, twists, and even dreadlocks are acceptable options -
but the appearance code
states they can't interfere with headgear.
18-
You May Not Drink At A Bar
While In Uniform
In 2015, the Army revised
its uniform policy to prohibit uniformed service members from entering a bar
and drinking alcohol. They can wear their uniforms to establishments that sell
food and booze, or into a liquor store to buy a bottle, but must not drink
at any establishment where the primary business is the sale of alcohol.
19-
Keep Your Nails Clipped
Men are not permitted to let their nails grow
"beyond
the fingertip." Women can grow them a quarter of an inch longer, but
that's all. If a commander wants you to cut it short, though, you must
obey.
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