Why do they make men going into the military shave their heads?

Question

or do they even still do that??

Answer 1

The tradition of short haircuts for soldiers goes back to Roman times.
Roman military leaders saw the value in having short haircuts to prevent enemies from pulling hair in hand-to-hand combat.
Some native American tribes also saw value in this, especially when their enemies used scalping as a tactic in combat.

In more modern times, like in WWI, it was also found that shaved heads also prevent the spread of head lice, which was a common parasite among soldiers in the trenches. You'd hate to get shot because you were scratching an itch on your head and took off your helmet.

It also has the function of acting as a way to taking away a soldier's individuality as a person, and makes them appear as part of their squad, unit, corps. This provides a psychological effect for both the soldier, and for civilians and enemies.

Another benefit is keeping hair out of your eyes, and avoiding getting hair caught in helmets, and allowing sweat to disperse faster.

However, in modern times, it is also a good way to pick out military guys in a crowd when the common hairstyles are not short - US soldiers on leave in some countries are sometimes at risk because they stick out as both americans and as soldiers.

Answer 2

We should make all the women who are in combat positions do the same things the men do (like shaving their heads) and they should also be required to meet all the same standards, ESPECIALLY the physical standards, that men do or they can't serve in those positions. No special concessions should be made for women in combat. Can't run 2 miles as fast as the guys? Sorry, but the men aren't going to stop and wait for you if they have to mobilize or fall back from their current position. Can't tote that barge and lift that bail? If you can't hang with the big dogs, stay on the porch. Having a bad day because of PMS? Take out your T.S. card and hand it to the Chaplain before you get your @$$ back to work. Once again, the U.S. Armed Forces is being used for a social experiment that is going to make our fighting force even weaker than it was before...

Answer 3

Many reasons. First would be sanitary. Many people have lice. Next, the armed services try to suppress your sense of individuality during basic training. By shaving everyones head and placing them all in identical clothing it tends to do this. Another reason is to demonstrate that you are not making your own decisions any more. You are subject to the will of the military and will do what you are told.

Answer 4

You mean in boot camp and serving? Back when they first started doing it it was to control lice. Today it is to make the people uniform and harder for the enemy to distinguish individuals. Also in hand to hand combat hair is something the enemy can grab onto. If I get someones hair, I don't need to be looking at them to stab with a knife or bash with a rock. Jerking a head by the hair throws your enemy off balance and makes the afore mentioned actions easier to do as well. So it is for uniformity and to try and give an advantage in battle.

If you mean before boot camp, those guys are trying to get a jump and really just single themselves out.

Answer 5

first of all, they don't shave their heads--they buzz-cut the hair down to about a 1/4 of an inch (i think marines go to 1/8 inch) so that all are uniform, which is also why they put them all into the same outfits.....in addition, the haircut minimizes the amount of time needed for showering and drying, as there is much to learn about being a United States fighting man or woman (women, of course, don't get subjected to such an extreme haircut, but they must maintain their hair "high and tight" (off the collar and neatly controlled)

Answer 6

Some of the peeps are on track here. they shave their heads to do away with individuality as a first step in making them act as a unit. Its a mild psychological tool that they use. I say mild because the rest of the training is very physical and mental. The mental part is to develop the sense of TEAM. after being inducted into that mode of thought you become aclimated to the understanding that its not about you.. its about the man next to you when you are in the heat of battle.

Answer 7

When you go to Basic training, they break you down and then build you back up. They want everyone to be part of a group, not individual. Everyone must look the same. Not just their hair, but their uniforms, boots, beds, wall locker etc. Its part of instilling discipline.

Guys with military haircuts are very good looking at least 90% of them are.

Answer 8

The military want them to all look the same and look respectable.They also do that so that they don't catch nit's or anything like that,can you imagine a guy with an Afro in the military lol.

Answer 9

If soldier gets into hand to hand combat, there is absolutely nothing better to help defeat the enemy then being able to grab the hair, then you have total control. We don't want that to happen, so we shave our heads.

Answer 10

It is a psychological event.

It does quite a few things,

1) Forces you to admit to yourself that you are not in control
2) Forces consistency among all recruits you are not an individual
3) Lowers problems of hygienic and field medical problems
4) Reduces close quarter combat risk. (UFC champs have short hair too)
5) Buzz cut is associated with authority and strength.

--Will