For anyone that has missed it, the new RAF hair policy has trickled down to us now too!
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Though, of course, until they actually update the AP weâve got little context, just a list of bullet points.
Massively helpful of themâŚ
Doesnât address that the real issue with hair policy is that it discriminates by gender.
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i think it does,
although only a list of bullet points no where in the revision does it indicate that this only applies to men or women
it does not indicate that only female hair can be long and reach below the collar, so as I read that a man, may have long hair providing it is tied in a ponytail
although i see where youâre coming from it does state âwith immediate effectâ - if i saw someone this weekend with hair that complies with these bullet points, but does not comply with the latest version of AP1358C i donât feel there is a cause of re-education - the individual can pass this IBN under my nose and there is nothing more to say about it
(of course for some it will be raised to the WWO but even then, i canât see why the WWO can say ânoâ the IBN is clear
I still canât wear my hair in a bun, but females can.
ok fair pointâŚno buns, but youâre welcome to wear a pony tail
That rule might apply to both genders, but only has practical impact if the rule on long hair is also amended
âŚand indeed, it hasnât been specific to make clear whether the rules apply equally across genders.
After several decades of applying male and female hair regulations separately, a line to the effect that âthe new regulations apply to both male and female personnel equally - thus removing the previous distinctions in permitted styleâ would have cleared it right up⌠But they havenât said anything so clear.
As it stands we donât really know what theyâre trying to say; totally irrespective of the fact that it is âeffective immediatelyâ.
Iâd have also been horrified if I found out that these religious, cultural or ethnic âexemptionsâ werenât being allowed anyway?
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Can cadets access this? Or only those who hold a bader sharepoint account?
The religious ones were previously being allowed for people of that religion but that was it as far as Iâm aware.
Once the AP is updated you can access that via Cadet Portal.
I donât think that Cadet Portal shares IBNs.
Judging by the commandants statement at the foot of the document, it does suggest a gender neutral interpretation.
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But nothing in this document changes the hair policy we currently have beyond those points. So yes, it allows people who have long hair to wait it below the collar on occasion. (And Iâve never seen that rule enforced in PT kit anyway?)
But it doesnât change who can wear their hair long.
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Technically it says hair shouldnât go below the âservice jacketâ, which obviously most cadets donât have. So it can be as long as they like?
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Or, you could obtain a service jacket and then stand on it.
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One could assume that thereâs a gender neutral implication there - if one reads it with that in mind; but in fact it doesnât really state anything clearly⌠Itâs a pretty âfluffyâ generalised statement which does little to help those of us whose job it is to know the actual regulation unequivocally.
If someone asks me âDoes this mean that boys can have long hair? And, if so, how should they wear it?â my only truthful answer can be âMaybe. I donât know yet.â
Thatâs not really good enough.
Male hair length is going to be an interesting factor. A one size fits all approach is what is needed, Might be a step too far for many people around the Corps.
Iâve seen 2 lads from the sqn who at a guess havenât been near a barber for 7/8 months. Iâm not sure telling them they have to get their hair cut will have the desired effect.
One must also consider âhowâ the hair is grown. The whole concept being that someone must still look smart - and there can be a world of difference between âlong hairâ which can be made up neatly and âtoo-much, floppy, scruffy hairâ which may not be quite as readily smartened up.
If it is going to be applied across the board then it canât and wonât simply be a policy of âno haircuts are neededâ.