{"id":36836,"date":"2022-04-16T17:04:31","date_gmt":"2022-04-16T17:04:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/uncategorized\/2022\/04\/16\/its-time-for-the-navy-to-allow-sailors-on-shore-duty-to-have-short-trimmed-beards\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T19:05:15","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T19:05:15","slug":"its-time-for-the-navy-to-allow-sailors-on-shore-duty-to-have-short-trimmed-beards","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/commentary\/2022\/04\/16\/its-time-for-the-navy-to-allow-sailors-on-shore-duty-to-have-short-trimmed-beards\/","title":{"rendered":"It\u2019s time for the Navy to allow sailors on shore duty to have short, trimmed beards"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

What if I told you the Navy could save up to $5 million and 30,000 wasted man-hours annually, increase advancement and retention of minority officers and enlisted personnel by 5% to 10%, and improve morale in the fighting forces \u2014 starting today \u2014 for free?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What if we could mark April 2022 as Diversity Month with an inherently humane and long overdue decision? Well, we can. Change the Navy grooming policy to allow all<\/i> male sailors on shore duty to grow short, well-trimmed beards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How would letting me \u2014 a white male \u2014 grow a beard help minorities compete more fairly with their peers? It\u2019s a little complicated, but read on.<\/p>\n\n\n\t