An Army master sergeant with the 25th Infantry Division said his command revoked his selection for a company first sergeant position after he posted a celebratory social media video that highlighted his shaving profile.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Master Sgt. Darhem Victor Parker was set to take over as company first sergeant for the Alpha Company, 29th Brigade Engineer <\/b>Battalion, but after he uploaded a video on TikTok about how people would be surprised to see a first sergeant with a beard, the position was suddenly withdrawn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Army\u2019s guidelines<\/a> for facial hair standards are very strict and beards are only allowed if soldiers are given a shaving profile, or an exception typically based on medical or religious accommodations. Parker\u2019s shaving profile is approved as a medical accommodation based on a skin condition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Medical accommodations are granted if a soldier has a medical condition that warrants facial hair and a medical professional has signed off. The facial hair must be groomed to not exceed one-quarter inch in length. Religious accommodations must be approved before a soldier begins growing their beard and must not exceed 2 inches from the chin to the beard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In 2022, a Sikh Marine captain filed a federal lawsuit<\/a> alleging that the Marines\u2019 policy prohibiting the wearing of a traditional turban and beard in combat zones or recruit training was discriminatory. In March 2024, the Navy completed a study<\/a> on whether beards interfere with the application of gas masks and appear to be in the process of making changes regarding religious and medical accommodations for beards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Parker was informed by the brigade sergeant major in early April that he was offered the first sergeant position. He was set to fill the role on May 22. He had his command <\/b>photo taken immediately so he could hit the ground running, he told Army Times.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For a week and a half, Parker said he sat in meetings for the first sergeant position and the outgoing first sergeant taught him about the company. During the process, Parker said he talked numerous times to the battalion sergeant major, who said nothing about his beard or haircut.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On April 30, Parker uploaded a video to his @blackunicorn2023 TikTok account showing off his newly acquired command photo. His social media profile has amassed more than 575,000 likes and has more than 25,000 followers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n God did. trust me. if it was left to man, May 24th. COR. #blkmiltok<\/a> #miltok<\/a> #1sg<\/a> #SAMC<\/a> #doubletab<\/a> #blackunicorn<\/a> #sapper<\/a> #ranger<\/a> #goddid<\/a> #COR<\/a> #audiemurphy<\/a> #killer<\/a> #goddid<\/a> #heybattle<\/a> <\/p> \u266c GOD DID (feat. Rick Ross, Lil Wayne, Jay-Z, John Legend & Fridayy) – DJ Khaled<\/a> <\/section> <\/blockquote>