By Marguerite Cleveland

Facial hair except for mustaches is not allowed in all branches of the service but there are a few exceptions. The first is for medical reasons that affect shaving. The second reason is for religious reasons. Some special operators are allowed beards to blend in with local populations. Can you grow a beard in the military, the answer is no unless you have a sincerely held religious belief or you have a medical reason? It is important to note that the reason beards and facial hair are prohibited is due to the fact that respirators and chemical masks do not get a proper seal with facial hair. This can put the service member at risk. That is why it is required to be clean shaven every day.

Medical reasons for not shaving usually have to do with razor bumps where hair becomes ingrown due to shaving and primarily occurs in African Americans. In this case the beard is typically limited to 1/4 inch. Some branches of the service will allow a permanent profile for this condition but recently the Navy did away with permanent shaving waivers for sailors diagnosed with razor bumps. The reason being that facial hair hinders the effectiveness of breathing devices.

The Department of Defense Instruction (DoDI) 1300.17, Accommodation of Religious Practices Within the Military Services prescribes policy, procedures, and responsibilities for the accommodation of religious practices in the military services. DoDI 1300.17, paragraph 4.b, states “[r]equests for religious accommodation will be resolved in a timely manner and will be approved when accommodation would not adversely impact mission accomplishment, including military readiness, unit cohesion, good order, discipline, health and safety, or any other military requirement.” This regulation allows service members to apply for a waiver of grooming standards for religious accommodation.

These requests are evaluated on a case by case basis and there is quite a bit that goes into a decision. The first is evaluating if approved would the accommodation would impair the safe and effective operation of weapons, military equipment, or machinery; pose a health or safety hazard; interfere with the wear or proper function of special or protective clothing or equipment; or otherwise impair discipline, morale, unit cohesion, or accomplishment of the unit mission.

The next step is evaluating if a service member has a deep and sincere belief in a religious faith. The Department of Defense recognizes 221 religions including; heathenry, humanism, paganism, and Wicca. Requests for waivers regarding grooming go all the way up to the Secretary level for approval. Two recent cases one which was approved and one that was disapproved show how each case is unique.

In a case which was approved a soldier who practiced the Norse Pagan faith, a heathen religion received an approval for a beard waiver in accordance with his faith. In 2017, the Army recognized waivers for Sikh soldiers allowing them to honor their religious traditions. The Air Force also approved a waiver for a pagan Airman to allow him to grow a beard.

But not all requests are the same. SPC John Hoskins, a member of the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster which are known as Pastafarians, was recently denied a waiver even though he professed a deep and sincere belief in the Pastafarian faith. The reason for the refusal was that he had not demonstrated a sincerely held religious belief.

So although the military has relaxed the grooming standards for medical or religious reasons, the average service member will not be authorized to have a beard or facial hair other than a mustache.

Marguerite Cleveland is a freelance writer who specializes in human interest and travel stories. She is a military brat, a veteran and now a military spouse.  Her military experience is vast as the daughter of a Navy man who served as an enlisted sailor and then Naval Officer. She served as an enlisted soldier in the reserves and on active duty, then as an Army Officer. She currently serves as a military spouse. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and two sons. Visit her website www.PeggyWhereShouldIGo.com

When Seth Brees left the Air Force after 12 years of service, he didn’t immediately find his niche. Instead, he took the first job he was offered.

“I floundered a little bit, I didn’t have a goal or a direction,” he explains. “I took the first job that came along and I was miserable. Now I know why: it just wasn’t for me. We’ve all had one of those jobs. I felt kind of lost.”

Military Veteran Champions Homeless Veterans, Transition Support

Even though he had taken the transition assistance classes offered by the Air Force, he still struggled after he EASed. Something was missing.

“For me, I needed a new mission, a direction, a focus.”

Shortly after, Brees discovered Passageways, LTD. a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting homeless veterans in and around Wichita, KS. Passageways was founded in 2014 by Jennifer Garrison and Susan Moellinger in an effort to provide a solution to the homeless veterans in their city.

“The founders were watching the news and a homeless veteran died under a bridge due to cold exposure,” shares Brees. “They called around and nothing was being done. Now, 5 years later they’re getting ready to open their own neighborhood for homeless veterans.”

Brees connected with the homeless veterans he was serving through Passageways, LTD. over shared experiences following their military service.

Air Force Vet Finds New Mission Helping Homeless Vets

“(Volunteering with Passageways) started mainly just me looking for something to get excited about when I left the military,” he explains. “And that was it. I found it and I’ve been going full speed ahead ever since.”

As his connection to Passageway’s mission grew, Brees became more committed to being a changemaker for homeless veterans. In the process, he’s discovered that veterans often end up with uncertain housing situations due to a rough transition to civilian life.

“It’s very much a psychological event,” he says. “You get used to a certain lifestyle, the comradery with military culture. When you leave the military, you don’t have the comradery.”

Beyond the seachange in lifestyle and support, there is often trouble translating their years of military experience into information that civilians can understand.

“Decoding your military experience is how I usually put it,” Brees says. “I recognized that the biggest thing that we can offer is some guidance. We have (transition assistance) on military bases, which is great. But there is so much more that we can do and it requires that personal touch.”

Added to the equation is having some level of financial security or mobility. Having instability here, even if there is housing currently, could lead to bigger issues in the near future.

“You’re one incident away from homelessness,” Brees shares. “If you lose your car, you’re done. You lose your means to go make money. There’s a difference between being homeless with a car and without, because then you’re relying on public transportation and getting employment gets significantly harder.”

Combatting Veteran Homelessness Inspires Air Force Veteran

Over the years that Passageways has been supporting homeless veterans in Wichita, Brees notes that over 8o veterans have transitioned to stable housing. In total, Passageways has helped approximately 2,500 homeless veterans.

“With Passageways, the youngest (veteran) has been 27 and the oldest has been 97, a WW2 Veteran. He lived out of his car for 30 years and not anymore!”

As a board member, Brees has supported Passageways towards a major goal: opening a neighborhood of homes for homeless veterans.

“Operation homefront will be a gated community only for homeless veterans in the Wichita area. Open to men and women, families, and service animals.”

Brees excitedly shared the details of this new project, one of the first of its kind specifically for homeless veterans. All told, there will be 15 one-bedroom homes for individuals and 15 two-bedroom homes for families with up to three children. Service animals will be welcomed and community support features are built into the neighborhood.

Launching a New Mission to Support Transitioning Veterans

While working with homeless veterans, Brees realized that often they needed a little extra support and guidance to translate their military experiences into civilian jobs. This led to his small business venture, Veterans Mentor.

As part of his business, Brees offers personalized support and assistance navigating life post-military.

In addition to his business, Brees also hosts a podcast – The Veterans Advocate. He uses this platform to share stories and experiences, veteran to veteran.

Part of his mission is to educate veterans about the resources available, as well as share advice from those who have been there, done that. A large portion of his podcast guests has been veterans that have transitioned out of homelessness.

“I just want to talk to somebody who has a story to tell,” says Brees. “I don’t want a perfect success story. I want someone who is relatable. Anyone who has been through a rough transition and has some advice to offer, that’s what I’m after.”

Whether on his podcast, through his business or via Passageways, Brees has been struck again and again by the willingness of the military and veteran community to support each other.

“Overwhelmingly veterans are eager to help other veterans with anything. All you need to do is ask.”

While he has his podcast and business, Brees’s heart is overwhelmingly with Passageways.

“If I can get anything accomplished, I just want to get the name and story of Passageways out there.”

To support Air Force Veteran Seth Brees and Passageways, LTD., please consider making a donation. Your support will allow them to complete the Operation Homefront neighborhood and continue reaching homeless veterans in and around Wichita, KS.

Know a veteran making a difference that we should feature? Comment below or email us!

Right now, it seems like our military life is particularly unstable. Rapidly changing international relations and mounting tensions overseas are creating stress among troops and military families worldwide. When the going gets tough, access these free counseling and support services you should know about now.

Free Counseling and Support Services Every Military Family Need to Know

Handling mental health can still have a negative stigma among military members and families. However, it’s important to know that keeping your head in the game and your mind clear is just as important to the mission as your physical fitness.

When you need to get things off your chest or figure out how you’re operating mentally, use one of these free resources to seek support.

Military Family Life Counselor (MFLC)

Military troops, their families and survivors can access completely free, 100% confidential mental health counseling via the MFLC program.

Licensed therapists, social workers and counselors are stationed at bases worldwide, ready to support your mental health needs. Your need must be non-medical in nature.

MFLCs are able to help you with:

• Marriage or relationship counseling
• Parenting
• Adjustment difficulties
• Stress at home or work
• Loss and grief
• Work-related concerns

They may not cover issues such as:

• Active suicidal or homicidal thoughts
• Sexual assault
• Child abuse
• Domestic Violence
• Drug, alcohol or substance addiction(s)
• Serious mental health concerns

This treatment is confidential. No one will be informed that you have spoken with an MFLC without your consent. Not your chain of command, spouse, PCM, friends or family.

However, MFLCs must report instances of domestic or child abuse, past or present illegal activity, violence or harm to yourself or others.

To contact the MFLC(s) at your current location, reach out to your duty stations Military and Family Life Center. You can also call 800-342-9647 to connect with MilitaryOneSource and MFLCS. If you are located OCONUS, follow these calling instructions.

Some DoDEA schools have an on-campus MFLC or MFLC team. For more information, contact your child’s teacher or the school’s administration team.

MilitaryOneSource Offers Free Counseling Support

MilitaryOneSource serves as a go-to resource for everything about military life. That includes accessing non-medical counseling services, specialty support services and other tools.

Non-Medical Counseling

MilitaryOneSource offers free, short-term non-medical counseling. This means that your counselor will not prescribe you any medication related to the concerns you raise. Instead, he or she will listen to you and then share strategies to help you cope.

Some of these counselors are MFLCs, but others are civilian counselors practicing in your community. This can be a good option for support outside of, but connected to, the military community. No one will be informed that you have sought help without your direct consent or involvement. That includes your chain of command, your PCM, your spouse, your children, your friend or other family.

These services are available to all active duty, guard, reserve troops and their families; designated members of the DOD expeditionary civilian employees and their families; survivors.

Children may access these services, with certain supervision restrictions for children younger than 17.

Specialty Counseling Services

MilitaryOneSource offers many specialty support or counseling services for individuals in a particular moment of life or with a certain set of needs.

These include:

• Adoption
• Adult disability
• Building healthy relationships
• Education
• Elder care
• Health & wellness coaching
• New MilParent
• Peer-to-Peer
• Spouse relocation & transition
• Transitioning Veterans
• Wounded warrior

For more information about each of these support services, contact MilitaryOneSource at 800-342-9647. A consultant will be able to direct you to the program or support option that best meets your immediate needs.

Military-Provided Mental Health Support & Counseling

MilitaryOneSource and the MFLC program are ideal for individuals who are looking for short-term support for a non-medical problem. However, there are some times when individuals will need to bring their medical team into the loop.

Troops and other Tricare beneficiaries have access to fully trained medical professionals who can treat a wide range of medically involved mental health conditions, including depression, anxiety and more.

Medical professionals can recommend combining medication with traditional therapy. Many MTFs and civilian medical practices have personnel licensed to prescribe and/or offer other therapeutic options to treat your current mental health conditions.

Unlike the previous options, any treatment you seek or receive via your Tricare-authorized PCM will become part of your medical record. They are also mandated reporters, sharing information about things related to:

• Domestic abuse
• Child abuse or neglect
• Illegal acts, past or present
• Suicidal or homicidal thoughts

Military & Veterans Crisis Line

When you need help fast, especially involving a situation that might result in harm to yourself or others, it important to have a resource on speed dial. that’s the Military or Veterans Crisis Line.

You can call, text or chat online 24/7 with a qualified VA provider. Many are veterans who have transitioned to helping others through tough moments in life.

If you, or a loved one, need immediate mental health support for a serious concern, please call 800-273-8255 and select option 1. You can also text at 838522 or chat online with a provider.

If you or a loved one need mental health support, or just want to talk things through with a counselor, do not hesitate to reach out.

His retirement papers were literally ready to be executed this month. Instead of riding off into the sunset he was prepping to board a plane for the Middle East as part of a rapid response force to help quell the increasing tension in the region.

Across the US, stories just like this are being played out in thousands of homes as military families quickly send their loved ones off on no-notice deployments. Retirements will be put on hold, babies will be born and milestone events will happen – all without a clear return date for many deployed troops.

Some troops are leaving in as little as hours with others getting a few days or weeks to prepare. Forward deployed troops on non-combat missions have been rerouted to support actions in the Middle East.

While many of these units are rapid response teams, trained and prepared for exactly these situations, it doesn’t make it any easier for families left behind on the home front with little to no warning.

Military Spouses Band Together In Face of No-Notice Deployments

In the face of the upheaval a no-notice deployment brings, seasoned spouses and non-profit organizations have been rallying together to provide community and support to military families everywhere. From powerful messages going viral on Facebook to counseling support offers, the military spouse community is coming together with a singular focus.

Kellie Artis, Fort Bragg Army spouse and COO of MILLIE, shared her thoughts in a viral Facebook post that has been republished on Jo, My Gosh. She reflected on the impact these quick, unexpected troop movements is having on the Fayetteville community. Artis has seen groups of women, sitting silently with tension and worry evident in their interactions. She’s seen an increase in the number of soldiers in uniform running errands out in town, ready to spring into action at a moment’s notice.

“Uncertainty is a given in this lifestyle, but it hits hard when it’s out of the blue and under such looming circumstances. There’s a painful tension between pride and apprehension; importance and fear.”

Seasoned Spouses Share Wisdom, Support as Community Copes with Traumatic Deployments

Artis has been in this same position during earlier troop surges.

“I remember sitting alone during one such deployment with my sister and 6-month-old daughter at a Fayetteville restaurant and our server came over to tell us our meal was taken care of by another patron,” she wrote. “She didn’t tell me who, but I knew. There was an older couple sitting in a corner, he with his Vietnam-era VFW cap on and she with sympathetic tears in her eyes. We barely exchanged words, I couldn’t without sobbing, but we didn’t have to. She squeezed my hand as we stopped by their table to thank them and that was all we needed to share. I’ll never forget that.”

Rapid and short-notice deployments are not limited to US Army units. Many USMC spouses have faced, and are facing, similar situations.

A USMC spouse who wished to remain anonymous shared how unprepared and overwhelmed she was for deployment orders that went through in under a day.

“You always heard how you can get deployed less than 24 hours, it really does happen,” she shared. “The timing wasn’t great. Our children always pick where they want to go for dinner on their birthday. Our youngest had picked where he wanted to eat that night and we had to tell them the news their dad was leaving the next day for deployment.”

However, she shared advice that got her family through this no-notice deployment.

“Things we had planned as a family and vacations got canceled, but we made other plans to look forward to each month to make the time pass.”

She advised picking one big thing to do with your family every month. It helped her to focus on something good and made the time pass more quickly. Having a busy schedule for the kids, with sports and Scouts, also helped her to focus on the present.

Military Spouses Rely on Each Other for Support, Assistance

When she found out her husband was deploying, another anonymous USMC Infantry spouse was weeks away from giving birth after a challenging pregnancy when her husband told her about his upcoming deployment. While it wasn’t a few hours turnaround time, it was still a shock during an already tumultuous moment in their family.

Luckily, his unit allowed him a little bit of flexible time to support his spouse. He was able to be there for his child’s birth and early weeks. However, the next time he will see her will be when she is over 6 months old.

At first, this USMC Infantry spouse was unsure of how she would manage. But her spouse community stepped into the gap, providing support and encouragement when she needed it most.

“I didn’t know how I was going too, but again, you adapt,” she explained. “We truly are stronger and more capable than we think. The (spouses) around me had a huge impact on getting through this. They are amazing. They get groceries for me or just watch my toddler sometimes.”

Having a community to support her allowed this Infantry spouse to survive and thrive during an unexpected deployment.

“The only way to cope is to find a support system,” she said. “If you don’t have a family, find other military moms. It’s key.”

Ways to Help Military Families Right Now

If your military community is impacted by the recent and on-going rapid deployments, it’s important to connect with each other and show support. Even if your family isn’t directly impacted, you likely know someone who is in the think of the whirlwind.

Use these ideas to “keep on, keepin’ on” as one spouse said:

• Swap babysitting duties so everyone can run errands, exercise or simply have a minute to think
• Meal prep together because many hands make light work
• Set up regular play dates for children
• Offer to help each other with chores, cooking, child care
• Carpool for school drop off and pick up, sports and scouts
• Call, text or email just to check-in
• Make a meal for a family in the middle of prepping for deployment
• Listen

The most important way that you can show up for your military family and community is to simply be there and be ready to listen without judgment.

If you need someone to talk to, MilitaryOneSource has a hotline. You can call them, 24/7 at 800-342-9647.

How are you supporting your military community during this moment? Share your ideas and opportunities in the comments!

Touched off by the US Embassy attack in Baghdad, the Middle East became a high-conflict zone in the opening days of 2020. Further escalating tensions were the US-ordered airstrike that killed top Iranian General Qassem Soleimani and a US Embassy attack in Kenya by al-Shabaab.

In response, thousands of troops across the country are being deployed rapidly into possible combat zones in an effort to support US forces already in the region.

Escalating Tensions & Further Conflict Between US and Iranian Forces in Middle East

On the night of January 7, Iranian forces launched concentrated missile attacks at US bases located in Iraq. Dozens of missiles were directed at two US bases, with Air Base al-Asad being struck by 6 of the explosives.

Iranian forces claimed “dozens” of US dead, but DOD officials had not confirmed any casualties. As of the morning of January 8, officials would only state that they were still assessing damages and casualties, according to a Washington Post article.

The recent missile attack is claimed by the Iranian government and their forces as opposed to non-affiliated fighters in the region. This action is reportedly in direct retaliation for the US airstrike that killed Soleimani.

President Donald Trump declined to address the nation on January 7th and reportedly sent Vice President Mike Pence to brief Congressional leaders about the airstrike from Iran.

Trump tweeted updates on the situation throughout Tuesday night and into Wednesday morning prior to his national address on Wednesday.

Trump Continues to Tweet Foreign Policy & Updates

This latest Twitter update from the President comes on the heels of a series of Tweets over the previous week related to the US airstrike, embassy attack and future actions of US troops in the region.

On January 5, Trump tweeted that his Twitter feed and updates should serve as legal notice to Congress of potential future actions against Iran.

He also implied that he was willing to attack Iranian civilian and cultural sites in a series of tweets on January 4. Targeting cultural sites and civilians explicitly is a violation of the Geneva Conventions.

US Rapidly Mobilizes Troops Across Branches in Response to Increased Middle Eastern Threats

In the middle of this war of words on Twitter, service members and military families are experiencing fast deployment notification and execution, with some units leaving in a matter of hours and others waiting for the incoming call to report.

Members of the 82nd Airborne’s Immediate Force Response unit, operating out of Fort Bragg, were given just a few hours notice of their deployment. According to 82nd Airborne spokesperson, Lt. Col. Mike Burns, troops in this unit are given a 2-hour window to report to base, deploying rapidly after that.

“So whether they were on leave, whether they were home drinking a beer, whether they were, you know, hanging out, throwing the kids up in the yard, you get the call and it’s time to go,” he said.

Seven hundred soldiers from this unit deployed within hours of the Embassy attack, with up to 2800 more troops following in the days after Soleimani’s death.

Burns also noted, in an interview with Business Insider, that this was not a typical deployment. Troops were instructed to leave cellphones and other personal electronic devices at home.

Other units are also mobilizing rapidly to shore up defenses in the region. Additional Marines were deployed to the US embassy in Baghdad to provide additional support and force protection.

In addition, as of January 8, 2,500 Marines from Camp Lejeune will also be headed to the Mediterranean as part of the 26th MEU. These troops were already operating in this theater but will cancel planned international training exercises to join the Navy’s 6th Fleet, according to reports from Lt. Cmdr. Matthew Comer, a U.S. 6th Fleet spokesman to USNI News.