Troops who currently need shaving waivers for more than a year could face separation under changes announced in a memo from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who is calling for a “clean shaven” military.

“Unit commanders will initiate separation of service members who require a shaving waiver after more than 1 year of medical treatment,” Hegseth wrote in an Aug. 20 memo released on Monday. “I have full confidence in our leaders at all levels to provide an accurate assessment of whether retention is appropriate.”

Earlier this summer, the Army said it was working on finalizing its updated grooming standards, including a potential separation for those who need shaving exemptions. At the time, spokesmen for the Army said the service was taking a “back to standards” approach, after the number o

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