I really want to join CAP, DO I have to cut my hair?

[kyle413]

I recently got very interested in CAP, and talked to a local squadron and I'm attending a meeting soon, but my question is do i have to cut my hair? most of my hair is fairly short but I have bangs that are about half an inch above my eyebrow. I feel uncomfortable without bangs, are they going to make me cut them?

[Camas]

Thank you for your interest in Civil Air Patrol. Having said that you must realize (and I'm sure you do) that CAP has very exacting standards when it comes to grooming standards for all members. I don't know if you're male or female but you should go ahead, visit the unit and interact with some of the cadet staff members. I won't bore you with all the grooming details here; your cadet staff can assist you in whether or not you meet grooming standards and if, in fact, CAP is the right program for you. Perhaps you know some of these cadets in school or in your neighborhood. Good luck to you and I hope you'll make the right decision that meets your needs.

[kyle413]

OK, (I'm a male btw) yeah I go to the meeting this monday and I guess I'll talk to them about it. I read the standards but I had a bit of trouble understanding them.

[GTCommando]

First, welcome to CAPTalk!

As far as bangs go, here's a quote from Attachment 2 (attached) of the uniform manual.

Bangs: Not below eyebrows and not exposed when headgear is worn.

So, if you can wear a flight cap or BDU patrol cap (your squadron staff will explain what those are) and not have bangs visible, you're good to go. Otherwise, you may need to have them trimmed.

[kyle413]

OK, SO If i wore like an elastic band or something that held it back, I'd be okay?

[manfredvonrichthofen]

Don't worry about any bands... When you are in uniform just put some hair gell or something in and sweep it to the side. I have a high and tight with bangs, and I just put gell in it. Otherwise my hair would go pat my headgear too. It's really no problem at all.

[kyle413]

Don't worry about any bands... When you are in uniform just put some hair gell or something in and sweep it to the side. I have a high and tight with bangs, and I just put gell in it. Otherwise my hair would go pat my headgear too. It's really no problem at all.

OH ok, thats a huge relief, thanks.

[AngelWings]

Don't worry about any bands... When you are in uniform just put some hair gell or something in and sweep it to the side. I have a high and tight with bangs, and I just put gell in it. Otherwise my hair would go pat my headgear too. It's really no problem at all.

Same here. I gell mine and, with the sides of my head clean shaven, people think I have a buzz cut or I am bald.

[ColonelJack]

I wish I could offer some advice.  My hair's in a race to see which will happen first - will it turn gray or will it fall out?

I was just combing what I've got left and looked at the hairs in the comb with mixed feelings.  They were gray ... but they were HAIR!

Jack

[The CyBorg is destroyed]

Is this a potential cadet or senior member?

If the latter, a senior can wear his/her hair as they wish, if they wear one of the CAP "alternative" uniforms.

ColonelJack: Sir, I'm 46 and I've been greying since I was a teenager.  I had grey hair at the time of my high school graduation (1984).

Now I'm almost completely white/silver haired, though I'm thinning a bit up top too.

[kyle413]

Is this a potential cadet or senior member?

If the latter, a senior can wear his/her hair as they wish, if they wear one of the CAP "alternative" uniforms.

ColonelJack: Sir, I'm 46 and I've been greying since I was a teenager.  I had grey hair at the time of my high school graduation (1984).

Now I'm almost completely white/silver haired, though I'm thinning a bit up top too.

Potential cadet

[usafcap1]

I recently got very interested in CAP, and talked to a local squadron and I'm attending a meeting soon, but my question is do i have to cut my hair? most of my hair is fairly short but I have bangs that are about half an inch above my eyebrow. I feel uncomfortable without bangs, are they going to make me cut them?

Yes. . . but different squadrons do it differently if your hair is short and in CAPR 39-1 regs then your fine. BUT. . . if you are not you will have to cut it. Ask your staff, also known as NCOs or Flight Sgt. if your hair is good or not. (Hair can not be touching ears and can not be touching back of collar.) Now if you were at my squadron we would give TWO chances before we 'd cut it off. . . but that my squadron. Different squadrons do it different ways.



( [lmgtfy]CAPR 39-1[/lmgtfy] )

By The Way Welcome aboard 

[Майор Хаткевич]

Now if you were at my squadron we would give TWO chances before we 'd cut it off. . . but that my squadron.

And how many times has your unit done this?

[Extremepredjudice]

Now if you were at my squadron we would give TWO chances before we 'd cut it off. . . but that my squadron.

What gives you the right to cut someone's hair off?

[AngelWings]

Now if you were at my squadron we would give TWO chances before we 'd cut it off. . . but that my squadron.

What gives you the right to cut someone's hair off?

How does paying money to wear a uniform give them any right to disrespect the people who wore it in service to this country? 

[Майор Хаткевич]

How does paying money to wear a uniform give them any right to disrespect the people who wore it in service to this country? 

What?

[AngelWings]

How does paying money to wear a uniform give them any right to disrespect the people who wore it in service to this country? 

What?

All a CAP member has to do to get the right to wear a CAP uniform is to pay money to national and their squadron, while the USAF has to go through 8 weeks of BMT for enlisted, or through whatever commisioning source to get the right to wear their uniform. What gives any CAP member the right to disrespect the uniform in such a way to come in with a slovenly haircut that in the USAF wouldn't fly and disrespects their service and commitment to adhere to standards?

[SarDragon]

Small, but important point - it's not a right, it's a privilege.

[AngelWings]

Small, but important point - it's not a right, it's a privilege.

If I said right, I meant privilege.

[Майор Хаткевич]

All a CAP member has to do to get the right to wear a CAP uniform is to pay money to national and their squadron

That is incorrect.

while the USAF has to go through 8 weeks of BMT for enlisted, or through whatever commisioning source to get the right to wear their uniform.

Has no point in this issue.

What gives any CAP member the right to disrespect the uniform in such a way to come in with a slovenly haircut that in the USAF wouldn't fly and disrespects their service and commitment to adhere to standards?

Nobody said they have any right to it. The issue is with this squadron "policy" not whether the member in question has a right to have improper hair styles.