Army leaders said the revised grooming standards support its “people first” priority, diversity and inclusion efforts.
“The Army must continue to put people first by fostering a culture of trust that accepts the experiences and backgrounds of every soldier and civilian,” said Lt. Gen. Gary Brito, deputy chief of staff for personnel. “Our diverse workforce is a competitive advantage, and the Army must continue to offer fair treatment, access and opportunity across the force.”
The changes follow a Department of Defense directive issued in July by then-Secretary of Defense Mark Esper to address discrimination, prejudice and bias in the ranks.
What Army leadership should do besides reading the Fort Hood report December 11, 2020 An image of slain Army Spc. Vanessa Guillen and #IAmVanessaGuillen is seen before the start of a news conference on the National Mall in front of Capitol Hill, Thursday, July 30, 2020, in Washington. (Carolyn Kaster/AP) After the release of the independent report on the command climate at Fort Hood, Texas, service members, veterans and civilians with stake in the matter took to social media to discuss not only the findings but possible solutions to the issues of sexual abuse found in the investigation. The report, which was released on Dec. 8, revealed longstanding issues with the criminal investigation detachment that became increasingly clear during the search for Spc. Vanessa Guillen. Eventually found to have been killed inside an armory after she went missing, Guillen’s disappearance led to the revelation that she had experienced sexual harassment, which her family brought forth befo