Coronavirus challenges the military’s way of doing things — including haircuts

Esper said he had provided guidance to senior officials including the heads of military services and other senior leaders who then disseminated the orders down the chain of command.

“Implementation is always a challenge, particularly in an organization that’s 2.2 million- people strong, that’s in 140 countries around the world [and] has a variety of different missions,” Esper said. “So the key thing is to keep pushing and keep talking about it, keep amplifying it so that everybody gets the word and the commanders at successive levels . . . keep pushing it and keep filling in the blanks.”

Even as tens of thousands of uniformed personnel fan out to assist with the U.S. response, the virus has posed new risks to the military’s core mission, with training and exercises canceled or delayed and an aircraft carrier sidelined by a major outbreak. As of Tuesday morning 2,618 troops had tested positive for the virus.

The crisis is also coming up against the military’s normal way of doing things in smaller ways, such as grooming and exercise requirements that typically involve close contact.

Esper and Army Gen. Mark Milley, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, were asked about a video circulating on social media that shows people waiting in line — standing close to one another without masks — at a barbershop at Camp Pendleton, a major Marine base in California. The person who posted the video, an editor at Task and Purpose, said it was taken on April 5. The department’s first guidance on broad use of cloth masks was issued that same day.

“There's no doubt in my mind that you all could go to any camp, fort, base, you name it, and find somebody not following the guidance,” Esper said when asked about the video. “So our challenge is to get out there and educate the chain of command.

“I’m sure the commandant, if he’s watching, is probably already on it,” Esper said, referring to Gen. David Berger, the Marine Corps commandant. “But if not, the chairman is going to give me a call and say, what is going on? Look, what don't you guys understand? If you need to, suspend haircuts, for whatever period of time.”

A video released by Camp Pendleton on Friday, cited by Task and Purpose, confirmed that barbershops remained open on base but said the shops would take precautions to social distance “where practical.” The video said barbershop staff were wearing masks and gloves and sanitizing between customers.

Milley said he thinks Marines should continue to get haircuts, citing the experience of his father, who as a Navy corpsman fought with the 4th Marine Division at Iwo Jima in 1945.

“It took extraordinary discipline to conquer that island, with 7,000 Marines killed in 19 or 20 days,” Milley said. “That Marine victory was a result of incredible discipline. . . . It may seem superficial to some, but getting a haircut is part of that discipline.”

Each service has taken its own steps regarding grooming standards. The Navy shut down barbershops under its authority in late March and has, along with the Air Force, relaxed some rules related to hair length.

A spokesman for the Marine Corps said that installation commanders had the authority to make rules about grooming standards and whether barbershops remained open.

“We trust leaders to make those calls, and we’ve given them latitude to waive requirements where it’s not practical to meet restrictions,” Capt. Joseph Butterfield said in a statement.

While Army officials have said that most barbershops on its facilities are now shut, that decision is up to officials overseeing those locations and the service has not relaxed grooming standards.

This story was updated.