Shave before PT?

[ivantense]

Haven't had anyone say this to me in over a year. I grow facial hair pretty fast so at 0530 in the morning I have a bit of a shadow.
Anyhow, some Sgt said something to me this morning about shaving. I didn't try arguing with him or anything, but it still doesn't make sense to me. When I do shave before PT, my face burns like high hell from all the sweat. Plus, you're going to shower and everything afterwards so it's the perfect time for a shave.
Is shaving before PT that big of a deal?

[Copecwby20]

It depends on the NCO/SNCO I guess. I personally don't care. If it's Shop PT or something like that... I guess it doesn't really matter. If its one of those two times a year when the CO/SGTMAJ are gonna be there with us, I'll make sure to slap myself in the face with a razor before showing up. Like most things though, it just really depends on the NCO and whether he spilled his coffee, hit traffic on the way to pt, stubbed his toe or just plain doesn't like you I guess.

[VFFSSGT]

I do not shave before PT either and do not see the big deal... Girls can wear their hair down and I would not ask them to do otherwise.

[Lone_NCO]

I didnt when I PT'd in the morning, but now I PT around noon or the evening so I have already shaved. Like the other posters said though it depends on our your NCOs/SNCOs, I would recommend simply asking about it. As long as your NCOs are good with it, what any other NCO says doesnt really matter in this case.

[coachreese]

Totally depends on the leadership around you. If they recognize your shadow on other days, and have worked with you for a period of time, then they should know what the deal is. Ecpecially at zero dark in the morning. Someone belligerent might ask at that time, "So Sgt, since it's keeping you from being comfortbale at zero dark, should I go shave now and see you at the office for work?" I had to say that because I actually work with Jr Marines that don't mind challeging idiotic rifts from Sgts and above.

[Copecwby20]

Common sense should play into this one, if your CPL/SGT is an uptight prick.... just shave and deal with it. Additionally, if you show up to PT looking like sasquatch because you grow hair like hippies grow weed, you might want to consider shaving.

[Gunny_0848]

Yes you need to shave when you first wake up in the morning regaurdless of whether you are PT'ing or not. It is just a safe bet no matter where you go in the Corps.

[jhb3043]

Yes you need to shave when you first wake up in the morning regaurdless of whether you are PT'ing or not. It is just a safe bet no matter where you go in the Corps.


if you have some kind of section or company, or even battalion PT, you should shave because you're going to be in some kind of formation.

JMO...:rolleyes:

[jhb3043]

Yes you need to shave when you first wake up in the morning regaurdless of whether you are PT'ing or not. It is just a safe bet no matter where you go in the Corps.


if you have some kind of section or company, or even battalion PT, you should shave because you're going to be in some kind of formation.

if you're just going to the gym on your own at 0530, then maybe you can get away with not shaving...

JMO...:rolleyes:

[THORSHAMMER69]

Yes you need to shave when you first wake up in the morning regaurdless of whether you are PT'ing or not. It is just a safe bet no matter where you go in the Corps.

I disagree, leaders need to have some common sense. When does 99% of the population shave? When they take their morning shower. I think anyone who wants their Marines to shave before PT is just being a prick for the sake of being a prick. Just my 2 cents.

[Gunny_0848]

Either being a prick or abiding by and enforcing the Marine Corps grooming standards.. However you want to look at it. I don't care why my Marines shave as long as they do it. I always tell my Marines when they bitch "You don't have to like it you just have to do it."

[USMClifestylenotajob]

I have to agree with Gunny on this one. Shave when you wake before you head out the door. Who knows, you may hurt yourself at PT and end up at medical. Now it's 0900 and you're at sick call looking like a bag of ass. Marines should be prepared for anything at all times.

[KrashKatz]

Electric razor. Doesn't irritate your face when you sweat during pt, however it doesn't give you the same close shave either, but pretty much does the job. Just use your best judgment and don't piss anyone off along the way.

[Gunny_0848]

The best remedy I have found for young burning faces is to get yourself a straw, put it in your mouth, and suck it up!

[THORSHAMMER69]

The best remedy I have found for young burning faces is to get yourself a straw, put it in your mouth, and suck it up!

Like I said...being a prick for the sake of being a prick.:cool:

[ghb2513]

Electric razor. Doesn't irritate your face when you sweat during pt, however it doesn't give you the same close shave either, but pretty much does the job. Just use your best judgment and don't piss anyone off along the way.


I used to just shave with a regular razor and shaving cream the night before PT and then shave again after PT during change over time with an electric razor.

[Gunny_0848]

Like I said...being a prick for the sake of being a prick.:cool:

Someone get this Marine some french cries and a whaaaaaburger..

[THORSHAMMER69]

Someone get this Marine some french cries and a whaaaaaburger..

I'm out now. I could give two shits one way or another. But when I was in, I tried my best to make sure my junior SNCOs acted with common sense and thought about the things they said and did. Your "just suck it up attitude" is fine while you are still in, but there is life after the corps and you have a rude awakening coming if you don't fix your attitude problem before then. I feel sorry for the Marines in your charge, you sound as if you could care less about how they are treated. What a shame.

[MPCpl]

I say shave before pt.

It's already been brought up about different situations you could always find yourself in.

Someone mentioned 99% of the population shaves after its morning shower. 99% of the population DOES NOT shower...we have way to many homeless people and hippies.

Another thought, alot of people like to be clean BEFORE they go to sleep. Civilians do what they want, they aren't dictated 'rules and regulations' for grooming standards like the Military is(specifically USMC).

I personally went out and bought the nicest electric shaver I could find on the market becuase I was sick of my face burning once in awhile after I shaved. Like its been said before me, it will not get as close as a blade but, who cares? do it again later if your called out.

[Gunny_0848]

wow what a bunch of whiney girls in here. I make a suck it up comment and you atart getting but hurt and talking about how I am going to have a rude awakening when i retire.. hahaha You crack me up. Good thing you arent in anymore because you would probably let your Marines lax at everything including their training which would only help them get dead..

[THORSHAMMER69]

I'll I'm saying is that you should use some common sense. Acting as if using common sense while training and interacting with your Marines is a bad thing is pathetic. There is a difference between being lax with your Marines and treating them with a little bit of respect and dignity. I'm not saying that you should let your Marine go crazy and act nasty. I am saying the attitude you display when telling a Marine to "just suck it up" does not reflect good leadership. It shows a lack of concern for the Marines in your charge, and it's sad.

[Gunny_0848]

Don't be sad devil dog..

[Berry5711]

Like many others have said. Just shave, it's not that big of a deal. Either shave the night before or buy an electric (thats what I did). With my electric I usually have to touch it up around chow, but it gets the job done. It doesn't matter if the NCO is an ass or not, if you don't have a shave you are wrong. You have two choices, either shave and not worry about it anymore or take the ass chewing and any punishment that comes with it.

Remember the Corps is as hard as you make it.

[THORSHAMMER69]

Don't be sad devil dog..

Ooooohhhh...I got devil dogged! HAHAHA :tongue:

[topjohn8511]

Ooooohhhh...I got devil dogged! HAHAHA :tongue:

@THORSHAMMER: Ahhh. That's like us older guys getting "carded," isn't it?

The suck it up aspect, when dealing with something as trivial and clear cut as grooming standards, isn't "sad," nor does it make the Gunny any less of a mentor to his subordinates (in my professional opinion). There's many things that we have to simply put up with in this gun club (as you undoubtedly discovered during your time in).

I laughed at the comment about insubordinate conduct toward Sgts ("I had to say that because I actually work with Jr Marines that don't mind challeging idiotic rifts from Sgts and above."). THAT was something that you should find "sad." What kind of leaders/NCOs are we raising that stand by and allow junior Marines to question their orders with smart ass remarks like that? (psssst...it rhymes with "article 91").

Shaving when you get out of the rack in the morning? Yep; that's a no-brainer. Those pesky kevlars can chaff a bit too, but we still make the Marines put the damned things on, don't we? Orders is orders, and they likely won't change much because a select few get a sense of discomfort from shaving (that's been around since day one).

Refusing to slack off on standards and regs doesn't make the Gunny less of a leader, and I don't believe it will leave him unprepared for future employment either. That's MY two cents' worth (your mileage may vary).

Have a great weekend, Devil Dog! (I'm not one of those that finds our titles derogatory).