Army

Beauty News

Should the Army Ban French Manicures, Ponytails, and Earrings?

Recently, Sergeant Major of the Army Raymond Chandler posted a message on Facebook saying that he and his staff will be changing Army grooming standards over the next few months and asking Internet denizens to "give me your thoughts on earrings for females in ACUs [Army combat uniforms], or if French-tipped fingernails should be allowed."

Recently, Sergeant Major of the Army Raymond Chandler posted a message on Facebook saying that he and his staff will be changing Army grooming standards over the next few months and asking Internet denizens to "give me your thoughts on earrings for females in ACUs [Army combat uniforms], or if French-tipped fingernails should be allowed." Since then, there's also been discussion about making ponytails verboten, and Chandler told the Army Times, "I would assume there are going to be some changes. Exactly what they are it’s too early to tell.”

In recent years, the Army has loosened restrictions on everything from piercings to visible tattoos (you can now have them on your hands and neck), and Chandler also suggested that he would consider changing those standards. However, given the fact that men in the Army are allowed mustaches and anyone can have knuckle tattoos, it seems a bit odd to deny women nice-looking hands and comfortable hair. What do you say? Should the US Army be taking steps like these to control its soldiers looks?

News

Picture It: Army Pink

Activists dressed in pink army uniforms held up signs during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing today, where John McCain led the fight to keep "don't ask, don't tell" from being repealed.

Activists dressed in pink army uniforms held up signs during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing today, where John McCain led the fight to keep "don't ask, don't tell" from being repealed.

Shopping

The Look For Less: J Brand Rolled Army Chinos

Are you on team green?
J Brand at ShopStyle

Are you on team green? The green trend, that is. If so, you should make room for these J Brand Santa Cruz Crop Chinos ($216) in your closet. They're exceptionally cool and comfortable, not to mention right on trend. You can dress them up with high-heeled sandals or down with flip-flops or sneakers. But, sticking to my mantra: why pay more when you can pay less?


To see the look for less, read more

Military

Miss England to Drop Swimsuit, Add Sports

For its annual swimsuit edition, Sports Illustrated might pretend that posing in a bathing suit counts as an athletic activity, but that won't suffice for Miss England's new sports challenge.

For its annual swimsuit edition, Sports Illustrated might pretend that posing in a bathing suit counts as an athletic activity, but that won't suffice for Miss England's new sports challenge. The pageant has decided to ax the swimsuit competition and add sports.

After Katrina Hodge — a soldier in the British army — won the title of Miss England last year, the pageant decided to ditch the sexy portion after 50 years. She's encouraging the move, saying: "I think it's nerve-racking enough for girls to get up on a stage and speak, let alone appear in a swimsuit." Katrina, who is sometimes called Army Barbie, will oversee the sports competition that will replace it.

Does this pageant progress surprise you?


Look of the Day

Look of the Day: Disarming In Army

TheStyleSample may be wearing a military-inspired outfit, but to me she's disarming in army.

TheStyleSample may be wearing a military-inspired outfit, but to me she's disarming in army. Her look is layering done so right. First, I love the green bustier top; in fact, I tried something similar during a recent vintage-shopping run. The oversize khaki shirt is also super cool and tames the sexiness of the bustier. Her newsboy cap and boyfriend jeans pull in masculinity while her sandals and jewels keep things girlie.

Unfortunately she didn't give us the details of her look so come back and tell us!

Congrats to TheStyleSample!

Everyone else, submit your looks and I might feature you on FabSugar!


News

Army Suicides Likely Surpass Combat Deaths in January

When an Army official says "This is terrifying.

When an Army official says "This is terrifying. We do not know what's going on," there's a problem. It may be looking at the grimmest suicide statistics yet. If the seven confirmed suicides plus 17 pending cases are compared to the 16 combat deaths in January, it seems the Army's previous fear may be reality: more deaths by suicide than combat.

Col. Kathy Platoni, the Army's chief psychologist, cites Winter weather for the sudden rise, but with four suicides last January, that seems tangential at best. More likely, she says, the culprit is multiple deployments, disrupted mental-health care, and the stigma attached to taking antidepressants and seeking therapy.

After record suicide numbers in 2008 (128), the Army is taking more precautions. It will soon begin screening all soldiers to identify those at risk for suicide. A program launching this month will help soldiers recognize suicide signs and employ intervention methods, and another in the Spring will focus on prevention. New training will also prepare soldiers and families to cope with war before, during, and after deployment.

While encouraging, these steps seem so basic and obvious, I do wonder what they did before.

Source

Humor

Join The Army, Get The Gals

In America, you're told to "Be All That You Can Be" by joining the Army.

In America, you're told to "Be All That You Can Be" by joining the Army. In Ukraine, I guess that translates into being a ladies' man. The following is a recruitment video for the Ukrainian armed forces. It's so over the top (dry ice and all), it's good. No translation necessary.