Since World War I, soldiers were required to cut their hair for uniformity, hygiene, and safety. Historically, short hair was the best way to avoid lice infestations among close quarters and eventually became a way for everyone to feel a sense of unity. However, this policy was later bypassed by a National Guard member: Moses Brave Heart. He was a part of the Oglala Sioux tribe and hoped for accommodation relating to his hair length, which is an important part of his culture.
Brave Heart grew up on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. Among him weren’t many positive role models for himself or his people. This inspired him to become that role model and join the law enforcement to inspire the Native Americans on the reservation to become successful. Brave Heart saw the National Guard as a way to kick-start his career into law enforcement and was also striving to gain an accommodation relating to his culture.
Brave Heart says that Army hair standards became an important conversation when his uncle passed away and his hair was far too short to cut off ceremonially for his passing. His main goal with pushing this accommodation was to return to the reservation and show the others that he could become successful. He began striving for this accommodation in October 2022 and it was successfully passed in May 2023. This also allowed him to wear traditional Sioux head decorations in Army portraits, such as an eagle feather. This accommodation extended to all Native American soldiers, and they are held to the same hair grooming standards of women in the army, including length and style.
He often experienced questionable looks and inquiries from his fellow soldiers, due to the unnatural look of an Army male with long hair. However, he saw this as an opportunity to talk about his culture. He explains further in the following quote from an interview with Task and Purpose News, “We view it as an extension of our spirit, is what I always tell them. The only time we would cut it off is if we lose someone close to us. It would be part of the grieving process to cut it off. And what we do with it is either to burn it or burial.” He transferred to South Dakota Guard’s 235th Police Company shortly after serving four years in the South Dakota National Guard.
Image Source: https://taskandpurpose.com/news/soldier-long-hair-native-heritage/
Source: https://taskandpurpose.com/news/soldier-long-hair-native-heritage/