"SUBJECT: Grooming Standards for Facial Hair: The grooming standard set by the US military is to be clean shaven and neat in presentation for a proper military appearance. When authorizing individual exceptions, commanders must apply consistent criteria and appropriately consider the Department's interests in safety and uniformity. Effective immediately, I am directing all the Military Departments to implement the following minimum requirements concerning medical exceptions to the grooming standards requiring Service members to be clean shaven: Military medical officers will provide a written recommendation concerning a shaving waiver to the commander who is the final approval authority. Service members with an approved shaving waiver will participate in a medical treatment plan. Unit commanders will initiate separation of Service members who require a shaving waiver after more than one year of medical treatment."