WASHINGTON — The U.S. Army announced an update to its appearance, grooming, and uniform wear standards policy in a new directive resulting from a force-wide review of military standards. The updated policy clarifies existing standards and establishes new standards, emphasizing military appearance as a reflection of discipline, professionalism, and a shared commitment to the Army’s values.

“What sets the U.S. Army apart is our professionalism, and that’s a direct reflection of committed Soldiers who adhere to and enforce the standards,” said Sgt. Maj. of the Army, Michael Weimer.

“This definitive guidance gives leaders the tools they need to do just that. You don’t have to memorize it, but you should know what right looks like.”

Key changes include precise definitions for hairstyles, including authorized lengths, styles, and accessories for both male and female soldiers. Standards for cosmetics, fingernails, and jewelry have also been clarified. The directive also provides clarified standards for uniform and insignia wear and body composition assessments.

The new policy was informed and developed by a representative group of leaders and stakeholders from across the Army. There was an overwhelming consensus on the need to realign all Army standards with warfighting priorities and eliminate ambiguity to allow shared understanding of the standards.

Soldiers will adhere to updated standards within 30 days of the date of this directive. Commanders, supported by NCOs, have the authority to enforce appearance, uniform, and body composition standards consistent with the intent of the new directive.

Related Links

Army Directive 2025-18: Appearance, Grooming and Army Body Composition Program Standards

Army Policy Updates: Grooming and Appearance One-Pager

By U.S. Army Public Affairs

FORT LEAVENWORTH, Kan. — The Harding Project is consolidating gains after generating multiple wins over the last eighteen months to strengthen the Army profession by reinvigorating professional writing.

Fifteen Harding Fellows and civilian editors from the branch journals joined the project’s directors and Army University Press staff for the second Harding Project workshop from Aug. 18-20, 2025, at Fort Leavenworth.

Four of the fellows are the first to experience the new three-year broadening opportunity program, or BOP.

The expanded Harding Project BOP involves earning a Master of Science in Journalism and Mass Communications at the University of Kansas before returning to their assigned center of excellence to serve as the editor-in-chief of that journal.

Army University Press, which is responsible for the management of the Harding Project, coordinated and hosted the event.

Attendees heard from Maj. Kyle Atwell, Harding Project director, on the rapid progress made since the summer of 2024 and discussed the way ahead.

Working groups addressed items like the growing use of artificial intelligence in professional writing, marketing the journals and program, acquiring high-quality articles relevant to today’s Army and technical training for publishing.

Throughout the three days, Col. Andrew Steadman, Army University Press director, emphasized the various leadership roles the fellows must fill to ensure success of both their respective journal and the Harding Project at-large.

“What you all are in this program are enablers. This whole project is about telling people across the force that the ideas they have about leadership, artificial intelligence and future warfare have the potential to impact others,” he said. “Right now, there is someone sitting at Fort Bragg that has a solution to a problem that someone in Korea has. How do we connect those two?”

Atwell elaborated on the importance of the Harding Project and its impact on the joint force.

“I truly believe in the mission. We are in an interwar period. Interwar periods are an opportunity to learn lessons, that during [a conflict], we are going to have to learn through American blood. This is our chance to capture those lessons, to learn and to innovate,” he said.

A milestone for the Harding Project was the launch of the Line of Departure website, which provides a centralized, web and mobile-friendly access point for all Army professional journals.

The website, along with the Harding Project Substack, continues to see a growth in readership while the branch journals have seen significant increases in writing submissions.

Col. Ethan Diven, the Army University provost, emphasized the support the fellows have. He also explained the importance of exploring topics and challenges to develop how the Army and workforce develops. “The chief has charged us to transform the way we think, we fight, we deliver professional military education. Part of that is through communication,” he said.

The virtual keynote speaker, retired Lt. Gen. James Dubik, stressed the importance of continuing to encourage others to write, highlighting that senior leaders need the perspectives of junior leaders.

“Our profession is an intergenerational profession. We learn from each other,” Dubik said.

The changing character of war is impacting every facet of the Army and there is no limit to the topics Soldiers can write about, Dubik explained, to include implications for the professions and all the technology associated with the fourth industrial revolution.

“There are huge changes that are at play and only those who are in the field with their fingers on the pulse of these changes can write about this, and talk about this, and express this,” he said.

If you are a member of the armor, field artillery, medical, signal/cyber, protection or aviation branch and are interested in applying for the program, visit the Line of Departure website. The window for applicants for the Harding Fellows 2026 Cohort is open through Friday, Aug. 29, 2025.

By Jessica Brushwood, Army University Public Affairs Office