San Diego -- The line was out the door as recruits from Company B, 1st Recruit Training Battalion, waited their turn to sit in the barber’s chair aboard Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego Feb. 12.
Within hours of arriving aboard the depot, recruits receive their first buzz-cut, just one step in the transformation of becoming United States Marines.
“I remember the first haircut I got here was quick but it wasn’t too bad,” said recruit Maximilian Musick, Platoon 1027, Co. B, 1st RTBn.
Getting a short haircut wasn’t something new for Musick who comes from a family of military tradition. Musick dreamt of becoming a Marine since he was young, so he wore his hair as a high and tight prior to enlisting.
A high and tight is a traditional military hair cut that is characterized by a high fade up to about the temples where the hair is a bit longer.
Recruits receive buzz-cuts, very short almost shaved hair all over, until they reach the end of recruit training.
“It takes away the part of the physical individualism that they have,” said Sgt. Christapher Bess, drill instructor, Plt. 1027, Co. B, 1st RTBn. “Individualism causes them to not want to work together and focus on proving themselves, so when we cut off their hair and they all look the same they’ll start to act the same. It also helps them grow as a team.”
Every week during their stay on the depot, recruits are marched to the barber shop where they receive a quick haircut. While breaking down individualism is one of the most important reasons recruits get weekly haircuts, they are also practical.
“It’s important to get our hair cut every week because it helps with the platoon’s appearance and hygiene,” said Musick. “It also keeps the platoon looking uniform. If we all looked different it would be harder to work together because we’d judge each other by our appearances but since we all look the same we can’t pick each other apart.”
Although this was only their third haircut, Recruits of Co. B seemed to have the routine down as they filed in and out of the barber shop. While they waited for their turn, they took the down time to further prepare themselves for the upcoming events and challenges they’ll face during the grueling training schedule.
“While recruits wait they aren’t allowed to talk, they stand up straight at attention with eyes forward,” said Musick. “They study their Marine Corps knowledge like history, uniform regulations and review what we’ve learned so far. Sometimes we study drill cards to prepare for final drill.”
Recruits of Co. B are still at the beginning of their journey in becoming United States Marines, but through hard work and perseverance they will see a day where they no longer have to get a buzz-cut at the barber shop.