An AH-64 Apache helicopter in flight. A recent Apache flight in South Carolina raised eyebrows for its low flight path, but an investigation was suspended by Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth. (Shutterstock/Nithul)
Pete Hegseth’s Pentagon Priorities: Clean Shaving, Dangerous Flying
The Pentagon has announced new restrictions on beard growth among sailors—and lifted the suspensions of eight helicopter pilots who conducted a risky maneuver over a parade in South Carolina.
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth is showing where his priorities lie this month, as he made clear that there is no place in the United States Navy for sailors with medical issues that make shaving difficult or even painful.
At the same time, Hegseth has lifted the suspension of eight Apache helicopter pilots who took part in potentially dangerous flying maneuvers during a July 4th flyover of a South Carolina beach.
“Effective immediately, the suspension of all involved South Carolina pilots has been lifted,” Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell wrote on X on Friday morning. “Carry on, Patriots.”
The two events have no connection, but they highlight the extent to which Hegseth—a former Fox News weekend morning show host—has put his personal stamp on the Pentagon, and reshaped its working culture to his own preferences.
No Consequences for Risky South Carolina Helicopter Pass
Earlier in the week, eight Apache helicopter pilots from the South Carolina National Guard were suspended from flight duties after videos of their attack aircraft making an extremely low pass during the “Salute from the Shore” event went viral.
The South Carolina National Guard initially announced that it would review the flight profile and that the aviators would be subjected to a temporary flight suspension, something that was further described as a “routine, non-punitive safety measure,” and not a disciplinary action.
“These Soldiers remain in good standing with the SCNG and continue daily duties on the ground. Safety is our top priority,” the SC National Guard further clarified, following comments from the community.
Footage showed that the helicopters were just feet above the beachgoers and swimmers as they passed over Pawleys Island.
Although it appeared that those on the beach were treated to a rare thrill to see the attack helicopters fly so close to the ground, safety was the initial concern. If there had been trouble with any of the helicopters, the low altitude would have made it far harder for the pilots to sort it out before hitting the ground—and plowing into the many spectators below.
Helicopter crashes are fairly common, even among well-trained pilots. On July 1, a US Navy MH-60S Seahawk helicopter crashed in the Arabian Sea, resulting in the loss of squadron commander Cmdr. Gabriel Edwards. Last month, an AH-64 Apache went down while patrolling the waters near the Strait of Hormuz, with both crewmen rescued. However, in April, two other Apache attack helicopters collided mid-air in Alaska, killing three soldiers and injuring a fourth.
Nine others were killed in March 2023 when a pair of US Army Black Hawk helicopters collided at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, during a routine training mission.
This does not mean that helicopters are not worth using, but rather that they must be used with caution—with safety as the utmost concern at all times. This is a philosophy the Army and National Guard have historically taken to heart.
“Our absolute top priority is, and always will be, the safety of our personnel and the communities we fly over,” Maj. Lisa Allen, spokesperson for the South Carolina National Guard, told WBTW.com on Thursday evening. “Conducting thorough reviews when questions arise is how we maintain those high safety standards and ensure we can safely participate in future public events. We appreciate the community’s patience, understanding, and continued support as we conduct a comprehensive review of this event.”
Such a review would not have necessarily faulted the pilots. Presumably the helicopter had a scheduled flight profile, prepared further up the chain of command; either the pilots followed the flight profile or did not, something an investigation would have determined.
Some lawmakers in the Palmetto State didn’t wait for the investigation, however. That included Republican Rep. Russell Fry (R-SC), who represents the state’s 7th District, where the incident took place.
“The @SCNationalGuard needs to drop this review and restore these pilots immediately,” Fry wrote on X. “Millions of Americans applauded the incredible display during the Salute to the Shore flyover while expressing complete admiration for them & appreciation for our country and military. These pilots should be celebrated, not sanctioned.”
Hegseth agreed, writing on Thursday evening, “We’ll fix this.” On Friday morning, it was announced that the suspension had been lifted.
This is the second time this year that Hegseth has intervened following an incident involving US Army aviators. In April, the secretary announced that the US Army would not investigate two pilots’ apparently unauthorized flyby of singer Kid Rock’s house in Tennessee.
Under Hegseth, the Pentagon Is Firmly Anti-“Beardo”
The other half of the insight in Hegseth’s thinking is his continued efforts to strengthen the grooming standards in the US military.
In late June, the US Naval Academy announced that female midshipmen would once again be required to cut their hair to below chin length. That policy had been in place since the first female midshipmen were admitted in 1976, but was retired in 2019, as long as other grooming standards were adhered to.
This month, according to a newly-released NAVADMIN memorandum, Navy sailors would be strictly required to stay clean-shaven. According to the memo, sailors can be granted shaving waivers for 90 days, which can be extended up to one year. After that point, those sailors unable to meet the grooming standards must be clean-shaven or face separation from the service. Sailors who receive a shaving waiver must be on a treatment plan, and only commanding officers may issue the waivers.
The new memorandum comes on the heels of a similar memo issued by the Marine Corps, which gave Marines one year to sort out any dermatological problems from shaving before separating them from the service.
According to USNI News, approximately 6,400 sailors, mostly Black men, have been diagnosed with chronic skin conditions such as pseudofolliculitis barbae, which can make shaving painful.
The US Navy is also reviewing its policy on religious accommodation, which could impact another 1,000 sailors.
Although Hegseth has generally avoided recent comment on the particulars of the beard policy, that initiative bears his fingerprints as well. Last year, in an address to senior US military leadership at Quantico, Virginia, the defense secretary vowed, “No more beardos. The age of rampant and ridiculous shaving profiles is done.”
A Good-Looking Military Is Important—but a Competent One Is Better
These two examples of Hegseth’s thinking show that appearance matters deeply to the defense secretary—hardly a new idea for him, given his past history as a television host and his decision to install a makeup studio in the Pentagon.
And Hegseth may have a point. A professional-looking military is impressive—which may explain why last year’s unimpressive US Army parade in Washington, DC, is something that Hegseth and President Donald Trump may prefer to forget.
Still, while the acrobatics during the Salute from the Shore event were impressive, had anything gone wrong, it could have been tragic. Patriotism isn’t and should never be mutually exclusive from public safety.
And Hegseth, who has pushed for a return to a culture that is built around the “warrior ethos,” may have missed the memo that beards were once the ultimate sign of manliness and military professionalism!
About the Author: Peter Suciu
Peter Suciu has contributed to dozens of newspapers, magazines and websites over a 30-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a contributing writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. He is based in Michigan. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: Editor@nationalinterest.org.
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