El Toro Battalion Logo

Grooming & Uniform

Contents

Grooming Standards

Grooming standards are based on several elements including neatness, cleanliness, safety, military image, and appearance. The standards established herein are not intended to be overly restrictive or isolate NSCC personnel from society. The limits set forth are reasonable and ensure that personal appearance contributes to a favorable military image.

NSCC male and female grooming policies recognize the difference between the sexes and establish appropriate grooming and personal appearance standards for male and female officers and cadets.

USNSCC Uniform Manual

Read the official USNSCC Uniform Manual for in-depth grooming and uniforming regulations. It is mandatory that all cadets read and reference this manual.

PDF - READ HERE

Hair Policies

Males

This policy applies to male members in uniform or when wearing civilian clothes in the performance of duty. Keep hair neat, clean, and well-groomed. Members may wear varying hairstyles if they meet the criteria of maximum length and bulk, tapered neck and sides, and correct wear of military headgear.

  • Hair must not be longer than four inches on the top of head.
  • Hair must not touch the ears or collar.
  • Hair must not extend below the eyebrows.
  • Bulk is the distance that the mass of hair protrudes from the scalp. It must not exceed two inches.
  • Hair dye or coloring must look natural and complement the individual. Do not wear faddish styles or outrageous multicolored hair.
  • Do not wear plaited or braided hair in uniform or in a duty status.
  • If worn, sideburns should not extend past the middle of the ear. Do not wear flared sideburns, "muttonchops", "ship's captain", or similar styles.
  • Wigs or hairpieces are allowed while in uniform or duty status only to cover natural baldness or physical disfigurement.

Facial Hair

  • • Unless granted a waiver or religious accommodation, male cadets must be clean-shaven. Exceptions may be allowed with younger cadets.
  • • Uniformed Officers (including Instructors and Midshipmen) may wear mustaches.
  • • Non-Uniformed Instructors and Auxiliary Members may wear mustaches or beards.
Male Hair Chart

Females

This policy applies to female members in uniform or when wearing civilian clothes in the performance of duty. Hairstyles must present a professional, balanced appearance. Do not wear styles with shaved portions of the scalp (other than the neckline), those with designs cut, braided, or parted into the hair, or those dyed using unnatural colors.

  • Hair should be neat, clean, slick back, and not protruding from the head. Use of gel/products is encouraged.
  • Hairstyles must not interfere with headgear or show from under the front edge of headgear.
  • Hair may touch, but not fall below, the lower edge of the back of the collar.
  • Keep long hair, including braids, neatly fastened, pinned, or secured to the head. (Bangs must not extend below eyebrows).
  • Minus the bun, hair bulk as measured from the scalp must not exceed 2 inches.
  • Do not wear widely spaced-braids or pigtails. Single braid/ponytail is allowed ONLY in PT uniform.
  • Tints and highlights must be natural and similar to the current base color. Wigs/extensions must be natural and matching.

Hair Accessories

  • • Wear accessories that match the hair color.
  • • May use a max of 2 small barrettes or clips to secure hair. Bun accessories allowed if completely concealed.
  • • Tuck in and secure all loose ends of hair.
  • • NOT AUTHORIZED: Hairnets (unless food service), Headbands, combs, claws, or butterfly clips.
Female Hair Chart

Fingernails

Males: Should not extend past the fingertips.

Females: Should not exceed 1/4 inch past fingertips. Polish colors must be conservative (nude, light pink, clear).

Jewelry

  • Earrings: Females only. One small matte silver ball per ear, centered.
  • Watch: One authorized, must be conservative.
  • Rings: One per hand authorized.
  • Necklaces: Authorized but cannot be visible.
  • Bracelets: One authorized. No ankle bracelets.

Body Piercing

NOT AUTHORIZED

No articles, other than the earrings for females specified above, shall be attached to any part of the body.

Uniforming Visuals

PT Gear

PT Uniform (PTU)

Consists of an official gold USNSCC t-shirt and all blue, mid-thigh to knee length athletic shorts.

Navy blue sweats or the USNSCC sweatshirt/sweatpants are optional uniform items to be worn with the PTU.

Type IIIs (NWU) Components

NWU Guide 1
NWU Guide 2
NWU Flashes
NWU Tapes
How to wear the NWU (Video Guide)

Dress Uniforms

There are two Dress uniforms: Dress whites (worn in the spring/summer) and Dress Blues (worn in the fall/winter). Sea Cadets and League Cadets have different Dress Uniforms. Male and female dress uniforms are identical.

Sea Cadets
SC Whites SC Whites F SC Blues SC Blues F SC Components
League Cadets
LC Whites LC Blues

Ironing the Dress Uniform

The creases are the same for both Whites and Blues. Creases on the sleeves go inboard; the crease down the front aims outboard. The back has a single inboard crease, while the collar flap gets 3 outboard creases.

Creases

Ironing Map

How to Tie the Neckerchief

The neckerchief must be tied in a square knot at the bottom of the V-neck.

Ribbons & Appurtenances

Ribbons are worn above the left breast pocket of Dress Uniforms, while the ceremonial nameplate is worn above the right breast pocket.

Check your Ribbon Rack in Quarterdeck regularly and update it.
Ribbons Chart

How to Shine Dress Shoes

* This works for NWU boots. For NWU boots, shine only the toe tip. For dress shoes, shine the entire shoe.