Ottawa, Canada- The Canadian Forces have announced a new dress code citing that Dress Instructions are about fifty years old and overdue for revision.
According to the Canadian Forces, the updated Dress Instructions will take effect in early September 2022.
“The overall aim of the updated Canadian Forces Dress Instructions is to make the policy more inclusive and less prohibitive and to allow CAF Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members increased freedom to make personal choices regarding their appearance, provided that safety and operational effectiveness are always maintained.
In accordance with the Canadian Forces Dress Instructions, Commanders of Commands are delegated the authority to establish rules for the design and wear of their respective operational orders of dress.
Commanders at all levels are charged with ensuring that personnel under their command, whether environmentally or extra-environmentally employed are dressed in accordance with the Canadian Forces Dress Instructions,” read the part statement from the Canadian Forces.
According to the Canadian Forces, there are now no restrictions on the length of hair, the colouring of hair or styled braids. However, long hair must be tied when extending below the top/ridge of the shoulder or that extends below the service dress collar for ceremonial occasions and must not prevent the proper wear of headdress and must not impede the visibility of the member’s face.
Also, CAF members can now have sideburns, beards, moustaches and goatees, or a combination of styles, which is authorized for all members of the CAF from recruitment to release. There is no maximum or minimum length. Only, that they must be kept neatly groomed and symmetrical in style while always complying with safety requirements and operational requirements.
Tattoos are also now permitted on the face as long as they conform to the regulations outlined in Section 2 of Appearance, which states that tattoos that the member knows, or ought to know, are associated with criminal activities such as criminal gangs, tattoos that promote and/or express, on the basis of a prohibited ground of discrimination as defined in the Canadian Human Rights Act (CHRA), such as hatred, violence, discrimination, or harassment, and tattoos that a CAF member knows, or ought to know, promote and/or express racism, sexism, misogyny, xenophobia, homophobia, ableism, or sexually explicit material shall be prohibited.
Ear piercings, hoops and spacers are authorized but can be no more than 2.5 cm in length from the bottom of the ear. Spacers must not extend 2.5 cm in diameter in all ceremonial orders of dress and only one single stud type in each ear is permitted in the lobe which is not to exceed 1 cm.
A backpack can also be worn slung over both shoulders, or over the left shoulder as long as it leaves the right arm free to salute.
