Video of a group of US troops waiting in line for haircuts raises questions about military social distancing
- A video obtained by a Task & Purpose editor appears to show dozens of service members standing close together as they wait for haircuts at Camp Pendleton in San Diego.
- Some appeared closer than the social distancing guidelines given by military leaders in recent weeks.
- An statement from the base said Marines were now following Corps guidelines for using masks when entering commissaries and other shopping centers, despite the video showing nearly all the people in line not wearing a mask.
- Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.
A video obtained by a Task & Purpose editor appeared to show military service members huddled together and waiting in line for a haircut on base.
The video, which was taken on April 5 and sent to deputy editor Jared Keller, purportedly showed dozens of service members waiting for their haircuts at Camp Pendleton in San Diego. Some of the service members appeared closer than allowed by social-distancing guidelines given by military leaders in recent weeks.
The Corps has gotten intense scrutiny compared to other military branches because of continued adherence to Corps grooming standards amid the coronavirus pandemic. The Marines arguably have the strictest guidelines of all the service branches, as reflected by the not-officially-mandatory yet frequent visits Marines make to the barbershop.
While other amenities, such as gyms and restaurants, were shuttered on Marine Corps bases throughout the country, barbershops still appeared to be open.
Defense Secretary Mark Esper in late March declined to implement a blanket guideline for troops and said "every situation is unique."
"It's unique by the type of unit. It's unique by the mission. It's unique by the location and any other number of factors," Esper said, adding that he was trusting commanders to make prudent decisions.
Meanwhile, other branches implemented their own changes in light of social-distancing concerns. US Navy leaders in March allowed commanding officers the discretion to loosen their standards for "additional hair length and bulk on the sides, top and back of the head." In addition to the relaxed grooming policy, the Navy said it was canceling a physical fitness tests and other exams for upcoming promotions.
In Camp Pendleton, the Marine Corps said the base "always put the health and well-being of all personnel and their families as its top priority."
"Our mission has not changed, and how we operate has not changed as well," Jonathan Gibbs, a police officer with the Provost Marshal's Office, said in a statement on April 8. "What has changed is the proper gear we wear to handle situations."
The base's statement added that it was following the Marine Corps' guidelines for using masks when entering commissaries and other shopping centers, even though the video later shared by Keller showed nearly all the people in line not wearing a mask.
Asked about the video during a briefing on Tuesday, Esper said the Marine Corps' top officer, Commandant Gen. David Berger, would be receiving a call from him.
As of Monday, over 2,500 US troops have tested positive for the coronavirus, and more than 75 have been hospitalized.
Do you have a personal experience with the coronavirus you'd like to share? Or a tip on how your town or community is handling the pandemic? Please email covidtips@businessinsider.com and tell us your story.Get the latest coronavirus business & economic impact analysis from Business Insider Intelligence on how COVID-19 is affecting industries.