Air Force investigating racist text to airman saying he needed 'white complexion' for assignment

[Demovictory9]

“We won’t be sending your name up for [redacted] at the squadron,” a White technical sergeant allegedly texted a Black senior airman at the 56th Equipment Maintenance Squadron on Wednesday. When the senior airman asked for a specific reason why, the technical sergeant said, “We personally do not feel as if you are a good choice for the squadron. You currently have a shaving waiver which isn’t a professional image, and I think the air force is looking for somebody of white complexion and with the image that the air force needs.”

While the Air Force prohibits male members from growing beards, waivers are issued to airmen who, for medical or religious reasons, are not able to shave in line with regulations. For example, Air Force doctors can allow airmen to grow well-kept beards if they suffer from painful razor bumps, a skin condition that affects many Black men. However, many airmen with shaving waivers have reported being prejudiced against despite their legitimate condition or religious beliefs.

In response, the senior airman said that “this is the third job that has been held over my head due to my looks, and that’s something based on personal preference.

“I will not talk about it any further than what was just said,” he added. “I know the commander would not agree with this.”

An Air Force spokesperson said base leadership is looking into the matter.

“The 56th Fighter Wing is currently investigating the allegations of misconduct purportedly in a text message interaction between two Luke AFB Airmen published online yesterday,” said Sean Clements, chief of media relations for the Luke-based 56th Fighter Wing. “Without going into specifics of the investigation, we can categorically say that Luke Airmen are held to a high standard of conduct and that we maintain a zero-tolerance policy regarding acts of discrimination based on race.”

https://taskandpurpose.com/news/air-force-shaving-waiver-racism/

[Tickle]

1. What's a shaving waiver? Nt

[Docreed2003]

3. It allows people to forgo shaving, either for skin issues or for religions reasons

[Roxi]

4. It's a common waiver for men

Especially Black men, who often develop ingrown facial hair when they shave too closely.

It’s also used by men of any color who struggle with severe acne or other skin conditions, since it’s very difficult to get a close shave when your face is covered with scars and/or open wounds.

That text was offensive on many levels, and the Air Force needs to apologize to everyone they’ve ignored and undermined due to their physical appearance. People can do their jobs without looking like perfect human specimens.

[InstantGratification]

5. It's a medical waiver

I'm white, but I'm borderline on this myself. If you have extremely curly hair, when you shave, as the whiskers grow back they curl back into the skin. This amounts to ingrown hairs causing multiple small infections (pimple like) on the neck. The next (and subsequent) time you shave, (since you're expected to shave daily) you cut yourself constantly shaving the pimple like infections. I'm not a medical professional, but I would speculate that this could cause scarring, infections and other issues. African Americans are, by far, the most likely to suffer this. A shaving waiver is issued by a doctor to protect the service member from this. Chain of command members (with no medical expertise) often view the unshaven service member as unprofessional and it impacts their career.

[bucolic_frolic]

2. Growing a beard while black

[uponit7771]

6. " zero-tolerance policy regarding acts of discrimination based on race." Except for the Army I got a

... feeling this isn't true.

[jimfields33]

8. 100 percent true since this is the air force

Weird that a lower ranked person can dictate whose chosen from a command. Typically that’s done at a headquarter in another state.

[uponit7771]

10. +1,

[Phoenix61]

11. Pretty standard at the AFB I worked at.

Tech Sgt’s each put in a name and the list gets sent up the chain. If is was a wing wide thing the list would go through the First Sergeant who would send one name further up the chain. A bad TSgt can really screw up an Airman’s career.

[Marcuse]

7. Sarge did put that in writing.

[Baitball Blogger]

9. The Air Force will probably be the last branch in the military to get rid of its racist

leanings.

[Solly Mack]

12. Damn