ARMY DIR 2026-09 — Grooming Standards And Religious Accommodation
ARMY DIR 2026-09 governs Army grooming standards and the review and processing of religious accommodation requests.
- Publication number: ARMY DIR 2026-09
- Title: GROOMING STANDARDS AND RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATION
- Date: 05/19/2026
- Proponent: ASA (M&RA)
- Status: ACTIVE
View ARMY DIR 2026-09 on armypubs.army.mil
It addresses facial hair, sideburns, uniform, grooming, and appearance standards, including protective equipment and operational readiness. It requires phased reviews, formal chaplain interviews, sworn statements, and defined processing timelines for religious accommodation requests.
Applies to: This directive applies to the Regular Army, Army National Guard (ARNG)/ Army National Guard of the United States, and U.S. Army Reserve (USAR).
Topics covered
- Facial hair standards
- Sideburn grooming
- Uniform and appearance accommodations
- Religious accommodation requests
- Chaplain interviews
- Religious Basis Tool
- Sincerity assessment
- Phased RA evaluation
Questions and answers
What sideburn length does ARMY DIR 2026-09 require?
Effective immediately, sideburns will be trimmed to above the opening of the ear canal. (paragraph 4)
What must a Soldier demonstrate for a religious accommodation request?
When requesting an RA that requires accommodation from uniform, grooming, and appearance standards, the Soldier is responsible for demonstrating a sincerely held religious belief and that Army policy substantially burdens the Soldiers religious exercise. (paragraph 4)
Can secular beliefs support a religious accommodation request?
Soldiers may request an RA based on a sincerely held religious belief only; secular beliefs, no matter how sincerely or closely held, are not grounds for accommodation. (paragraph 4)
How long do previously approved appearance accommodations remain valid during reevaluation?
All uniform, grooming, and appearance RAs approved prior to the date of this directive remain valid until a final decision is rendered by the approval authority. (paragraph 4)
What form must accompany a religious accommodation request?
When making a request, Soldiers must sign a written Department of the Army (DA) Form 2823 (sworn statement) under oath. (paragraph 2)