Do Looks Matter in the US Army? Yes

Standards shape culture, but for too long Soldiers have been operating in the gray areas of expired ALARACTs and inconsistent enforcement. In this clip from Episode 175, Sergeant Major of the Army Mike Weimer, SGM Laurin Nabors, and SGM Alex Kupratty explain to host, Fran Racioppi, the difference between an Army Directive and a Regulation in AR 670-1 and why it matters for every Soldier in uniform.

They break down why senior Army leadership made the call to act now, why clarity and consistency are essential to building professionalism, and how Directive 670-1 sets the foundation for a shared understanding across the force. It’s not just about compliance, it’s about commitment, and the culture that grows when everyone knows exactly what “right” looks like.

Meet The Guests:
-SMA Michael Weimer
-SGM Laurin Nabors
-SGM Alex Kupratty

Highlights:
00:00 Introduction
1:12 Army Directive Versus Regulation in 670-1
03:20 Why Now?

Catch the Full Episode Here: https://youtu.be/qO12Jcnu4z4

Standards set the foundation for any professional organization. The baseline for professionalism in the US Army is Army Regulation 670-1; Wear and Appearance of Army Uniforms and Insignia. This regulation dictates the standard for every Soldier, regardless of rank or position. AR 670-1 has long been a hot topic of discussion among Soldiers and leaders at every level; and too often left open to interpretation. Until now…

At the direction of senior Army leadership, Army Directive 670-1 has been released to clarify these standards and provide shared understanding between Soldiers and leaders to know what ‘right’ looks like.

To explain the changes and how they will affect every member of the Army, I sat down with Sergeant Major of the Army Mike Weimer, SGM Laurin Nabors and SGM Alex Kupratty. The SMA shares the “why” behind personal grooming standards and the importance of doing the little things that develop a culture of commitment from compliance.

SGM Kupratty breaks down the definition of professional soldier from the experienced warriors of 75th Ranger Regiment to the new Privates of 4th Infantry Division. SGM Nabors provides the details on what’s changing, when and how the new standards are expected to be enforced. She also shares her journey from an Army Reserve heavy equipment operator to the halls of the Pentagon.

This episode is about redefining what it means to serve in the greatest fighting force the world has ever seen and why development of a Warfighting culture starts with how a Soldier presents themself each and every day.

The Jedburgh Podcast and the Jedburgh Media Channel are an official program of The Green Beret Foundation.

The Jedburgh Podcast is brought to you by University of Health and Performance, developing the next generation of fitness entrepreneurs from our Veterans.

Learn more on The Jedburgh Podcast Website. Subscribe to us and follow @jedburghpodcast on all social media. Watch the full video versions on YouTube.

The opinions presented on the The Jedburgh Podcast and the Jedburgh Media Channel are the opinions of our guests and creator and host Fran Racioppi. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Green Beret Foundation and the Green Beret Foundation assumes no liability for their accuracy; nor does Green Beret Foundation endorse any political candidate or any political party.

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