The barbers aboard the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) (Ike) know a good haircut can mean much more than passing an inspection.

These Sailors show pride in the service they provide with a combination of razor-sharp focus and careful dexterity that serve as a display of dedication to their craft, the importance of which can be overlooked at times.

Since the mid-1800s, a number of revisions and changes in military grooming standards have remained in a state of constant evolution. Despite these continuous changes, it has remained constant that Sailors must maintain these standards and it all starts with the first thing people notice outside of the uniform: a haircut.

"When I spoke to the detailer, I remember telling him I've always prided myself on knowing the value of keeping up a good appearance," recalled Ship's Serviceman Seaman James Smith. "I already had an interest in cutting hair and I wanted a rating where I could affect a lot of people. So when the detailer explained to me that a ship's serviceman could be a barber, I saw an opportunity to develop a useful skill and achieve a personal goal, so I took it."

During Ike's 2016 deployment, a diverse group of six barbers tended to more than 5,000 Sailors and provided them with a variety of haircuts. Roughly averaging a combined effort of 50 haircuts per day between the junior enlisted and the khaki shop. Most importantly, the barbers consistently contributed to overall morale across the ship.

When asked how something as common as a haircut could affect ship morale, Ship's Servicemen Seaman Thomas E. Dixon replied, "Everyone knows that a haircut can enhance the way you look, but the effects aren't always cosmetic. When you change the way the world sees you, a change takes place in the way you feel and often the way you perform your job."

Ship's Serviceman Seaman Bobby Walker added, "When you feel confident in your appearance, the way you see your surroundings improves. When others see that change in you it rubs off on them, which ultimately affects the ships morale for the better."

Many Sailors aboard Ike speak highly in regards to the consistent quality displayed in both the khaki and enlisted barbershop.

"When I enter the barbershop I feel like I'm at home. I can relax a little, enjoy some conversation, and the haircuts aren't bad at all," Logistics Specialist 3rd Class Kaseem Jackson said. "It's always a good sign when you never have to worry."

Jackson's sentiment is shared by thousands of others aboard Ike. The positive comments jotted in the customer logs reinforce the idea that a visit to the barbershop offers an opportunity for worn out Sailors to refresh before returning to their daily routine. Whether it's at sea or in port, Ike's barbershops remain fully manned and operational, ensuring Sailors are able to walk inside, comforted by the knowledge that they are in safe hands.

Ike is underway during the sustainment phase of the Optimized Fleet Response Plan (OFRP).

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