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Women in the Canadian Forces are now allowed to have ponytails and have been granted the option to not wear nylons, part of new rules the military hopes will improve morale and attract a younger generation into the ranks.

The new regulations, announced in a brief message sent recently to all military personnel, also grant women the choice to wear flat shoes with their uniforms.

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The changes are about providing members of the Canadian military more personal freedom regarding their individual appearance and how they dress for work, said Canadian Forces Chief Warrant Officer Alain Guimond.

In a statement to Postmedia Guimond said that during visits to military members across the country and on missions overseas the issue of dress regulations often came up in conversations. “As part of the CAF’s leadership, we know that greater control over personal appearance is good for the morale of current CAF members and that it helps us attract future members to our team,” Guimond said. “Overall, we’re trying to better reflect the Canadians we serve while welcoming new members into our ranks.”