Welcome Sgt Andrew. We appreciate your service.
Going sly isn't much of a step from your "boot" haircut. That extra 1/16th inch seems like a big deal, but if you go "boot" for a couple weeks, then go sly, it will be such a non-issue that you will be surprised.
Take it from someone who has been there. Between being shot at, and going sly, I agonized more over going sly. But it turned out not to matter at all.