Can an Army Regulation be trumped?

Look at p. i of the AR. See where it says "By Order of the Secretary of the Army?" That's whose authority is behind the AR. Unless your brigade commander is named Secretary McHugh, Secretary Gates, or President Obama--or unless he has been delegated the authority to make exceptions by the Army G-1 IAW the regulation--he cannot trump an AR. Keep going up the chain, eventually you'll run into someone who can read. If all else fails, write to Stars and Stripes.