Are grooming standards in the military outdated and without purpose?

Honestly I like the idea but we have the rules in place. The reason we don't relax is because it keeps people sharp. We teach people the pay attetion to all the details not just what pleases them. Long hair take longer to clean and in most cases we don't always have the time or resources for long showers.

Had tats for many years but no sleeves and not visible. Would like a ZZ Top beard. Appearance and professional image though is important today as well. Discipline is already tested in more ways than one...punctuality, job standard, expectation, and accountability are missing a lot COL Lee Flemming

No, the military should not bend the rules to accommodate this dysfunctional culture.

Conventional vs SpecOps... Two different communities... As SpecOps we needed relaxed standards while deployed. We often worked within the local clans. The clan leadership didn't trust a clean shave... That was a boy to them... They only spoke to men. Men have beards. That's my take on it.

While many of you may agree that "beards for all" should be considered. The men posted on the topic pic are men with a unique skill sets that have contributed to a major part in the war. The whole beard thing is like the black beret. They are not as cool as everyone thinks they are. You only desire one because you cant have one. Once everyone gets one, I can guarantee you that you will not want to wear it.

the real reason for short hair in the military?????? LICE, WWI lots of men in barracks together, the only reason for the the short hair is LICE

I remember having a large beard, but it was more a necessity when working outdoors all the time in Antarctica. They were legal service wide then after Zumwalt came in. I did shave it after PCSing to a MC base primarily to avoid all the side grief. Part of the grooming discussion revolves about the term "uniform". Like what we wear, there's a push to mostly look the same as well. We see it in female hair above the collar, male hair cut standards, etc. Tats have been regulated then unregulated to death mostly because if you want recruits, you have to allow it. So we've been into an operational necessity mode for some time with beards. Problem is some of our patriotic Operators get gigged on leave when they're heading back soon by the REMFs. Bottom line, I never got my buns in a wad over it with people not in my unit. I wouldn't know what their rotation was.

Bring the beards back and let me grow my dang mustache in a fancy manly fashion! ;)

Clean shaven faces keep the military looking professional. Arguably this is the only real reason for it. The "gas mask" argument is completely invalid. Not based on the fact that a beard breaks a seal, it does - it's minuscule, but you wouldn't want to take that chance. I say it is invalid because unless you are going to an area where such a threat is likely, you'd have time to shave. If you don't have two minutes to shave, you will probably get hit before you get a mask (at least from a Navy standpoint). Outside of those areas where such an event could take place, there's no argument outside of a professional look. The military looks more uniform and professional when clean shaven. We also look younger. However, beards have their advantages when applied with age. A well kept beard an on older higher ranking individual would, in my opinion, make him look more experienced. Beards command respect. I've seen great looking beards and really crappy ones. I've seen some who look better with breads and some who look better clean shaven. At the end of the day, it's all up to our top leadership. This really isn't a safety concern anymore - with very limited exception to certain places (I'm looking at you Syria).

Most of you addressed a combat scenario and as a Viet Nam and Gulf War veteran, i can tell you stories on each theater, but the bottom line is quite simple; rules have to be lax if you been outside base camp for an extended period of time. What really rattles my cage is when i am at a civilian airport and see our troops lounge in the waiting areas or hallways completely disregarding common sense and look like scum bags instead of wearing their respective uniform with pride. Yes, I am old school, "back in the day," one could not wear "fatigues" outside the post and you always traveled in your class A or B's. I know I will anger a bunch of folks, but BDU's should not be worn in public specially since they are not meant to be pressed. BTW, I have respectfully admonished both officers and enlisted if i felt that their uniform or their behavior was not proper and I will continue to do so until I die!!

Some of us old farts, might have a slightly different viewpoint. Especially the seagoing types. In my day beards we acceptable in both the Navy and in my service the CG as long as they were neat and closely trimmed. Likewise, Tats were accepted as a rite of passage. Many got them to commemorate cruises, new ships, making rate, or just because they were drunk and stupid on liberty. We were no less professional for doing it, nor were we considered less professional by the public.

Some things are obviously wrong, sloppy and unkempt, unless that is needed to blend in, long hair or beards when working around rotating machinery or as part of a combat, marine security unit, etc. that might allow someone to grab you by it. That sort of thing, but otherwise, I don't have a big issue.