Posted on Jan 17, 2014
Is a mustache unprofessional even if within regs??
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I've recently been made aware that it's considered unprofessional for an officer to even have a mustache, regardless of whether or not it's within regulations.<br><br>Where did that come from? I have some serious heartburn with it. As long as my mustache conforms to 670-1 and I'm not trying to push the envelope with it, I should be able to have one. I really don't see it as unprofessional or getting in the way of my doing my job to the best of my ability.<br><br>
Officers
Grooming Standards
Army Regulations
Professionalism
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 39
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Our SGM wouldn't even allow mustaches..Period. A whole platoon in my company had mustached while we were deployed, SGM made them shave them off, only to have them grow them back as soon as SGM left our COP. I was made to shave mine while at JRTC before flying home because "SGM won't let you on the plane with that".
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CW3 (Join to see)
I withdraw the question. Most SGMs and CSMs I have actually worked or had contact with will impose what they like, and not feel the need to justify it at all.
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CW2(P) (Join to see)
Adding to an Army Regulation in MOST cases is taking away from the regulation of topic. Its an Army Regulation for a reason with no asterisk or fine print saying "This is the minimum standard". Now, IF you all were tasked to conduct an upcoming mission and the 'mustache' would hinder performance or counter act progress for a successful mission, then I can see where being 'ordered' to shave is necessary. Just because the officer corps deem having a mustache "unprofessional" doesn't mean they can just throw an AR out of relevance without valid reason: i.e.: "The SGM won't let you on the plane with that." or "That's not an officer thing." But again, mission dictates.
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SFC William Swartz Jr
Having served 26 years and worn a stache from the time I left OSUT in '88, I never once had a CSM in any capacity tell me I couldn't wear one, I had instances where one or another was really anal about ensuring it was not in any way out of reg, but never was I "ordered" to not wear it. Now, I endeavored to always maintain it IAW 670-1, so there was never a big issue with it. It was always kind of understood that on the officer side of the house that they were "taboo", but for Warrants it was always kind of a free for all from what I saw lol. I say as long as it looks professional and is within regs, rock that stache!!
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2LT (Join to see)
Tyrants like that make life miserable and take the fun or off work. I wish they'd leave. Regs are regs, let the men have their mustaches, if it improves morale we win.
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If it looks professional and within regs, it is okay. I'm not sure where it came from, but as far as I know, it is one of those unwritten rules. I have been in a lot of units that will do "Mustache March" which is basically everyone that wants to will grow a mustache within regs during the month of March.
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I've been frustrated by the gate mustaches get since joining. Commanders and NCOs will go completely out of their way to do harm to young soldiers careers for simply sporting some AUTHORIZED facial hair on their upper lip. If that's not toxic I don't know what is. It's a quick indicator to me of what kind of leadership is around. Those who condone usually have decent priorities and higher unit morale. The obsession with punishing mustache wearers is usually an indication of much deeper command problems
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I had one my entire 24 year career. Alot of my leaders hated it. When I was out processing for retirement, I had a CSM stop in his tracks get in my face and say "Nice F@&_-ing stache" in the loudest sarcastic voice he could. I replied "F-@&$-ing Thanks CSM". He was livid....
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I had a moustache when I enlisted in the Navy in 1974, and then I grew it back after boot camp. Of course, this was WAY back in the days of beards, etc. as acceptable. I shaved my moustache off only once in the ensuring 29 years plus and that was on a boomer patrol out of Holy Loch and kept it until I retired as a commander in 2003. My kids cried when they saw the picture of my shaved upper lip as they didn't recognize me. Honestly, I think the Navy is (or at least was) the most liberal when it comes to facial hair. After retiring I worked with a retired Army MG and colonels, and they were insistent that moustaches were not acceptable for officers on active duty--not that any of them grew a moustache after retiring.
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Can't judge a man by the color of his skin, but, by God you can judge him by some hair that grows naturally under his nose? Hmmmm, not getting the connection.
Been rocking mine for 27 years.
Been rocking mine for 27 years.
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CPO (Join to see)
And exactly what part of the job requires there to be no hair under your nose? I might have to look up the definition of professional again, perhaps there is something I overlooked.
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Sp4 Byron Skinner…A mustache in garrison in CONUS, naw. The current military has a uniformed look to it. I don't much care for it but its not my call…In combat thats a different thing. In Vietnam ha had a full Fu Man Chu, looked something like the current WWWF. It had a purpose, when we suspected or knew there was an ambush just up the trail or road kids naturally want to be near the excitement. Just before the shooting started I Would jump in front of the kids and make the ugliest face I could and they ran in the opposite direction, then she shooting started. Our Platoon in the time I was there never injured a child, also the facial hair didn't hurt as we charged into the 10 meter kill zone. The more aggressive you look going at the enemy in "intimate" combat" the better chance you have of coming out with only a ding or two and you buries don't have to carry out a body bag.
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I started growing a mustache the day I left Basic Training in November 1982. Still have one. Shaved it off twice in the intervening years, both times for women who immediately told me to grow it back. Only time a comment was made on my mustache was when I went before my E-6 promotion board. The CSM complemented me on being able to wear a mustache within regulations and said I should show everyone else in the unit how to trim a mustache.
But I got out after 6 1/2 years and never had an official DA photo taken (which would have been required for E-7 promotion) Most of the people I worked with that had a DA photo taken shaved their mustache off just so it was one less thing reviewers could gig you on.
But I got out after 6 1/2 years and never had an official DA photo taken (which would have been required for E-7 promotion) Most of the people I worked with that had a DA photo taken shaved their mustache off just so it was one less thing reviewers could gig you on.
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