Posted on Jul 12, 2016
It doesn't specify in the reg that officers can't have beards, so is it looked down upon or is it just a part of the culture?
6.97K
43
32
0
0
0
Just something i noticed.
Posted in these groups: 
Officers
Warrant Officers
Officers Warrant Officers
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 9
10
10
0
Male officers are still males, AR 670-1,, Chapter3, Sub para 3-2 (B) Facial hair. Males will keep their face clean-shaven when in uniform, or in civilian clothes on duty.
(10)
(0)
SSG (Join to see)
SSG Roger Ayscue - not sure how any of those things has any impact on you. At least they're serving their country, and not sitting on the couch being a typical lazy American. If we're gonna bring up an administration destroying the concept of something, guess I'll just throw the Patriot Act out there. Nothing like President Bush stripping away my freedoms for the sake of having the illusion of a little bit of security. Your posts are the worst.
(1)
(0)
1SG Dennis Hicks
Gentlemen, while the current failure in office has done nothing to improve things, he can not be held responsible for everything under the son to include social experiments in the army. There are all the same regardless of party, thieves and liars, it's the nature of their jobs.
(1)
(0)
SSG Roger Ayscue
SSG (Join to see) and SSgt Charles L My VERY VERY Sarcastic point is that IF you are a "Protected" Person or Group you can have a beard. I always wanted someone, anyone in the two and a half decades that I was in the military ANYONE to explain to me why beards were not allowed...And not one single reason that they used, Especially Protective Masks. That SOMEHOW, having facial hair makes you a substandard Soldier.
So you guys do not like sarcasm...Got it.
So you guys do not like sarcasm...Got it.
(0)
(0)
SGT Edward Wilcox
Sarcasm...Riiight...make a stupid comment, get hammered for it, claim it was just sarcasm, the Internet way of not taking responsibility for ones own actions. Does not matter why beards weren't allowed. This is the military. Suck it up and move on. By the The Navy & Coast Guard allowed beards well into the '80s.
(0)
(0)
3
3
0
1SG beat me to the regulation for Army, which is essentially the same as MCO P1020.34F (Marine Corps Uniform Regulations) "The face will be clean shaven, except that a mustache may be worn. When worn, the mustache will be neatly trimmed and must be contained within imaginary vertical lines from the corners of the mouth and the margin area of the upper lip. The individual length of a mustache hair fully extended must not exceed 1/2 inch."
Our grooming standards are largely born out of standards from World War 1, as short hair prevented the spread of lice in the trenches, and also of the Vietnam era. In 1960-1975, the "us vs. them" distinction with the American counterculture and the American military solidified the image that we currently adhere to today out of tradition.
However, I will note that our fighting experiences in Iraq and Afghanistan has reshaped the views of many in the officer corps as many adopted facial hair in the FOBs and outposts of the Middle East, especially since facial hair seemed to put locals at ease. It also helped our SF, SEAL, and MARSOC operators blend in better, as well as established a elitist separation since you don't need the raw discipline in grooming standards for seasoned professional warriors that you need to ensure that same level of discipline in a platoon full of impressionable 18 year olds. It wouldn't surprise me if standards changed once the more tradition-bound generations exited the service. After all, we saw Russia putting personnel in civilian clothes and camouflage without national insignia into Crimea and moving away from the restrictions of Geneva Conventions. It wouldn't surprise me if we adapted in such a way as well.
Our grooming standards are largely born out of standards from World War 1, as short hair prevented the spread of lice in the trenches, and also of the Vietnam era. In 1960-1975, the "us vs. them" distinction with the American counterculture and the American military solidified the image that we currently adhere to today out of tradition.
However, I will note that our fighting experiences in Iraq and Afghanistan has reshaped the views of many in the officer corps as many adopted facial hair in the FOBs and outposts of the Middle East, especially since facial hair seemed to put locals at ease. It also helped our SF, SEAL, and MARSOC operators blend in better, as well as established a elitist separation since you don't need the raw discipline in grooming standards for seasoned professional warriors that you need to ensure that same level of discipline in a platoon full of impressionable 18 year olds. It wouldn't surprise me if standards changed once the more tradition-bound generations exited the service. After all, we saw Russia putting personnel in civilian clothes and camouflage without national insignia into Crimea and moving away from the restrictions of Geneva Conventions. It wouldn't surprise me if we adapted in such a way as well.
(3)
(0)
1
1
0
Ridiculous IMO, some if the greatest leaders in military history had long hair and beards. Can't imagine what some of the great generals from the civil war would think of these regs, other than to consider them silly. It's artificial, a man can lead by example, or he can't, long hair or not, beard or not. Team guys wear different unis, hair, beards, they do quite well; No?
(1)
(0)
Read This Next
Continue with Facebook 
Continue with Google