Posted on Sep 4, 2014
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This may hold true only for tankers. While in RVN the rules re: mustaches were only allowed for E-4 and above. As such a 'stache became an un-official badge of rank among E-4/5s. Does anything like that still occur?
Customs and Courtesies
Tanks
Facial Hair
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 6
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We were in the middle of nowhere Iraq and had no adult supervision. The AIR CAV staches were.....glorious. I couldn't partake.....too many years as a CSM fearing grunt. I felt bad for the CSM at the time. The SCO had one of the best ones around. If someone can teach me how to put a black square over faces, I'll post some winners.
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SSG Tim Everett
Hit the start button on your desktop. Select "All Programs" from the menu, and locate the "Accessories" folder. Open up MS Paint. Import your picture. *ALTERNATELY*, right-click the photo you wish to edit and select "Open With..." and choose MS Paint.
In MS Paint there will be a rectangle tool. Depending on what version of Windows you're using, make sure the "Fill" drop-down option is set to "solid" or make sure that both primary and secondary colours are black. Simply hold the mouse button down and drag yourself a nice little rectangle in whatever length and shape you desire.
Don't forget to save-as (DO NOT use the regular save option) and change the name of the photo so that you don't overwrite your photo with your new black bars. I suggest the additional measure of saving the photo to a separate location, like your desktop for example. That way you're guaranteed not to mess up your originals.
In MS Paint there will be a rectangle tool. Depending on what version of Windows you're using, make sure the "Fill" drop-down option is set to "solid" or make sure that both primary and secondary colours are black. Simply hold the mouse button down and drag yourself a nice little rectangle in whatever length and shape you desire.
Don't forget to save-as (DO NOT use the regular save option) and change the name of the photo so that you don't overwrite your photo with your new black bars. I suggest the additional measure of saving the photo to a separate location, like your desktop for example. That way you're guaranteed not to mess up your originals.
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I got a chance to work with some Canadians recently. There was one officer that had a handlebar mustache. Apparently they have the same regulations as we do on how it can't extend beyond the end of your mouth but they aren't limited on length. They said that a lot of them will grow a mustache and then have it turned up at the corners because their regulations don't say you can't do it.
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CSM Charles Hayden Passed 7/29/2025
SGT Manley, If you ever grow a long mustache, do not put 'wax' on it and then chew Mail Pouch when on a rifle range in the summer!
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"Back in the day" mustaches were very common for Cavalry officers. To echo SSG (Join to see) 's comments, I work in a NATO environment and mustache's and beards are very common within the 28 Nations.
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1SG Steven Stankovich
Not that far back Cpl Dennis F. (late 80s and into the 90s...even as late as mid-2000s depending on the unit). Armored and light cavalry officers and senior NCOs typically had mustache's and even walked around with cigars. I can remember a half of dozen or so of them while growing up as a 19D. When the Army began "cracking down" on mustache's in DA Photos and such, and some of those folks chose to keep theirs anyway, I thought to myself that this tradition runs deep.
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Cpl Dennis F.
1SG Steven Stankovich Thanks for the clarification. Yes it seems to me that I always saw more 'staches in tank units than others. I wonder what the history of it is? When leaving combat, I was told in Okinawa to shave it and ignored them. Told again at El Toro and ignored them also.....But most of the recent combat E4/5s also walked off of the police patrols also.
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When I was in the Navy you had to be an E2 for a mustache and an E4 for a beard. Grew both at the appropriate advancement. 1985 came along and beards had to go. Pure politics was the reason. Got out in '85 and grew the beard back. Joined the Coast Guard Reserve in '86. Beards were still authorized. The new Commandant hated beards and banned them again. This time we were told it was for safety reasons. Retired from active duty in'05. The beard returned with a vengeance and hasn't left yet.
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SSG Maurice P.
THAT IS THE WAY ALMOST ALL OF US MARINES LOOKED LIKE WHEN I WAS IN BACK IN THE 1970'S AND 80'S..................................
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MSG John Wirts
When I was active duty the rule was you could not have a beard, and a moustache only if it was on your ID card. So I grew a moustache, had my id card declared unserviceable and replaced it with an ID with the moustache in the picture. Back then the sergeants tried to tell me only blacks had moustaches, never get away with that today.
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Although that idea is still floating around, it's more of a symbol of someone being in long enough to rate it anyways, or just enough to not give a fuck. I mean really, I'm sure you know many Lances that deserve to be NCO's more than most Sgts really.
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Cpl Dennis F., these days as a general rule (not regulation) most Marines only wear mustaches in the field/deployed or November. http://terminallance.com/2010/04/27/terminal-lance-33-they-were-never-cool/
Terminal Lance - Terminal Lance #33 “They’ve Never Been Cool”
Rarely, in any circumstance, are mustaches an acceptable decision for facial hair. For the Marine, it’s the only decision that is within regs. Does that make it okay? No, not at all. In fact, the only time it is acceptable (and actually encouraged) for a Marine to have a mustache is in the field. Specifically, CAX or some other large training event. The CAX-stache (Mojave Viper for you toosies out there) is a staple of the event. The Hawaii...
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Cpl Dennis F.
As a Corporal TC in RVN, other than the work load and responsibility of a Army Lt. or SNCO, I didn't have much, so I grabbed and tightly held onto every perk coming my way. The 45 clubs, Blood stripe and that 'stache are all that I can recall. I loved the field but would never have made a garrison Marine. Throw hand grenades at me...Ok, Inspections and police calls....not so much! Part of knowing when to pull the pin and get out, I guess.
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Capt Richard I P.
Cpl Dennis F. Fully understood, and my hearty respect and thanks for your service in that time and place. The cartoon was meant as humor about current Marinestashes and in no way a judgement of a different time and culture.
I think I have another cartoon to capture your thoughts on a peacetime Marine Corps.
http://terminallance.com/2011/10/25/terminal-lance-157-war-and-peace/
What you describe about the level of responsibility a Corporal had to step up and fill sounds familiar, reminds me of that book you said was barely fiction "Fields of Fire" by Webb. Over on this discussion.
https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/what-is-the-best-professional-military-fiction
Tough war, that one. Semper Fidelis.
I think I have another cartoon to capture your thoughts on a peacetime Marine Corps.
http://terminallance.com/2011/10/25/terminal-lance-157-war-and-peace/
What you describe about the level of responsibility a Corporal had to step up and fill sounds familiar, reminds me of that book you said was barely fiction "Fields of Fire" by Webb. Over on this discussion.
https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/what-is-the-best-professional-military-fiction
Tough war, that one. Semper Fidelis.
Terminal Lance - Terminal Lance #157 “War and Peace”
The military is one of those things you join with a purpose. I don’t believe I could possibly know or understand every reason people embark on such a life-altering event, but I know one thing: I joined to go to war. In 2006, the war was in full swing and I wanted a part of it. It goes without saying, then, that I have no idea what the Marine Corps is like in peacetime. In my head, it’s something like Heartbreak Ridge meets everything I...
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