Posted on Apr 19, 2016
Should beards be allowed in the Marine Corps?
54.7K
659
314
83
83
0
So, there is this connotation that beards are unprofessional. This may have been true at one point, but no one can really argue that this is true today: statistically, bearded men get paid more and are preferred for management. Now here is the issue: beards used to be common in the military, but now is the exception to the rule (as a religious factor- and that is only in the Army!) In other works, if you are Sikh and enlist in the USMC, good-bye facial hair- you are just like anyone else...
The entire purpose of the clean shave was to ensure you could get a good seal on your gas mask, which is why you look at history and see those glorious beards and mustaches. In the early 1900s, it was stated that this facial hair will kill you, because you cannot get a good seal on your gas mask... While recently (allegedly) it was proven (by the Army) to be a non-factor in getting a good seal- I cannot confirm nor deny that this happened- but it does beg the question: if facial hair is a non-issue as it pertains to warfare, then why is it an issue?
Although I approve of the current policy, I wonder- if an Army Sikh officer can get a good seal on a gas mask with a full beard, then why can't the rest of us? I mean, it's not exactly tradition to have a clean shave; just look at a list of the Commandants! So... is it really unprofessional to have a beard, or is it a matter of being hard to regulate? And if it is it a matter of regulation, is it simply a lack of empathy on the subject? Keep in mind I don't care either way; I will maintain a clean shave because I look weird if I don't, but when you cut out tradition, and history, and practicality... It just doesn't make sense. Your thoughts, ladies and gents...
The entire purpose of the clean shave was to ensure you could get a good seal on your gas mask, which is why you look at history and see those glorious beards and mustaches. In the early 1900s, it was stated that this facial hair will kill you, because you cannot get a good seal on your gas mask... While recently (allegedly) it was proven (by the Army) to be a non-factor in getting a good seal- I cannot confirm nor deny that this happened- but it does beg the question: if facial hair is a non-issue as it pertains to warfare, then why is it an issue?
Although I approve of the current policy, I wonder- if an Army Sikh officer can get a good seal on a gas mask with a full beard, then why can't the rest of us? I mean, it's not exactly tradition to have a clean shave; just look at a list of the Commandants! So... is it really unprofessional to have a beard, or is it a matter of being hard to regulate? And if it is it a matter of regulation, is it simply a lack of empathy on the subject? Keep in mind I don't care either way; I will maintain a clean shave because I look weird if I don't, but when you cut out tradition, and history, and practicality... It just doesn't make sense. Your thoughts, ladies and gents...
Posted in these groups: 
Marines
Grooming Standards
Marines Grooming Standards
Edited >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 186
0
0
0
Religious exemption is fine, medical is fine. Otherwise f--k no. Honestly, I think female Marine hair and beard standards should be the same as male Marines. I've seen a lot of female Marines that make a High and Tight look good!
(0)
(0)
0
0
0
0
0
0
Back in the 19th century and before soldiers were allowed beards as long as they kept them neat and trimmed. Look no than Civil War photos and you'll see that groomed mustaches and whiskers were a way of showing individuality.
That changed during WWI, when it was found that facial hair interfered with the seal on gas masks so orders were that everyone shaved. After soldiers came home all uniform and clean shaven that became the fashon of the 20th century incivilian and military life.
In modern times trimmed beards are in style, but soldiers shave... because that's what soldiers do. There is no reason we do it, other than social conventions and complicity.
That changed during WWI, when it was found that facial hair interfered with the seal on gas masks so orders were that everyone shaved. After soldiers came home all uniform and clean shaven that became the fashon of the 20th century incivilian and military life.
In modern times trimmed beards are in style, but soldiers shave... because that's what soldiers do. There is no reason we do it, other than social conventions and complicity.
(0)
(0)
0
0
0
Can you imagine those eighteen or nineteen year olds with the patchy beards?
(0)
(0)
0
0
0
Marine Corps has the strictest policies of all the branches on tattoos, why would they allow beards! I am sure down the road the military will allow beards as it has become kinder and gentler.
(0)
(0)
0
0
0
When in Garrison duty, when there is no need for NBC gear, I think beard wearage should be an individual choice. However, the length and borders of the beard should conform to a regulation, just like mustashes do.
In a combat zone where possible NBC exposure is imminent, I would not want to be the Staff NCO or Officer who had to tell some poor schmucks family he died because he refused to shave his beard. No beards in combat.
In a combat zone where possible NBC exposure is imminent, I would not want to be the Staff NCO or Officer who had to tell some poor schmucks family he died because he refused to shave his beard. No beards in combat.
(0)
(0)
0
0
0
The gas mask story has always been a lie to cover the real reason. Uniform boards are stuck in the 50s, and think beards are for hippies and druggies. Set standards, and have those with beards fit test monthly. Done.
(0)
(0)
0
0
0
SrA David Frenette, the Air Force does not kill the enemy close up and face to face like infantry. The Air Force kill from a distance and rarely see their enemy.
(0)
(0)
0
0
0
A beard to a man is what a mane is to a lion. The reason that beards will never be allowed is that some of the senior leaders can't fully grow one and thier faces would just wind up looking like a jolly rancher that fell on the carpet. Beards will never fully be allowed because the Seniors don't want to be embarassed by a Private who has a full manly beard while thier faces look patchy. They also don't want to be embarrassed by any females, who through no fault of thier own can grow thicker facial hair than them without even trying. It all boils down to image.
(0)
(0)
0
0
0
In the 70's we were allowed to have beards in the Navy. The same caveat applied back then -- you had to be able to get a deal with a mask. While some are pointing out that the military hasn't been glasses in a long time, this still was an issue for is on submarines because we had emergency breathing apparatus and oxygen breathing apparatus that were broken out on a regular basis. My first submarine also had a diver division with their masks. I point this out to say that we had a few people with beards and this caused no issues. We had one guy who couldn't get a deal and had to shave his off. It wasn't a big deal. And to the point of being uniform, people have different hair styles and/or hair colors so we're not that uniform anyway.
Personally I don't care because I can't grow a beard. And I never had anyone working for me that wanted to grow one so that was never an issue. Marines would look kind of stupid with beards and their high & right haircuts so, simply on that basis, I don't think the Marines should have beards.
Personally I don't care because I can't grow a beard. And I never had anyone working for me that wanted to grow one so that was never an issue. Marines would look kind of stupid with beards and their high & right haircuts so, simply on that basis, I don't think the Marines should have beards.
(0)
(0)
Read This Next
Continue with Facebook 
Continue with Google