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Beards were allowed for ALL Sailors until 1981 when CNO Adm. Hayward banned beards for anyone under E4. In 1984, CNO Adm. Watkins banned beards under the impression that Sailors would not be able to get a proper gas mask seal. However, Secretary John Lehman said that it was simply due to aesthetics. Lehman said that master chiefs complained that beards made the Navy look un-uniform.
Posted in these groups: 
Sailors
Grooming Standards
Sailors Grooming Standards
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 23
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PO2 David Allender
in any service where the enlisted is on a fire team and has to wear face mask, the beard will not let the mask fit properly, therefore any fumes or smoke in the environment that you are in will get to you if you are wearing a beard. If you are not on an team where you wear a mask, then there should be no problem. I do not know if while in Boot Camp they subjected you to traing with a mask and without a mask in tear gas environment. If they are, then think about what it was like and go from there.
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CWO3 Kevin O'Brien
PO2 David Allender - That is absolutely false. That was one excuse they used. As a primary fire party nozzleman I had a beard, within standards, and my OBA mask fit just fine with no leaks. Ask an experiences nozzleman, not someone who heard something.
-CWO Kevin O'Brien (7181)
-CWO Kevin O'Brien (7181)
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CPO Barry Sloan
I wore mutton chops aboard USS Welch (PG-93). Granted they were not as unruly as the gent shown. I had no trouble with gas masks or oba's
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CPO John Hopkins
When I was in, the privilege of maintaining a beard depended upon billet and designator. Recruiters were not allowed beards, neither were Pilots/NFO's who were in tactical aircraft (F-4, F-14, A-6, A-7, F/A-18)
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No, one of the main reasons they stopped this was not listed. The Navy had discovered that beards were causing problems with Damage control, as in problems with seals on mask and they found the same issues with Gas mask you can not get a proper seal on the mask. I am a ground Disaster recovery Navy CBR guy and will tell you that having over grown facial hair will cause a improper seal in mask and can cause death. This is what happens when people want to look at the past and go back to the way, we use to do it, with out getting the hole site picture and understanding why they changed rules.
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LTJG (Join to see)
Chief, that was listed in the description under the picture of the Warrant Officer..
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Col Jim Harmon
LOL!! They had birds in their beards? Those must have been some really manly beards. Just kidding.
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PO1 Kevin Arnold
I agree with this response. Some had no shave chits/waivers because they would break out when they shaved. However, they had to have a very well groomed and close beard. It was nothing like they had only 2 years before I came into the Navy, but I almost experienced why they made the change. When deployed for long periods of time with no inspections or anyone from outside the ship coming onboard we were allowed to have beards and make a contest of it. It was fun and well I did not even come close to winning; however, we had a drill during that time and noticed that I could not get a seal on my EAB or OBA to save my life.
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LTJG (Join to see)
If the Navy, and military in general, is granting religious waivers for those that require beards, I think EVERYONE should be allowed to grow one. After all, if we're discussing uniformity, why is someone considered special because of their religion?
If the Navy, and military in general, is granting religious waivers for those that require beards, I think EVERYONE should be allowed to grow one. After all, if we're discussing uniformity, why is someone considered special because of their religion?
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CPO Randy Francis
PO1 John Miller - Sorry Shipmate but neither Jones nor Dewey had beards. But Dewey (who fought the Spanish not the Brits by the way) had a big beautiful walrus mustache.
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PO1 John Miller
CPO Randy Francis
Would YOU have had the balls to tell Dewey that his 'stache was out of regs? ;)
Would YOU have had the balls to tell Dewey that his 'stache was out of regs? ;)
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CAPT Hiram Patterson
The 1st Amendment is being applied to Sikhs who are disciples of Sikhism which is a 15th century religion originating in the Punjab region of India. There are not that many in our services and court decisions have allowed them to serve. No, we do not need to bring back beards just because people want them or think they look cool! Gas masks absolutely will not seal or not very well with beards. Mustaches do not have that problem. I can also envision various medical complications in treating serious facial wounds.
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PO2 James Jimmy Kurth
i was in the navy when zumwalt started his z grams, and i took advantage of it and grew a ugly beard as did many, when i made 2nd it came off but i noticed how much disipline started being a problem with the younger ones,mostly the ones just doing the time, by the way i made 2nd at 19
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It inspires confidence (in the wearer). If I had to ride around on the seas, I'd want a captain who looked like blackbeard.
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SCPO Patrick Bourgeois
If you chose to sail the seas, you already have confidence. If you need a beard to give you confidence....you need to stay on dry land. I served 25 years without a beard; didn't bother me at all.
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I was in the Navy when this came about. There was much discussion over gas mask fittings, etc. Now I'm probably going to get in trouble when I say this (especially since my Marine husband looks great in a beard) but I like the clean look of a shaved face over a military uniform. Neat haircut, females with hair up or cut short. Sorry, guys!!
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LTJG (Join to see)
I agree with you. I think the clean shaven appearance looks more professional. However, a well kept beard can look sharp too. Unfortunately it is a lot easier to look unprofessional with a beard than it is without one.
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Even though every time I tried I couldn't grow one. I didn't have a problem with my Shipmates that did have one. One of those changes that came about in about 1980 with the Urinalysis and PT.
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