Posted on Mar 25, 2015
To Shave or Not to Shave? That is the question.
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In modern times, many police and military forces prohibit beards for one important reason that came up during World War I. In order to get a clean seal on a gas mask, you must have a clean face, so soldiers made sure to shave. They may or may not have been worried about the pulling of beards during hand-to-hand combat, as Alexander the Great was.
Excluding limited exemptions for religious accommodation, the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps have policies that prohibit beards on the basis of hygiene, the necessity of a good seal for chemical weapon protective masks, and the official position that uniform personal appearance and grooming contribute to discipline and a sense of camaraderie.
All branches of the U.S. Military currently prohibit beards for a vast majority of recruits, although some mustaches are still allowed, based on policies that were initiated during the period of World War I.
So, the discussion is, Should military branches change the policy on shaving due to a legacy concern of chemical/biological warfare from WWI?
IMO, Proper grooming standards should be considered. If a service member wants to grow facial hair while not in a deployed location where the threat of a chemical/biological attack could occur (this is hardly in any theater of operations anymore due to many regulations implemented internationally to destroy & manage chemical/biological weapons), they should be allowed to, but in consideration of grooming standards (i.e. length of facial hair, must represent professional appearance, etc.)
Photo: U.S. Army Captain Tejdeep Singh Rattan, 2010
Excluding limited exemptions for religious accommodation, the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps have policies that prohibit beards on the basis of hygiene, the necessity of a good seal for chemical weapon protective masks, and the official position that uniform personal appearance and grooming contribute to discipline and a sense of camaraderie.
All branches of the U.S. Military currently prohibit beards for a vast majority of recruits, although some mustaches are still allowed, based on policies that were initiated during the period of World War I.
So, the discussion is, Should military branches change the policy on shaving due to a legacy concern of chemical/biological warfare from WWI?
IMO, Proper grooming standards should be considered. If a service member wants to grow facial hair while not in a deployed location where the threat of a chemical/biological attack could occur (this is hardly in any theater of operations anymore due to many regulations implemented internationally to destroy & manage chemical/biological weapons), they should be allowed to, but in consideration of grooming standards (i.e. length of facial hair, must represent professional appearance, etc.)
Photo: U.S. Army Captain Tejdeep Singh Rattan, 2010
USA
US Marine Corps (USMC)
Shaving
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 136
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This is something that chaps me really hard. Aside from being a hardcore Airborne Infantry Combat Killer, I was cursed with sensitive skin on my face and neck. I can not remember the last time I did not have razor burn, cuts, and shaving wounds up and down my neck. I've had to take extra caution during deployments to Afghanistan to avoid getting infections.
We all know that Special Operations throws the grooming standards out the window on deployments. My understanding is the reasoning is to blend in with the locals, and to avoid infections due to the long periods of time spent outside the wire in the elements. But you have to wonder if they have considered the possibility of encountering chemical agents. Has anyone done any recent tests or studies on modern day masks and their ability to create a seal with facial hair?
Or has the Army just carried the tradition due to stubbornness and overall dislike towards "cool guys"?
I'm sure we can develop a grooming standard for facial hair that is still professional looking and presentable. And a bearded war-fighter kicking in your door definitely presents a more intimidating picture than a baby faced war-fighter with bandages on his neck from shaving. That's my opinion at least.
We all know that Special Operations throws the grooming standards out the window on deployments. My understanding is the reasoning is to blend in with the locals, and to avoid infections due to the long periods of time spent outside the wire in the elements. But you have to wonder if they have considered the possibility of encountering chemical agents. Has anyone done any recent tests or studies on modern day masks and their ability to create a seal with facial hair?
Or has the Army just carried the tradition due to stubbornness and overall dislike towards "cool guys"?
I'm sure we can develop a grooming standard for facial hair that is still professional looking and presentable. And a bearded war-fighter kicking in your door definitely presents a more intimidating picture than a baby faced war-fighter with bandages on his neck from shaving. That's my opinion at least.
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MAJ (Join to see)
I feel your pain. I deployed with 5-73 CAV, 82D ABN DIV to Iraq, and my face was a constant battle. Way back in Basic, the worst part of the gas chamber was how badly my face burned when the CS got into all the wounds on my face! Not the choking, not the excretions, my damn razor burn was where I felt real pain!
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One standard across the board. The separation of Church and state should be applied to the military. Practicing your religious beliefs on your own time is fine but when it come to putting on the uniform you should adhere to the standars regardless of your religious beliefs.
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Capt (Join to see)
I would agree to some degree there. The standard is a standard is a standard. But even for the rest of us, this standard is put dated and focused on a legacy threat that drives the standard.
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In the military we're supposed to be equal (by rank anyway) yet some people are allowed to grow beards for religious reasons.
I say either make them shave or let everyone grow a beard. If and when they ever have to wear a gas mask or SCBA for firefighting purposes, shave then (if time permits).
Same goes for guys who have no-shave chits/profiles. Give that person electrolysis or let everyone grow a damn beard.
And while we're at it, let us put our hands in our pockets! lol...
I say either make them shave or let everyone grow a beard. If and when they ever have to wear a gas mask or SCBA for firefighting purposes, shave then (if time permits).
Same goes for guys who have no-shave chits/profiles. Give that person electrolysis or let everyone grow a damn beard.
And while we're at it, let us put our hands in our pockets! lol...
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I like the standard. We could argue that all appearance standards are arbitrary. Throw out AR 670-1, who needs standards? It's about uniformity, and I am all for that.
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SSG(P) (Join to see)
I like not shaving, so neatly trimmed, shaved when doing diving ops or CBRN training.....we could stand to look like a bunch of cool operators.
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Stop changing everything. I raised my right hand to follow and join the us army. Not to give a shit what people think we should do. Dont like it get the hell out
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SSG (Join to see)
On that same note, shouldn't we care about what the people upstairs think we should do? I feel that many of those guys up there are so far separated from the line they have no idea what we go through everyday outside the wire. We just overcame the personal judgement of a CSA who felt that Tattoos made you less of a Soldier.
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Historically speaking; Robert E. Lee, Thomas Jonathan Jackson, John S. Mosby, George S. Custer, Ulysses Grant, William Tecumseh Sherman all wore facial hair as did many of their subordinates. Just a few of Americas greatest military minds. Also, with the advent of modern extremism and the idea of profiling individual soldiers as a target for terrorist like plots why would we want to expose who we are by haircut and facial grooming. We are fairly easy to pick out by the way we walk alone. I think it goes along with the concealed carry theory. The bad guy doesn't know who you are or if you will act if they can't identify you as a possible threat. Just food for thought...
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Make facial hair standard the same as the head hair standard. Keep it trimmed, keep it professional!
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Sgt David G Duchesneau
Maybe they just didn't care? Hell, they made us shave while in the bush in Nam. I guess that you can take that two ways? Anyway, you know what I mean.
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Well that is a difficult one especially if they are in an active combat role. Do you ask them to shave when they know they are expected to, when in an active field of combat? The thing is the guy in the picture is of the Sikh religion, and for them the turban is usually a must, and they use that to cover their hair that they also must grow long. The beard is also a religious requirement (the beard is different for Muslims because it is not a religious requirement unlike Sikhs).
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Capt (Join to see)
All points I agree on. I still believe with our resources in technology today, we can be successful at allowing facial hair state side, and like you said, in a combat role keep it. Otherwise, we need to thoroughly assess the operating environments we are in and delegate what reg needs to be followed to keep American heroes safe from the threat of chemical weapons.
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PO1 Alvin Stanley
I had my beard , & you are very much correct about the gas chamber tests! Of course! When I visited my fiancé in my home town, a few people would ask her about that "Arab guy" visiting her? That was me from W V & not Arab, just white redneck?
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SFC Walter Mack
I seem to remember being a young Jarhead and all of us went into the gas chamber sans gas mask. Sometimes a man just has to man up. If you want the beard, enjoy the experience of the down side..., once every year or two..., or not, because thee guy is a doctor and we hired him to take care of our family's medical problems. Also, I've never seen a bigger beard in uniform than a bunch of Marines in the field. Sometimes daddy is watching to see us shave, and sometimes he is not...
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