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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Speaking as someone who suffers from pseudofollicolitus and carries a permanent no shaving profile that allows me to keep up to 1/4 in. of my facial hair at all times, I do believe the regulation is way outdated and modernly irrelevant. Not to mention it's easier than ever before to maintain a clean professional appearance with all the advances in make grooming and hygiene since WWII.
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SGT Michael Wilson
But as an NCO and a leader I know how easy it is for any misguided and/or undisciplined individual to abuse said policy if certain restrictions were removed. I'm a strong believer in the whole "rules are made to be bent" theory. Therfore I believe minimal restriction makes it easier for an individual to manipulate a policy without blatantly disregarding it, and increases the need for a more "involved" leader to keep them in check.
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SGT Michael Wilson
I even though I boast a permanent no-shave profile, I ALWAYS keep my facial hair trimmed as low as possible and well under the 1/4 inch limit physicians prescribe in the standard no-shave profile. All to maintain a perfectly "professional" appearance and lead my soldiers by example
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This a good thread.
Few actually know thd reason we shave. Just a note the modern mask does seal with a light beard.
Good thread Capt (Join to see)
Few actually know thd reason we shave. Just a note the modern mask does seal with a light beard.
Good thread Capt (Join to see)
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SFC (Join to see)
if a 1/4 inch is what a soldier can have on a profile, why not just make that the standard for those that choose to sport a beard.
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Besides shaving wavers, which also have exceptions and standards. Shave that crap and look professional. If not, who to say and prove religious beliefs. I'm purely not, but I could claim a Muslim religious background or change my religion to Muslim on file. If so, can I wear Headwear while in uniform. I'm a female and that's religious rituals or "my right" even if the head covering hide my face. Where do we draw the line. I would draw it very short with minimum variations to our military dress and appearance.
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As a medical professional, I believe there should be a relaxing of the standard which allows beards for off duty personnel, and even maybe for garrison/cantonment. Shaving repeatedly is bad for the skin and can lead to serious health and hygiene issues. I have seen/treated several troops over the years that don't qualify as "sensitive skin" but still developed serious bacterial infections due to the process shaving has on the skin. It tugs and shoves hair into the follicle with dirt and bacteria and often destroys the epidermis microscopic causing an opening for infection. A troop then is required to to be treated and removed from the fighting force. Also, Leave/Pass/Off duty time is time for the SM to recuperate and generate morale away from the day to day upkeep of military standard. Why does the off duty SM have to be clean shaven? How are they supposed to relax worrying about Uniform Standard? Worry about that on duty time.
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I have no problem shaving. I don't like to do it, but I do because it's required of me. I do not, and will not (unless deployed or on duty) shave on weekends. I also limit my on post activities and decrease the frequency of my on-the-spot corrections because I know I don't look as professional as I should. When I shave seven days a week, I get such substantial razor burn that I always end up on a shaving profile. Those two days provide enough of a break that my face can recover and I remain a professional during the duty week.
I would love to see the standard changed to allow for professional facial hair, basically aligned with what is authorized by a shaving profile (1/8" should be good, but no more than 1/4"). I do think it will be difficult to specify exactly what is faddish, so facial hair would have to be limited to specifically defined shapes.
Allowing facial hair would foster increased rapport with some of the cultures we deal with, it would also increase our OPSEC by decreasing how much a Soldier stands out in a crowd.
I would love to see the standard changed to allow for professional facial hair, basically aligned with what is authorized by a shaving profile (1/8" should be good, but no more than 1/4"). I do think it will be difficult to specify exactly what is faddish, so facial hair would have to be limited to specifically defined shapes.
Allowing facial hair would foster increased rapport with some of the cultures we deal with, it would also increase our OPSEC by decreasing how much a Soldier stands out in a crowd.
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