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: 135
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My religious beliefs says smoking pot gives me the inner power to connect with my inner self
See what can happen when you open up the pandora box
See what can happen when you open up the pandora box
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In the interest of warfare, just curious if anyone has had to MOPP up before in combat? If you have ever had to, you know the importance of that seal. For those of you who never had to, I doubt it will ever fully be understood. My subordinate Marines would pack their gas masks at the bottom of their pack, gassed them with CS twice and that never happened again. Proper Planning Prevents Piss Poor Performance, our job in the military is to be prepared for the possible, not just the most likely. Professionally, I feel it is in the best interest to follow that line. Weapon, gear, body, it is the whole package, not just gear, not just weapon and not just body.
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I guess people dont get it until you go into the gas chamber with a full beard. THATS GOING TO HURT.
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If you do NOT shave, your NBC mask wont fit, you can put it on but, if there is some kind of chemical attack, You will not get a proper seal.
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“Modify the standard” is a passive-aggressive way of saying “change the standard”. If women can wear makeup, why can’t men have beards? They kinda serve the same purpose.
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Assimilation into military culture and adherence to standing orders or regulations is what makes an "individual" part of something bigger than personal ideals. Adherence to standards that allow the general public to differentiate a Professional appearance (we're all representing our respective branches 24/7) from an average civilian is at the heart of this question - not throwback World War era decision making.
IMHO, it's just unprofessional and outrageous that we have come to this point where individual flowers are railing to starkly stand out from the professionals around them. Ask anyone who has served - sacrifices are on the plan of the day...and shaving to maintain a professional appearance isn't even a glimmer of a thought.
IMHO, it's just unprofessional and outrageous that we have come to this point where individual flowers are railing to starkly stand out from the professionals around them. Ask anyone who has served - sacrifices are on the plan of the day...and shaving to maintain a professional appearance isn't even a glimmer of a thought.
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The question was, should the services change the policy to permit beards.
It has digressed to whining about folks complying with the standards that the most senior leadership has determined to be the standard. Specifically, religious accommodations and medical profiles.
To those who say meet the standard or move out and kick rocks, or it's discrimination to me to let them do it, but not me: Choke yourself out, I'll wait while you recover.
First, it is not your duty to decide the standard, or apply your standard to anyone, except yourself. It is your duty to enforce the standard. You don't get to decide it.
If a Soldier is on a shaving profile and isn't grooming the beard properly, his supervisor is at fault, as well as that Soldier. Fix the problem, which is the supervisor failing to enforce the standard.
If leadership at DoD decided to permit the wearing of beards as a religious accommodation, suck it up and get out of your feelings. Be a leader, not a biased whiner.
HOWEVER, with regard to the question posed, I do believe that the medical and religious accommodations have made the argument that, other than resistance to change, and the personal opinion of those making the decisions, there is no reason beards shouldn't be permitted, at least in garrison. Further, I posit that the leadership making the decision, have determined that unit level leaders would not enforce the standard were it to be changed.
IF a beard can be worn as a religious or medical accommodation without interfering with the performance of duties, THEN, a beard CAN be worn without it being for an accommodation.
IF a beard can be worn as a religious or medical accommodation AND present a neat and military appearance, THEN a beard CAN be worn and present a neat and military appearance without it being for an accommodation. (The beard in the photo is neat and edged)
For the record, I voted to keep the standard for no reason other than tradition, and my being full of coffee and hate.
It has digressed to whining about folks complying with the standards that the most senior leadership has determined to be the standard. Specifically, religious accommodations and medical profiles.
To those who say meet the standard or move out and kick rocks, or it's discrimination to me to let them do it, but not me: Choke yourself out, I'll wait while you recover.
First, it is not your duty to decide the standard, or apply your standard to anyone, except yourself. It is your duty to enforce the standard. You don't get to decide it.
If a Soldier is on a shaving profile and isn't grooming the beard properly, his supervisor is at fault, as well as that Soldier. Fix the problem, which is the supervisor failing to enforce the standard.
If leadership at DoD decided to permit the wearing of beards as a religious accommodation, suck it up and get out of your feelings. Be a leader, not a biased whiner.
HOWEVER, with regard to the question posed, I do believe that the medical and religious accommodations have made the argument that, other than resistance to change, and the personal opinion of those making the decisions, there is no reason beards shouldn't be permitted, at least in garrison. Further, I posit that the leadership making the decision, have determined that unit level leaders would not enforce the standard were it to be changed.
IF a beard can be worn as a religious or medical accommodation without interfering with the performance of duties, THEN, a beard CAN be worn without it being for an accommodation.
IF a beard can be worn as a religious or medical accommodation AND present a neat and military appearance, THEN a beard CAN be worn and present a neat and military appearance without it being for an accommodation. (The beard in the photo is neat and edged)
For the record, I voted to keep the standard for no reason other than tradition, and my being full of coffee and hate.
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As far as I know, earlier, the Canadian Army guy, Harjit Sajjan, the Defense Minister of Canada now, he had same problem. But, he passed that gas mask seal test with beard and hairs. Additionally, I talked with some other Sikh guys in military and they said its not an issue. So, hopefully, we should have that and considering the religion as well.
Thanks the United States armed forces to allow guys with beard and hairs.
Thanks the United States armed forces to allow guys with beard and hairs.
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When a person puts on the uniform of the American soldier, we leave ourselves second to serving the US and place much of our personal life on hold. I strongly believe that standards are standards and rules are rules. At all times and places we should look our best in uniform. Unless a man has PSB after shaving, he should not have a beard. As a LEO, I was always concerned with female officers that wore long hair or braids. If a bad guy grabbed and pulled it, it could be deadly. Though we live in a politically correct society. That rules these days.....
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