What is your take on having a nicely groomed beard?

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 20 Dec 2013 03:55:46 -0500

I currently serve with NATO and it seems like 90% of the other 28 nations here allow their soldiers to have neatly groomed beards and even some that are a bit extreme. I know a lot of US soldiers that would be happy to have beards including myself. My opinion, if you can keep it neat and trimmed and it looks professional, I don't think it should be a problem. What's your opinion?

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 20 at 2013 4:11 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 20 Dec 2013 04:11:04 -0500

I don't think it would hurt at all and when someone points out they want uniformity as a reason to not have beards. I will say look at all the people on shaving profiles. others will also point out that having a beard can interfere with a gas mask. Well where I am stationed by they time they broke out the gas masks I would either be dead or had enough time to go shave.

Response by CW2 Joseph Evans made Dec 20 at 2013 4:44 AM

CW2 Joseph Evans — Fri, 20 Dec 2013 04:44:40 -0500

Eat Kevlar, grow face armor. ;)<br>

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 6 at 2014 10:19 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 06 Mar 2014 22:19:41 -0500

In my opinion beards should be allowed! I concur with you, neat, trimmed and professional...

Response by Cpl David Hall made Mar 6 at 2014 10:41 PM

Cpl David Hall — Thu, 06 Mar 2014 22:41:25 -0500

THIS IS NOT SPARTA>

Response by 1SG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 16 at 2014 10:20 AM

1SG(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 16 Mar 2014 10:20:16 -0400

I think we should all revert to the MG Ambrose Burnside standard.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 16 at 2014 10:25 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 16 Mar 2014 10:25:19 -0400

I have no problem with a beard. But just like having a mustache it will be torn apart by seniors. Someone will over complicate the trimming standards. That being said. I'm am very pro beard!!

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 16 at 2014 10:32 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 16 Mar 2014 10:32:42 -0400

Beards should be allowed. If they were ever allowed though, I'd still have to be clean shaven. I couldn't grow facial hair to save my life.

Response by SGT Curtis Earl made May 28 at 2014 6:55 PM

SGT Curtis Earl — Wed, 28 May 2014 18:55:52 -0400

I think senior NCOs and COs should be permitted to grow a well groomed beard. I think it looks rather dashing and professional. The standards wouldn't be difficult to enact, either.

Response by CMSgt James Nolan made May 28 at 2014 7:06 PM

CMSgt James Nolan — Wed, 28 May 2014 19:06:47 -0400

It would be fantastic, the problem would be in the definitions of "neatly groomed" and it would go downhill quickly. That being said, I would not have to shave off the "facial armor" any more! Do not see it happening, just like I don't see being able to grow a euro-trash pony tail any time soon!

Response by Maj Walter Kilar made May 29 at 2014 10:34 PM

Maj Walter Kilar — Thu, 29 May 2014 22:34:46 -0400

I think it should be allowed. How does the service allow mustaches, but still want uniformity--yet the service does not allow beards? In order to make it more uniform, we can even allow the ladies to grow beards. I had a female flight chief once that I swore could grow a nicer beard if the regulations would allow it.

Response by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 2 at 2014 11:39 PM

PO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 02 Jun 2014 23:39:28 -0400

The Navy allowed beards for quite a while, I know that I would love for them to bring them back. OSHA says you can't maintain a good seal in protective gear and self contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) with them which is one of the main reasons we can't have them. Onboard ships we are all trained to fight fires and casualties. I still think it is something that could be revisited.

Response by Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 5 at 2014 4:45 PM

Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 05 Jul 2014 16:45:55 -0400

A professional beard looks excellent, in my opinion.

A Duck Dynasty one looks less than professional.

And the patchy beards just make me feel sad.

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made Jul 5 at 2014 7:14 PM

MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca — Sat, 05 Jul 2014 19:14:14 -0400

I'm not a beard fan for myself, but there are quite a few gentlemen who look quite distinguished wearing a well groomed beard. I say go for it.

Response by CMSgt James Nolan made Jul 5 at 2014 7:54 PM

CMSgt James Nolan — Sat, 05 Jul 2014 19:54:58 -0400

Since MAJ Petrarca nudged me on this, I will speak my piece again! Yes, full speed ahead with beards.

Perhaps if enough manly men were to mention it on Rally Point, the armed services would take note and make a sweeping change!

Response by SFC James Barnes made Jul 6 at 2014 8:39 PM

SFC James Barnes — Sun, 06 Jul 2014 20:39:41 -0400

Beards have been part of our military in the past and IMHO in they were a standard then I don't see a problem with them. I don't think we should go lumberjack with them but a well maintained beard doesn't detract from a professional look.

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Jul 6 at 2014 9:32 PM

PO1 William "Chip" Nagel — Sun, 06 Jul 2014 21:32:58 -0400

Beards were allowed when I started in the Navy. They went bye bye about the same time they reinstated PT and started the Piss Tests. I didn't see a problem with them. Kind of a Romantic Throwback to the Old Military Days.

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made Jul 24 at 2014 8:21 AM

MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca — Thu, 24 Jul 2014 08:21:31 -0400

Whoops!

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 24 at 2014 8:25 AM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 24 Jul 2014 08:25:28 -0400

Nicely groomed beard?

Yes great thing to look forward to upon retirement!

Response by PFC Zanie Young made Jul 24 at 2014 11:12 AM

PFC Zanie Young — Thu, 24 Jul 2014 11:12:20 -0400

Personally speaking, I wouldn't mind going old-school with a beard, as long as it is neat and does not interfere with equipment. Whose idea was it to take away a man's beard in the military, anyway?

Response by Cpl Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 24 at 2014 2:53 PM

Cpl Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 24 Jul 2014 14:53:56 -0400

I think you may have problems donning and clearing a mask with a beard. Would a proper seal be attained with beard hair?

Response by SFC Robert Allen made Jul 24 at 2014 5:15 PM

SFC Robert Allen — Thu, 24 Jul 2014 17:15:44 -0400

History tells us that young Corporal Adolph Hitler almost died in a mustard gas attack in the trenches of WWI. After that event, he shaved most of his facial hair off to just the iconic little black 'stache. While gas is not so much a threat in most of the world, there is a reason we adopted those grooming standards. I am happy to say that as a retiree, I have a nice neat beard and mustache. It actually lends me some credibility when I stand in front of the TAPS classes and jokingly tell the retirees that this is what they have to look forward to (while pointing at my face.)

Response by PO1 G. Leslie /Stiltner made Jul 24 at 2014 8:57 PM

PO1 G. Leslie /Stiltner — Thu, 24 Jul 2014 20:57:54 -0400

Navy up until January 1985 were authorized to wear beards!! I think its fine as long as the are groomed properly and there are stipulations put on growth time!! I feel that this should be a privilege maybe for E-4 and above. Most have been in the Military long enough and know how to properly groom themselves. The only problem I see with that is as my mother used to tell us as kids when she gave us new privileges " I give you an inch and you take a mile!" People by nature will stretch the proper grooming and end up ruining it for everyone!! The idea of not allowing facial hair because your face mask wont seal, That's what they make Petroleum Jelly for!! That's what the fireman that have beards do to wear their SCBA's!!

Response by Capt Jeff S. made Aug 29 at 2014 9:48 PM

Capt Jeff S. — Fri, 29 Aug 2014 21:48:35 -0400

I agree. When I first enlisted, the Navy did allow sailors to grow beards and personally, I'm not against that. BUT! with that said, I understand the need to be ready to don and clear a gas mask trumps the need to grow a beard. We also have a professional image to maintain as the U.S. military. We pretty much are the standard other military forces compare themselves to. I knew that when I joined the Marines I would not be allowed to have a beard. If it mattered that much, I would have been a sailor.

Response by Cpl Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 29 at 2014 11:41 PM

Cpl Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 29 Aug 2014 23:41:53 -0400

I personally don't like having a beard. That being said, a well groomed beard would be more operationally secure in civilian environments that the typical military look which actually makes you stand out in a crowd. At least our standards while I was in, made us easily recognizable while we were in the Med or even the Persian Gulf (Abu Dhabi, Dubai or Bahrain). Hard soled shoes vs. tennis shoes while on libo, when all of the locals wore tennis shoes is just one example.