What is your take on having a nicely groomed beard?

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.)

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!

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.

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.