Why can't we grow beards?

The official reason that the Army has provided in the past is thatthe facial hair will the chemical mask from getting a proper seal. I'm not entirely satisfied this is true, particularly if facial hair is kept neat and trimmed.

I think the army should stop bitching like a college kid and do it's job. You are an imbarrassment to the history of the army.

On the other hand, when you watch the French Foreign Legion on parade and you see the leaders of their units, the grenidiers, marching with full beards, wearing leather butcher aprons and carrying axes at right shoulder, you just know know you are looking at the baddest of the bad.

So I had heard at one point that they were testing the beards In the military.
There is a unit somewhere doing tests with the PT test with beards. Of course the beard does need to be neatly trimmed. But all these tests and the moral component of it as well. If the army allows beards you may have a happier fighting force.

I guess because in the military we are under threat and need to be ready to use a gas mask, facial hair will not let the gas mask seal properly.

Allowing soldiers to grow hair is often mission or region specific.
I went TDY once to an Army base (can't say where) where all the soldiers there had long hair and facial hair. Of course, having never been exposed to that look on an active duty soldier, I thought "WOW, this is a really laid back base". I soon learned every single one of them were Army DEA and they had to be able to blend in with the locals.

Its funny how fast every time a new AR 670-1 comes out female standards are revised but nothing really changes for men. I personally think that I would look terrible in a beard but for those that could rock it ....

You can go to Louisiana and sell "duck calls". Beards are recommended. Today's fads have resulted in the lack of discipline across the board. Most of it has been the political figures wanting the military to resemble non-military life. In the military is it usually a 25 year life cycle--remember when the Navy could wear beards under Zumwalt. We now have the appease the minority [and I not talking about race] crowd--new uniforms [WWII], different hair standards, proposed changes to the UCMJ, give little Johnny and Jane the Tattoos they want, claim to have religious restrictions to get special meals and treatment, and get a participation ribbon for showing up for the campaign. Leadership is a separate subject.

Being in the new soft Army, I am in the process of getting a religious shave profile since it cannot be denied for all personnel who are muslim.
As a person of the Islamic faith (solely for Army purposes only) I have now fully announced you muslim, and you are to have a beard as well by the doctrine.
Hope this helped, Sergeant :)

The military has gone to shit just like the rest if the world forget standards and holding people accountable