Why can't we grow beards?

Stop whining. Professionals must look as such. We are not other countries military. Glad I have been retired for 27 years.

When in Service I did have facial hair but trimmed within Navy guidelines of the time. Fortunately my beard was not as grizzled nor full as now some 40 years later...

The real reason is because we still remember a hard lesson from the First World War. The rubber on your pro mask has trouble creating a perfect seel if you have any facial hair.

In Vietnam, we only stopped shaving on operations, in base camp it was shave every day .

If you look sharp and professional, chances are you’ll be sharp and professional.

I have a pretty simple solution: Deployed, (combat zone) grow a beard. In the field, grow a beard. However in Garrison, clean shaved at all times. And make the first two I mentioned commander's descretion.

Is the protective mask reason not a reason any longer?

cause your not a Civilian Quit trying to change the Military. Besides most folks that Grow a Beard Look like a rag Head.

So much real life stupidity, the only argument left against facial is actually a very important one. Chemical warfare is a real part of planning and preparing for future wars now and facial hair can, will and does interfere with seal of your pro mask. So I ask you simply if your facial hair is worth dieing for?

The gas mask point has been beaten to death already, as well as the point of SOF guys in CENTCOM.

As much as I would love a beard, try to look at this from the point of view of a commanding officer. Uniform appearance would be impossible with some men growing beards, some not, some people skating the regs with loopholes coming in with ridiculous sideburns. You would have some people lining up and edging their beards, and barely post pubescent 18 year olds coming in with patchwork scraggle faces. Partial goatees, handlebar moustaches. Some guys have bad enough hygiene as it is, which would get worse with unwashed beards
Of course you would have heard regulations as we do with no shave chits. But the entire policy would be a constant headache of enforcement. And it's just so much simpler to tell everyone to shave. Because everyone can shave equally.

It's not just the military. Many civilian companies require employees to maintain similar grooming standards.

It's possible to have professional standards and hygiene with beards but it is much easier with clean shaven men.