Why can't we grow beards?

It's my understanding that this beards have been banned due to the risk of chemical weapons. If you look at images from pre ww1 you will see beards. On some.

It's bull, flat out you know why the Navy has a jumper? What is that flap for? Tradition tell us it had something to do with greasing your pony tail so when you were fighting the enemy couldn't grab you by it. Reason why you can't grow a beard? Cause the girly men can't

Had a full Beard in the Navy till 1985.

I feel that if one soldier ie the officer who has one for religious reasons then all should. The standard shoyld apply to all or none period

Depends on you mos and where you are assigned

Gas masks require a good face seal to be effective

I was in the Navy when it was an acceptable practice to grow beards while serving. I have seen men with full beards put on an SCBA and go in and fight fires on the carriers I served on. I grew one and kept it neat and trimmed. The best salt and pepper beard I ever seen was worn by a Dental Tech on the USS Independence. My first Gunny Sgt didn't care for them but he had no problem with the medical care I gave to him and his fellow Marines that I served with honorably. So I know and have heard all the reasons for why not growing them or allowing them in our services by reading this article and I am sure there are more to come. Am I in favor of them? Well yes but you are still responsible to what your comman'd has to say, no if's, and's or but's.

Another reason I could think of as to why we have to maintain a clean shaven face is the seal you'll get once you put your pro mask on, if you were in a situation in which you had to don your pro mask a clean shaven face will provide a better seal vs having a beard that would get in the way of that seal

Personally, I don't think you should have to go baby face throughout military career. But the Command wants it that way and you sign up for it. Is it arbitrary? Yes. Does facial hair mean that you lack professionalism? No. You want that to change in the military? Good luck.

The no facial hair comes down to gass masks, that’s why the Navy allows a mustache but not a beard