Why can't we grow beards?

Go back and read up how wonderful chlorine gas, Lewisite, mustard agent and a few other wonderful hold overs from World War I & II were for troops who had no protective gear, or could get a seal around their face. Maybe if your lucky you can go to a class at Aberdeen or Fort Detrick to see what those wonderful weapons of warfare do to the dermis and other areas of the body.

Or read up on the Nazi attack on Barri Harbor in Italy and the effects their bombs had on one of cargo ships that was carrying chemical weapons and how the locals just love swimming in the harbor. Or you can read about the employee who a few years ago came across a mustard shell at the old American University in Washington DC and how a 70 year old shell gave him mustard burns from where it made contact with his exposed skin.

Read up on Stalingrad and see that the Russian's moved several field hospitals near there and that there was outbreak of a disease near there about the times the Germans were getting overrun.
We are destined to repeat the mistakes of the past if we do not study history.

I'd be happy even without the clean shave requirement. Not necessarily full on lumbersexual

If you want facial hair, apply for SOCOM, pass the courses and deploy.

Rules are rules if you want a beard four years of ranger service then apply for SF if your accepted and you complete your training you might be in a position to grow a beard for a little bit but you are in the army

You can't grow a beard because then you would look like you're in the Dutch Army.

Sorry, old-school guy: clean-shaven, high & tight, tatoos covered.

I guess you wanna look cool like those badass delta guys? Go do the training and get that job so you can wear your beard. Lol

I can remember when the Navy banned Navy Chiefs from wearing beards.

Do tell, how does facial hair detract from a professional appearance? I personally think that answer is just a scapegoat for not writing a policy on it, honestly.

I mean, it would take time from writing policies on all the other great things we have policies on.

This post has some generalities as it pertains to accessions. If I understand the arguement, it appears you belive standards for joining are low and because of that you are asking why not allow beards. My thoughts are, if the standards are actually as low as you say they are then standards need to reevaluted. AR 601-210 covers enlistment criterea.