Excluding limited exemptions for religious accommodation, the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps have policies that prohibit beards on the basis of hygiene and the necessity of a good seal for chemical weapon protective masks.
Current military policies require all male members to maintain a clean shave whenever in uniform, unless waivered.
They must abide by the regulations that require beards to be "neat, trim and closely cropped, to a minimum bulk of 4mm and a maximum of 50mm". Beards have a long history in the navy, with the facial hair policy changing in 1879 to allow all officers and men to have beards.
For example, “The length of the beard cannot exceed 1/4 inch” (see TB Med 287). Soldiers will keep the growth trimmed to the level specified by the appropriate medical authority, but are not authorized to shape the hair growth (examples include, but are not limited to, goatees or handlebar mustaches).
Excluding limited exemptions for religious accommodation, the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps have policies that prohibit beards on the basis of hygiene and the necessity of a good seal for chemical weapon protective masks.
Trivia answer: Special Operations Forces are allowed to have beards and long hair so that they have the opportunity to blend in with the communities they work in, such as in Afghanistan, where beards are common. Senka Doležal and 156 others like this.
The Coast Guard, Army and Air Force allow beards in limited circumstances, including on religious and medical grounds. The Navy's reasoning falls in line with its “cultural twitch” on grooming and uniforms, said James Holmes, who chairs the maritime strategy program at the Naval War College in Newport, R.I.
The pioneer sergeant also acted as the blacksmith for the unit. As a result, he was allowed a beard to protect his face from the heat of the forge. The tradition of the pioneer sergeant began in the eighteenth century, when each British infantry company had a pioneer who marched at the head of the regiment.
The hair on the top of the head must be neatly groomed and not bulky. The length of the hair must not present a ragged, unkempt or extreme appearance and any form of length or bulk that detracts from a professional military appearance is prohibited.
(i) Smoking in all Defence establishments has been banned for several years. The current policy extends this ban and provides guidance to Commanders/Managers on how to implement the policy. The smoking restrictions also apply to contractors and visitors.
The Army has a strict policy regarding personal appearance. The acceptability of tattoos and body piercings will be assessed on a case by case basis by Defence Force Recruiting. If you are considering getting either please contact us for guidance as this may affect your application.
Two of men also had hair 'longer than collar length' with a full beard also on show. Regulations are that servicemen are to be cleanly shaven, with their hair cut over the ears. It also states that "personnel should also not mix civilian and military clothing".
“In 2023, both clean-shaven and stubble will be on trend. For the past few years, men's fashion has been shifting away from full beards towards a more 'natural' look – one that is closer to the modern classic of a clean shave or light stubble.
Facial hair must be properly groomed and no longer than 2 inches in length extending from the face outward. Uniforms and equipment may either be those prescribed here or those authorized at the time of their retirement.
Navy officials have said beards can be an operational risk for sailors who have to put on a breathing apparatus, and stubble can cause an improper seal on firefighting or gas masks, which is an essential ability for service members aboard ships.
World War I was the first time that shaving became required, partly to promote good hygiene practices. The face had to be clean-shaven and the hair no more than one inch long. Short hair was also essential to be able to wear a gas mask, which would protect soldiers from the newly introduced threat of airborne gases.
Tajikistan. Beards are discouraged by the government for most men in Tajikistan in a stated effort to battle radicalism. Only clean-shaven men can apply for a passport. Beards are often forcibly shaved off by police officers.
While the standard does not ban beards per se, it does require employers to ensure that bearded employees who are required to wear tight-fitting facepieces trim their beards so that they do not interfere with the sealing surface of the respirator or are not so large that they could interfere with valve function.
The invention of chemical weapons ended the affair for good. Beards were prohibited across all branches for two reasons: Hygiene and the need for a good seal while wearing a gas mask.
All RAF personnel are permitted to grow a full set beard – a beard and moustache. In order to do so, a request must be made to the Commanding Officer in writing prior to any growth of facial hair.
The Marine Corps allows medically required beards and diverse hairstyles for women, and has relaxed its rules around tattoos.
Some religions (such as some sects of Islam, and Sikhism) have considered a full beard to be essential and mandate it as part of their observance.
The military is very big on uniformity (less variables to deal with). Having thicker or longer hair makes it difficult to wear military headgear properly, also thick hair can impede the proper fit and function of safety equipment like a chemical mask for example.
This is largely accomplished through strict uniform and grooming requirements. A clean-shaven face helps to ensure that all police officers look the same when out in public. To ensure safety and maintain a professional image, most police departments have a “no beard” policy.