Posted on 09/07/2016 2:56:20 PM PDT by PROCON
American service members are petitioning for the return of beards to the US military, with their petition now containing well over 10,000 signatures.
According to the petition page “Beards for Military“ on change.org, the writers of the petition call for the return of the long-gone tradition of tasteful facial hair on service members, citing a boost in morale.
“All I want is to be able to grow a beard,” the petition reads, as penned by Ed Beebe. “I want to grow long locks of love on my face that will make me feel like a manly man. It is not something out of this world to ask. Grooming standards will still be in effect, but I just want facial hair that I can run my fingers through. This is free of cost to the government and can have morale boosting potential for military members.”
The petition proposes grooming standards for beards and the option to shave if there is a chemical threat where gas masks may be needed.
“What about a chemical environment where a gas mask is needed?” the petition asks. “In environments where a chemical threat is possible JUST SHAVE. If it is found later that no chemical threat is near then grow that manly beard right back out. Easy day.”
The ban on beards came primarily around the time of World War I, during the dawn of chemical warfare. Since then, the allowances or re-introduction of beards has been either short-lived policy (such as the 1970s Navy) or on a case-by-case basis, such as Special Operations Forces.
Beards have also come up as a sore topic of discussion in the case of several Sikh soldiers and a rabbi who were citing religious reasons for their facial hair.
US Army AR 670-1 regulations state that “Handlebar mustaches, goatees, and beards are not authorized. If appropriate medical authority allows beard growth, the maximum length authorized for medical treatment must be specific.” For example, “The length of the beard cannot exceed 1/4 inch.”
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My GI Joe with his Kung fu grip had a beard.
I am not sure I would want to be in a chemical weapon attack with a beard.
Think Drew Carey on his old show. I saw a pair at the optometrist, but declined them and went with the wire frames.
And how are WOMEN to respond, what are they going to let grow or show their feminine side.
Yeah, Ulysses Grant and Robert E. Lee sure look like hell in the old civil war pictures. Wish they had shaved.
Probably true. But I can’t help it. That beard thing makes me think muzzie.
Of course feminists will demand the right for female soldiers to have beards too if this goes through.
Demand male growth hormones, of course!
Chemical warfare is a serious business.
There are other situations (e.g. fire fighting, smoke/overheat, hazmat, aircraft depressurization, submarine environments) besides bio/chem warfare environments where a well fitted breathing mask is essential.
I was always amazed at the number of times someone seemed to be “starting a beard” and showed up unshaven for work in the civilian world. More like too lazy or running late on getting to work that day.
NO to the military.
If you cannot train in MOPP gear, you will die in combat if the gear becomes necessary.
Planning to die is VERY stupid.
If Beebe wrote that, then it's going to take more than a beard to do the job.
My opinion:
Beards are A-OK for a Navy sailor on sea duty or in a troglodyte job in the bowels of a Navy vessel. Naval officers may wear beards if they’re the XO of a ship, in which case the beard must be handsome and commodore-like, preferably blond. All submariners shall be allowed to grow beards by naval law.
The US Army can have beards if they’re in the super duper bitchin’ commando units like Special Forces and Delta or with CIA-SAD. Those guys can do whatever they want to or need to.
Air Force shall not have beards. But big gaudy handlebar mustaches with waxed tips for fighter pilots and combat rotary aviators as a sort of esprit du corps is permissible as long as the pilot is in a shit hot outfit. This goes for Army and Navy pilots too, but never for Marine pilots.
The US Marine Corps shall never have beards. Ever. I don’t care what the reason or deployment status is. Those NCOs entitled to a mustache shall not have them exceed the corners of their mouth. All the rest of you devils, I better see a fresh close shave on everybody by final formation at 1630 or liberty is cancelled for all y’all. Come to my doggone formation without a clean shave and SEE what happen to YOU. Everybody be accountable for every other Marine’s shave. Turn TO. Now, GIT’CHO bodies out of here a’fore I start slayin’.
In extremely rare special occasions, a US Marine officer may wear a handlebar mustache, but they better be at least colonel or CWO4 in rank, holding the Navy Cross or higher, and be an absolute untouchable badass that everyone regards as akin to a demigod who walks the Earth.
No offense meant, if anyone is or knows this guy!
I suspect the popularity of beards among young men is related to the fact that the danged women are in their faces all of the time and allowed to do whatever the men do. Growing a beard is one of the few male pursuits left them.
Active Duty ping.
I thought homos were glorified in the military now. Why do they want or need beards?
“All I want is to be able to grow a beard,” the petition reads, as penned by Ed Beebe. “I want to grow long locks of love on my face that will make me feel like a manly man...I just want facial hair that I can run my fingers through.”
Yeah.
That is just weird.
I think this has more to do with Obama’s new Army than anything.
No offense taken. That’s my dad! I’m one of 23 kids by 4 different moms.
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