Posted on 05/24/2024 7:01:07 PM PDT by mbrfl
The House is considering a new program that would allow those in the Air Force and Space Force to grow beards.
The House Armed Services Committee added the beard proposal to the committee’s version of the National Defense Authorization Act. The legislation would be the strongest reform on facial hair for service members to date.
The proposal, sponsored by Rep. Marc Veasey (D-TX), would have the Air Force secretary “establish a pilot program to allow members of the Air Force and Space Force to grow beards.” They would then study “the effect of beard growth on discipline, morale and unity within the ranks,” as well as a determination “whether allowing members to grow beards improves inclusivity.”
Currently, beards are not permitted in any branch of the military. Neat and well-kept mustaches are permitted.
Still, beards are allowed for airmen and Guardians so long as they have a religious or medical accommodation. Still, if you have a waiver, one must “keep all facial hair trimmed to the same length and it may not to exceed 1/4-inch in length.”
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonexaminer.com ...
Apologies for the botched headline. Mods have been notified. Headline should read:
House introduces legislation to allow airmen and Space Force Guardians to grow beards
I thought they already allow beards as the base I visit regularly sure seems to have a lot of personnel with beards, unless waivers are easy to obtain.
Allahu Ackbar!
Nothing better to do !!
Interesting. According to the article there are currently waivers for religious and health reasons. Supposedly razor-burn is now considered a valid health exemption.
Although the article doesn’t mention it, I think there also exist exemptions for certain special forces units that need to operate under-cover.
How about studying how well they would work with Scott air packs and MOPS gear?
Prepping for muslimm infiltration of our military, now, are they?
“Allahu Ackbar!”
My first thought. Wouldn’t at all be surprised that this is being pushed by islamists to infiltrate the military.
I can’t deploy because the protective gear doesn’t work with my beard.
Of course they will change the rules.
Soon they will have trans-men officers who will of course, want to grow their facial hair. Anything for the wimmin.
Are they talking about real beards or wino stubble?
“whether allowing members to grow beards improves inclusivity.”
= = =
The girls must grow beards also.
You are right small teams have always been allowed to grow not only facial hair but long head hair as well. Nothing sticks out more in the ‘stans than high and tight clean shaven white guys. Same for Latin America. The brits have long allowed facial hair for certain regiments. Having to keep the pedostach is a relic of the cold war when you needed to seal a M40 mask in the event of a chemical weapons attack. Now the agents are so lethal a pin head sizes droplet on your skin is fatal and getting into MOP4 before you die is not a sure fire bet anymore.
They should study cohesion, too.
As a career military man I can comment on this restriction. It is ENTIRELY centered on BC Warfare. Period. It has nothing to do with discrimination against any faith or belief.
You cannot ensure a complete seal of a mask against BC warfare if you have a beard. Period.
“You cannot ensure a complete seal of a mask against BC warfare if you have a beard. Period.”
Truth.
And long hair provides something for the enemy to grab when gets down to hand-to-hand work.
VX and those classes of nerve agents don’t need to be inhaled. Your survivability of hit directly by a vapor attack is near zero even if you have MOP4 on hand. Unless you are already in the suit and only have to glove and mask up. How long have you stayed at MOP3 or above in 100+F? This why small teams and specops don’t even bother with carrying MOP gear your dead anyways. Same for helmets other than sticking out like a sore thumb Kevlars don’t do jack against the weapons small teams would face so why wear them.
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