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.
11 years small teams myself. We never worried about sealing a mask we knew we were dead if the enemy went NBC so why bother;fight till you drop and rig your body as a trap for those who find it.