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 Beebe wrote that, then it's going to take more than a beard to do the job.