Facial hair and the role of leadership in the Military. What are your thoughts?

SSG Thomas Brousseau — Thu, 11 Jun 2015 22:02:33 -0400

Why is it that West Point Military Academy Instructors tell their Cadets that "real leaders don't have facial hair?" That is the most emasculated sissyfied statement I ever heard. An American Soldier is a Warrior including Officers. Maybe one of you Officers can explain this to me. My guess is that the officer that initially started this was a sissy that you could never trust in a gun battle.

Response by SSG (ret) William Martin made Jun 11 at 2015 10:04 PM

SSG (ret) William Martin — Thu, 11 Jun 2015 22:04:50 -0400

They probably noticed that every depiction of a Roman soldier was void of facial hair.

Response by TSgt Joshua Copeland made Jun 11 at 2015 10:05 PM

TSgt Joshua Copeland — Thu, 11 Jun 2015 22:05:29 -0400

I don't know, I have had several officers that have had mustaches and not just in march.

Response by Capt Seid Waddell made Jun 11 at 2015 10:08 PM

Capt Seid Waddell — Thu, 11 Jun 2015 22:08:32 -0400

I have a moustache that I started in DaNang in 1970, so my opinion may be colored by that fact.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 11 at 2015 10:22 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 11 Jun 2015 22:22:53 -0400

So hes saying Generals Grant and Lee are not leaders?

Response by SSG Roger Ayscue made Jun 11 at 2015 10:41 PM

SSG Roger Ayscue — Thu, 11 Jun 2015 22:41:40 -0400

Well..Lets see
Robert E. Lee
Thomas J "Stonewall" Jackson
James Longstreet
JEB Stuart
JNO Beuford
The list goes on and on of these Sub-standard Soldiers...Piss Poor Leaders actually....Better go on and change the names of Fort Jackson, and Fort Lee, and Fort Pickett, and Fort Meade, and Fort Stuart.....and how many others?

Yep, Facial hair makes you a bad Soldier, unless it is because your ethnic identity is wrapped up in your hair and beard....Then you are a brave trailblazer....but I digress.....

Response by PO1 John Miller made Jun 12 at 2015 12:21 AM

PO1 John Miller — Fri, 12 Jun 2015 00:21:15 -0400

You know what they call men who don't have beards? Women!

Response by MSgt Daniel Armstrong made Jun 12 at 2015 6:02 AM

MSgt Daniel Armstrong — Fri, 12 Jun 2015 06:02:43 -0400

You ever see someone with a beard trying to get a pro-mask seal in a gas chamber?

Response by LT Garth Young (Ret) made Jun 12 at 2015 7:36 AM

LT Garth Young (Ret) — Fri, 12 Jun 2015 07:36:30 -0400

There are some stupid discussions on RP....& this is one of them! Means nothing, has no bearing on leadership what-so-ever!!