It doesn't specify in the reg that officers can't have beards, so is it looked down upon or is it just a part of the culture?

2016-07-12T15:30:48-04:00

Just something i noticed.

Response by 1SG Dennis Hicks made Jul 12 at 2016 3:44 PM

2016-07-12T15:44:42-04:00

Male officers are still males, AR 670-1,, Chapter3, Sub para 3-2 (B) Facial hair. Males will keep their face clean-shaven when in uniform, or in civilian clothes on duty.

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 12 at 2016 5:03 PM

2016-07-12T17:03:47-04:00

1SG beat me to the regulation for Army, which is essentially the same as MCO P1020.34F (Marine Corps Uniform Regulations) "The face will be clean shaven, except that a mustache may be worn. When worn, the mustache will be neatly trimmed and must be contained within imaginary vertical lines from the corners of the mouth and the margin area of the upper lip. The individual length of a mustache hair fully extended must not exceed 1/2 inch."

Our grooming standards are largely born out of standards from World War 1, as short hair prevented the spread of lice in the trenches, and also of the Vietnam era. In 1960-1975, the "us vs. them" distinction with the American counterculture and the American military solidified the image that we currently adhere to today out of tradition.
However, I will note that our fighting experiences in Iraq and Afghanistan has reshaped the views of many in the officer corps as many adopted facial hair in the FOBs and outposts of the Middle East, especially since facial hair seemed to put locals at ease. It also helped our SF, SEAL, and MARSOC operators blend in better, as well as established a elitist separation since you don't need the raw discipline in grooming standards for seasoned professional warriors that you need to ensure that same level of discipline in a platoon full of impressionable 18 year olds. It wouldn't surprise me if standards changed once the more tradition-bound generations exited the service. After all, we saw Russia putting personnel in civilian clothes and camouflage without national insignia into Crimea and moving away from the restrictions of Geneva Conventions. It wouldn't surprise me if we adapted in such a way as well.

Response by MAJ Javier Rivera made Jul 12 at 2016 5:18 PM

2016-07-12T17:18:31-04:00

Regs are very specific!

Response by SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 12 at 2016 5:45 PM

2016-07-12T17:45:00-04:00

Officer with a shaving profile is what I'm talking about

Response by Capt Chris McVeigh made Jul 12 at 2016 6:48 PM

2016-07-12T18:48:33-04:00

It absolutely does prohibit beards or I would have one right now. Now if we are talking about mustaches, then your question would make sense. Mustaches nowadays do seem to be looked down upon within the officer corps (unless you are a CWO and then I'm pretty sure they are mandatory).

Edit: saw your other comment about shaving profiles - if it is a medical waiver saying he can't maintain a clean shave, he can still abide by the medical waiver regardless of rank. It's not like you can't receive medical attention once you pin shiny things on your collar. That being said, anyone on a shaving profile should keep it to the minimum required, first impressions of a dude with a poor shave are always negative.

Response by CPT Mark Gonzalez made Jul 12 at 2016 8:43 PM

2016-07-12T20:43:45-04:00

You can grow a beard when on leave or on the weekend. This allows your skin time to refresh before the week starts.

Response by CSM Michael Sweeney made Jul 14 at 2016 11:28 AM

2016-07-14T11:28:10-04:00

I'll chime in even though I've been retired 17 years now. Some things never change of course. Personal grooming and professional military appearance standards really haven't changed much. As for culture, my experiences were that it was an age or generational thing. When I was a young junior enlisted, I skirted the limits allowed, wishing I could grow my hair longer. Forget the beard as when I joined at 17 I couldn't even grow a beard. I greased down my hair when in uniform, but when out of uniform it was way out of regs. Later as I became an NCO and made the Army a career, I subscribed to enforcing rules and regs, regardless of my personal opinion. The day after my retirement ceremony, I began to grow a beard for the first time in my life. A month or so later, I got my first professional Tattoo ( I now have many). I am rarely without a nicely trimmed full beard now. Long answer, but truly the answer when the regs are clear, the only thing left is how the standards are enforced. With over 20 years as a Senior NCO, I never gave or attended any training that indicated any special or secret rules for officers or NCO's. As was said by others here.... We just became less concerned about what profiles we could actually get and more about being the example.

Response by Sgt Dale Briggs made Jul 14 at 2016 3:03 PM

2016-07-14T15:03:05-04:00

Ridiculous IMO, some if the greatest leaders in military history had long hair and beards. Can't imagine what some of the great generals from the civil war would think of these regs, other than to consider them silly. It's artificial, a man can lead by example, or he can't, long hair or not, beard or not. Team guys wear different unis, hair, beards, they do quite well; No?

Response by SSG Mark Franzen made Jul 14 at 2016 8:51 PM

2016-07-14T20:51:12-04:00

WELL AR670-1 STATES THAT YOU CAN NOT HAVE A BEARD IN MILTARY OR WHEN YOUR OFF DUTY NO MATTER WHAT RANK YOU ARE.