To grow a mustache or not to grow a mustache? That is the question.

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 17 Apr 2015 14:55:35 -0400

Response by CPT Bob Moore made Apr 17 at 2015 3:03 PM

CPT Bob Moore — Fri, 17 Apr 2015 15:03:47 -0400

No. Just no.

I always shaved, no mustache. I just didn't like dealing with keeping it maintained. It had nothing to do with the fact that they always looked horrible, nothing at all.

Response by SGT Richard H. made Apr 17 at 2015 3:19 PM

SGT Richard H. — Fri, 17 Apr 2015 15:19:59 -0400

Military Regs are completely counter to stylishness when it comes to mustaches.

Response by LCpl Mark Lefler made Apr 17 at 2015 5:55 PM

LCpl Mark Lefler — Fri, 17 Apr 2015 17:55:04 -0400

two words Sgt. Slaughter

Response by SPC Elijah J. Henry, MBA made Apr 17 at 2015 8:46 PM

SPC Elijah J. Henry, MBA — Fri, 17 Apr 2015 20:46:19 -0400

A mustache is like a 'Manliness' tab for your face.

Response by SFC Gary Comstock made Apr 17 at 2015 9:19 PM

SFC Gary Comstock — Fri, 17 Apr 2015 21:19:40 -0400

I always looked like a cross of Uncle Fester and Hitler. Not a good look.

Response by SSG (ret) William Martin made Apr 17 at 2015 9:49 PM

SSG (ret) William Martin — Fri, 17 Apr 2015 21:49:48 -0400

Here is one thing, don't make fun of others who aren't strong in growing a mustache.

Response by CH (MAJ) William Beaver made Apr 17 at 2015 10:04 PM

CH (MAJ) William Beaver — Fri, 17 Apr 2015 22:04:29 -0400

As long as your mustache is directly connected to your Special Forces beard!

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made Apr 17 at 2015 10:12 PM

CAPT Kevin B. — Fri, 17 Apr 2015 22:12:04 -0400

I had a 'stache right out of boot camp and always had it until I added the beard for 3 years for Antarctica and now again that I'm retired in Idaho. The beard was a necessity as you didn't want your face to stick to anything, even a zipper. Funny thing working outside a lot. Condensation from your breath would collect in the beard and you'd have a nice sized block of ice by dinner. When the wives saw us burly Seabees wearing towels at dinner to defrost, they made man-side bibs for us. Mine was clowns and balloons. Perfect for an O-1.

Response by SrA Matthew Knight made Apr 17 at 2015 10:13 PM

SrA Matthew Knight — Fri, 17 Apr 2015 22:13:41 -0400

Personal preference. If you can rock a good stache then go for it. I will stick to clean shaven because I look like I am poaching high schools when I have a mustache. That and it starts to annoy me when it grows out enough.

Response by CW5 Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 17 at 2015 10:32 PM

CW5 Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 17 Apr 2015 22:32:29 -0400

I vote for clean shaven.

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Apr 17 at 2015 10:43 PM

LTC Jason Mackay — Fri, 17 Apr 2015 22:43:31 -0400

I am going to refrain until it can be done right.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f1/Michael_Cudlitz_2014_Comic_Con_(cropped).jpg

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Apr 17 at 2015 10:51 PM

SFC Mark Merino — Fri, 17 Apr 2015 22:51:05 -0400

Most of my heroes have all had mustaches. For you Broad Street Bullies fans, I give you Dave Schultz.

Response by LTC Stephen C. made Apr 17 at 2015 10:53 PM

LTC Stephen C. — Fri, 17 Apr 2015 22:53:07 -0400

SFC Private RallyPoint Member, I think that you need to go with what you want (within regulation, of course)! I personally prefer a clean shaven face. This is the only photo of me with a mustache. It was taken just prior to a Hollywood fun jump for a civilian demonstration during the Weapons NCO Supervisor Candidate Special Forces Course, Fort Bragg, NC, JUN70.
I thought it was hideous and shaved it after about three months, and never grew facial hair again!

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 17 at 2015 11:17 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 17 Apr 2015 23:17:23 -0400

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 17 at 2015 11:22 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 17 Apr 2015 23:22:21 -0400

'Staches are creepy these days. A person either looks like a perv or 70's porn star. I used to sport one way back then. Goatees are the way to go these day, or more accurately Van Dykes.

Response by SGT John Wesley made Apr 18 at 2015 1:26 AM

SGT John Wesley — Sat, 18 Apr 2015 01:26:39 -0400

An Army Reg mustache looks ridiculous. Keep it clean shaven!

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 18 at 2015 1:45 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 18 Apr 2015 01:45:06 -0400

I only vote clean shaven because to stay within the regulation because it just isn't worth the time or effort to stay within the regulation considering how strict it is.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 18 at 2015 4:08 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 18 Apr 2015 04:08:53 -0400

I do not like them as the way AR 670-1 states the grooming standard for a mustache makes it look goofy.

I also think that a clean shave is more professional. Almost all in positions power do not have one.

Response by Cpl Christopher Bishop made Apr 18 at 2015 6:37 AM

Cpl Christopher Bishop — Sat, 18 Apr 2015 06:37:47 -0400

Personally I always thought that the military's mustache regs make them look like Hitler, and thus when I wore a uniform I avoided them altogether.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 18 at 2015 7:36 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 18 Apr 2015 07:36:17 -0400

Depends on who you are. Some can pull it off, some can't.

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 18 at 2015 8:13 AM

Capt Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 18 Apr 2015 08:13:50 -0400

Waited 10 years after my last military duty to grow a small one that I believe would still be acceptable if I were back on active duty.

Of course my weight might be a problem and I would among the oldest of the old.

Response by PO3 Russell Ryckman made Apr 18 at 2015 4:55 PM

PO3 Russell Ryckman — Sat, 18 Apr 2015 16:55:07 -0400

If Hitler is the look you are going for.

Response by LT Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 18 at 2015 8:47 PM

LT Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 18 Apr 2015 20:47:17 -0400

The time and place for a mustache is on deployment with a complementing shaved head.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 19 at 2015 1:51 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 19 Apr 2015 13:51:21 -0400

Mustaches are creepy enough usually that they quite possibly be a SHARP violation. But true story, they generally look TERRIBLE.

Response by MSgt Aaron Brite made Apr 19 at 2015 9:09 PM

MSgt Aaron Brite — Sun, 19 Apr 2015 21:09:28 -0400

An A F I 36-2903 mustache is a pitiful sight not worthy of the great heritage of military mustaches nor the men who wore them. A great heritage killed by an egregious soulless and artless regulation. (Sounds best if imitating MASH ' Charles Emerson Winchester the 3rd)

Response by PO2 Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 20 at 2015 9:52 AM

PO2 Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 20 Apr 2015 09:52:01 -0400

Not unless there is a beard to go with it.

Response by CW3 Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 20 at 2015 12:13 PM

CW3 Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 20 Apr 2015 12:13:02 -0400

AR 670-1 allows mustaches. As long as the mustache conforms to the requirements in AR 670-1, then it is up to each individual male service member on whether to grow one.

Don't ask me about females and mustaches. I'm not touching THAT question with a ten foot pole.

Response by WO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 20 at 2015 12:12 PM

WO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 20 Apr 2015 12:12:54 -0400

Beards can be professional. Just keep them even. I've grown the ironic mustache, I've even done it with a few other Soldiers placing bets on who gets told to shave because it's too creepy first. I have no problem with people wearing mustaches no matter how crazy they look.
In any environment where we are not required to have our pro mask on our person, we should be able to grow a beard.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Apr 20 at 2015 12:23 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Mon, 20 Apr 2015 12:23:08 -0400

Sure if you want to look like Hitler. Does this apply to women as well?

Response by MSG Douglas Tolliver made Apr 20 at 2015 7:26 PM

MSG Douglas Tolliver — Mon, 20 Apr 2015 19:26:25 -0400

I sat grow one if you want. Make sure you're within Regs. Many people challenged me on my mustache through 24 years and the all went down in flames because I knew the regulation word for word. Don't ask me to quote it now because it may have changed since I retired in March 2013!

Response by Maj Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 20 at 2015 7:46 PM

Maj Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 20 Apr 2015 19:46:28 -0400

I mustache you a question, but I'm shaving it for later.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 20 at 2015 7:52 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 20 Apr 2015 19:52:58 -0400

Genetics didn't give me a choice, I haven't shaved in a month and my mother in law has a better looking mustache....
Don't tell her I said that

Response by Cpl Brian Yanez made Apr 20 at 2015 8:48 PM

Cpl Brian Yanez — Mon, 20 Apr 2015 20:48:08 -0400

Why not? I think it gives males a very distinct look, if they can grow an actual mustache.

Response by SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 21 at 2015 2:07 PM

SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 21 Apr 2015 14:07:16 -0400

Off duty I don't shave at all, On duty I don't like facial hair at all. Kind in the extremes. SFC Private RallyPoint Member

Response by SFC Charles S. made Apr 21 at 2015 2:51 PM

SFC Charles S. — Tue, 21 Apr 2015 14:51:17 -0400

When I was first in, It was looked down upon from the leadership but it was not stated don't grow a mustache. The Regulation was not that defined in 1982. I had one, until I went to the E-5 board, it was highly recommended that if I wanted to get promoted to get rid of it. I did until I got promoted. Wore it until I went to the E-6 board, Shaved it and wore it after I got promoted. When I went to Recruiter school it was looked upon as a GOOD thing as long as it was within regulations, the kids felt more at ease they said with someone with facial hair. LOL What a joke. No they didn't . Shaved it because my wife made a comment that Hey, you looked younger when you shaved your mustache for your E-7 Photo... I never grew it back since.

This is coming back from Desert Storm and the Stache is a bit out of Regulation here.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 23 at 2015 2:44 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 23 Apr 2015 14:44:42 -0400

The only time I don't wear one is when I'm taking my DA Photo.

Response by ENS Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 10 at 2016 12:58 AM

ENS Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 10 Oct 2016 00:58:12 -0400

I'm growing one out. No rhyme or reason to be honest. One Monday morning I decided not to shave it. It's been growing for two weeks. My mustache has given me confidence and motivation. Odd, but true. It's within standards for the moment. Getting a leg up on "No-shave November."

Response by Capt Tom Brown made Oct 10 at 2016 3:41 AM

Capt Tom Brown — Mon, 10 Oct 2016 03:41:59 -0400

Are soul patches legal these days?

Response by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 10 at 2016 9:35 AM

PO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 10 Oct 2016 09:35:26 -0400

Is this a setup for Movember (Mustache November)? Sometimes when the guys grow a mustache, it makes them look creepy. I told my husband to shave everything but his mustache and he looked like a serial killer, lol.....he shaved it off 20 minutes later, lol.

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 26 at 2019 12:54 PM

LCDR Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 26 Sep 2019 12:54:17 -0400

Seen pictures of beards in the 70s Navy. And who was the Surgeon General that had the ship's captain's beard (no mustache). But for mustaches, it's gotta be a Magnum, PI -stache. :)

Read somewhere that older Millennials didn't know what dad's were without the Magnun-stache and Hawaii board shorts. Mine sure did! Course, I wore neon windbreakers at the same time......