Posted on Oct 31, 2014
Why is it that officers are considered unprofessional who wear mustaches?
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Why is it that officers are considered unprofessional who wear mustaches? I have come from an NCO background of 10 years before becoming an officer and one of the first things I was told was lose the mustache. what is so different from having a mustache as an NCO to an officer
Posted 10 y ago
Responses: 71
I think that, when moving from Enlisted to Officer, it is understood that you are now taking a more "corporate" role, where the "clean cut" image is more appropriate. While there is no specific regulation prohibiting the wearing of a mustache as a Officer (at least I don't think there is), if not constantly maintained, it can get unprofessional looking very quickly.
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As a career Soldier, I've spent all my time in light airborne units until recently and I grew up knowing mustaches are a no-go. To me it's a sign of being too lazy to completely shave a face or that you're either a mechanic and a mechanized Soldier. Being clean shaven looks more professional too, that's my opinion.
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SGT (Join to see)
If I may be so direct, isn't that the reason we have regulations? To set the standard of what is and is not acceptable instead of being subject to the sometimes unreasonable whim of opinion?
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Look at your Chain of Command pictures. Chances are no more than maybe one of the officers (usually the Senior NCOs as well) will be sporting a mustache.
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I guess its a culture thing. It seemed like before WWI, officers were expected to have commanding beards. I am Neutral on it. On some people like me, look stupid with one but others can pull it off. I always dreaded mustache march because I don't wear one well.
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I sported one from the time I graduated OSUT in '88 till the day I retired 26 years later...as for the officer thing, I suppose somewhere along the way it was deemed beneath them to sport hair over the upper lip, too Plebeian I suppose!!!
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Yeah you don't get a mustache,
But you can call your fellow officer friends by their first names. So you lost something, but you gained something else in return!
But you can call your fellow officer friends by their first names. So you lost something, but you gained something else in return!
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LCDR (Join to see)
You know, SPC Garrison, you might want to give a lot of thought to the difference between "I don't like" and "should not be allowed." All of us are beneficiaries of leaders who know the difference. You may want to value it more.
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SGM (Join to see)
SPC Garrison. I do respect your opinion even if you don't respect my esteemed 'stache. You sound a lot like my former girl friend who was very picky and now very much alone.
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CW5 Sam R. Baker
Yes, some should, not everyone looks real good without hair! It is about appearances isn't it? Not everyone can look like CW5 (Join to see) and myself!
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SGM (Join to see)
CW5 Baker, CW5 Montgomery: Now I understand what the term "polished" gentleman really means.
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keep it within uniform regulations and grooming standards, rock the 'stache sir
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