Posted on Jan 28, 2018
Beards for troops? Top enlisted leader is no fan of facial hair
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Said it once I’ll say it again...Spec Ops have them in potential chemical areas. I don’t know how you think tattoos are fine, but not beards. I’m glad it’s not up to him.
Beards for troops? Top enlisted leader is no fan of facial hair
Posted from armytimes.com
Facial Hair
CSM
Uniforms
DA Pam 670-1
Professionalism
Posted 7 y ago
Responses: 24
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Yes spec ops has them in centcom and sometimes Africom. Do you know why? Beards are only authorized for special operations personnel if the specific mission calls for it. It's not "hey SOF deployment, beard up!." It's these soldiers need to try to blend with the population or partner force so having a beard enhances their success for. The mission. It's not a perk for being SOF or a just because thing. I haven't had a beard yet on a SOF deployment.
The other thing is the dumbasses who will exploit, push, and try to weasel around any reg allowing facial hair, they already do with shaving profiles and getting "lined up"
The other thing is the dumbasses who will exploit, push, and try to weasel around any reg allowing facial hair, they already do with shaving profiles and getting "lined up"
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From the article:
[CSM] Troxell said. “ ‘Okay, I feel good about myself because I have a beard.’ Or because it’s part of pop culture, having this beard.”
How about we shave the situation with Occam's razor (pun intended), and explain beards as men just not liking to remove a secondary male characteristic by a daily ritual of scraping sharpened steel over their faces, to appease some current view of what is "proper grooming"?
[CSM] Troxell said. “ ‘Okay, I feel good about myself because I have a beard.’ Or because it’s part of pop culture, having this beard.”
How about we shave the situation with Occam's razor (pun intended), and explain beards as men just not liking to remove a secondary male characteristic by a daily ritual of scraping sharpened steel over their faces, to appease some current view of what is "proper grooming"?
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LTC (Join to see)
In the next paragraph he says how great tattoos are.
So groomed, natural hair growth is a fad but putting ink under your skin.....
Why not both?
So groomed, natural hair growth is a fad but putting ink under your skin.....
Why not both?
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CW3 Harvey K.
LTC (Join to see) - Agreed. Not much consistency observable in those two opinions.
The only similarity I can see is that both beards and tattoos can be done to excess, resulting in appearances detrimental to the image of the Military.
The only similarity I can see is that both beards and tattoos can be done to excess, resulting in appearances detrimental to the image of the Military.
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SGT Clarence Driver
Beards are a medical condition has nothing to do with performance or detrimental to the image of the military.
Respect what a doctor has profile and leave it at that. Being officers and having a detrimental image feeling in anyway is actually subconscious medical discrimination, you probably don’t even realize you have. But this statement to a profile carrier of 15 years sounds that way to me you may have a issue treating a person by his performance fully and the professional he may be cause you think his look done meet your personal preference of what you think everyone should look like.
Beards are a medical issue not a image one.
I hate people like this guy who thinks he should be aloud to wear a beard for infatuational reason. Believe me he creates controversy trying to support infatuation.
Respect what a doctor has profile and leave it at that. Being officers and having a detrimental image feeling in anyway is actually subconscious medical discrimination, you probably don’t even realize you have. But this statement to a profile carrier of 15 years sounds that way to me you may have a issue treating a person by his performance fully and the professional he may be cause you think his look done meet your personal preference of what you think everyone should look like.
Beards are a medical issue not a image one.
I hate people like this guy who thinks he should be aloud to wear a beard for infatuational reason. Believe me he creates controversy trying to support infatuation.
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It is very odd to me how the Services seemingly change standards every time we get a new Elisted Advisor. Bottom line is that we seem to change with societal norms, instead of upholding hire standards within each service that supports the mission of that service. It is hard to real in changes once they are made. I fear for the future of our military if senior leaders do not establish standards and stick with them. Thank you all for your service.
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CSM Darieus ZaGara
In your case that is truly sad because it is not a change. As long as you wear your beard within the regulatoryvguidance for groomingvstandards they have nothing to say. It is a shame that you are harassed. The onlyvtime I ever stoooedba bearded Soldier in my 31+ years was when it was not to standard. Thank you for your patience and service.
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CW3 Harvey K.
SGT Clarence Driver - I suggest you consider the impossibility of the harassment you experienced, if beards did not have to be rationalized under regulations for troops with medical conditions.
Rather than causing you any grief because of an "infatuation", the re-acceptance of beards under grooming regulations would have the effect of making you just an unremarkable tree in a forest of beards.
Rather than causing you any grief because of an "infatuation", the re-acceptance of beards under grooming regulations would have the effect of making you just an unremarkable tree in a forest of beards.
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SFC Don Ward
CSM Darieus ZaGara - Sorry, CSM, but I served with a Sikh in Fort Knox - 1984. He was the Bn NBC NCO. Green Turban, full Beard, and the knife they carry.
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CSM Darieus ZaGara
Understood, I saw the same, the, as it relates to accommodation-it is what it is, the question should always remain-can they meet all standards and requirements. Does their equipment fit, can they perform their duties, etc.The issue is far larger than beards. There are a host of accommodations and concessions, one is not the same as the other. Leaders must ensure that standards are upheld, and senior leaders need to ensure they do not impact good order and discipline. No need to say sorry to me. Thank you for your service. SFC Don Ward
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