Can a veteran wear their service uniform with facial hair?

to those of you who have lost loved ones, my heart goes out to all of you...and I am SO proud that you have maintained the integrity of the Service Regs by dressing and trimming when necessary...God bless all of you..

Chief Heck, you done good. Ed (Veteran of WW11, KOREA & VIETNAM)

COL Ed Gibson - Thank you, Colonel. That's highly treasured praise from a man who served in three wars.

I will not wear My Military service uniform ever unless I'm in complete compliance with Regulations. What I have worn is My American Legion Uniform and as it is My haircuts still meet Military standards, I don't wear a beard and the Legion uniform is neat and does indicate My prior Military service and often We have had Honor guards from the Legion.

Best answer here by far.

I think we are missing the point. Your own personal standards are just that, your own. He is asking a serious question about regulations.

SP5 Brian Matuliewich - probably not a woman, lol

MSgt James Wright - Everyone's got internet, so access to 670-1. No excuse for not looking up the reg yourself.

I would advise against accusing anyone in and around the Ft. Bragg area of "Stolen Valor" based on facial hair. That's how mandibles get broken and orbital sockets get pushed in.

I think you have your eras a bit mixed up. It wouldn't matter if I had a photo database of every special operator since the 1st Gulf War, US troops during the Vietnam era did not sport beards, certainly not the styled and groomed one wore by DeNiro in that movie. The main indigenous troops the SF worked with then were the Montanyard mountain tribes of Vietnam & Laos who's culture did not include mandatory facial hair. But you probably know this already. If it wasn't a Muslim/cultural manliness thing, the SOF types would not have those beards.
BTW, one of the best Marines I ever knew who made MGySgt in about 17 years retired to a WV mountaintop farm and grew a heroic beard & mustache, but he never wore his uniform again after retirement.

Oh, yeah, my phone app didn't show that someone had changed the initial photo associated with this thread either. The man is no doubt a great operator from your statement, but the 'Conan the Barbarian' pose is inappropriate for the question which was "service uniform" as in blues or greens or whites, not the field/combat uniform.

SFC Mike Olson - Chris is the poster boy for dedication, resolve, duty, honor, sacrifice.