Moustaches may be worn. However, moustaches can not be grown past the ends of the top lip. Sideburns are not to be grown past the point where the bottom of the ear connects to the facial skin. In some circumstances, such as medical or religious reasons, beards may be permitted.
The condition is often found in curly-haired men and occurs in about 60% of African American men, according to studies by the American Osteopathic College of Dermatology. Beards are allowed in the Air Force only with a religious or medical waiver.
Growing a beard in the military
Beards were prohibited across all branches for two reasons: Hygiene and the need for a good seal while wearing a gas mask.
The length of the individual hairs of the sideburn will not exceed 1/8 inch when fully extended. Males will keep their face clean-shaven when in uniform, or in civilian clothes on duty. Mustaches are permitted. If worn, males will keep mustaches neatly trimmed, tapered, and tidy.
As for beards, well, they're banned. Serving members of the US Army, Navy and Marine Corps may qualify for a "shaving waiver" if they suffer from medical conditions that make shaving difficult or painful, but still have to keep any facial hair short.
Effective 22 January 2014, the U.S. military expanded its policies on religious accommodation and now allows all officer and enlisted personnel to request permission to wear beards and articles of clothing for religious reasons.
The Navy announced a new policy in March stating that sailors diagnosed with PFB would not be kicked for not shaving, and would be allowed to edge and outline their beards instead of being forced to grow them out.
Do Navy SEALs get to have beards? Beards and sideburns are banned in all military and police forces since the early 20th century. A clean-shaved face is considered part of a spirit of order, hygiene and discipline.
The ban was introduced in 1985, meaning that out of our 247-year naval history, during only 37 years have beards been disallowed. Further, as mentioned before, nearly every other naval service on earth allows beards. One would not say the Royal Navy is unprofessional due to their allowance of beards.
Soldiers may request religious accommodations to wear beards, turbans and hijabs, according to AR 670-1.
The main obstacle to beards in the sea service is the Navy's assertion, based on Naval Safety Center studies, that facial hair would obstruct the formation of an air-tight seal when sailors must wear face masks.
The official explanation for this practice was field sanitation, to help reduce the risk of spreading hair and/or body lice. In addition to personal hygiene benefits, the military buzz cut has had the following effects: Standardization of military look for troops. Adherence to regulations.
"No portion of the mustache will extend below the lip line of the upper lip," the updated policy reads. "Additionally, the mustache will not go beyond a horizontal line extending across the corners of the mouth and no more than 1/4 inch beyond a vertical line drawn from the corner of the mouth."
Recent Changes in the Navy
The new policy allows for Navy Veterans who wear their uniforms during ceremonies to have facial hair, including beards. It's required for them to make sure that their military mustaches and beards are neatly groomed and look professional.
Retired personnel are authorized facial hair when wearing Navy uniforms during functions and events. Facial hair must be properly groomed and no longer than 2 inches in length extending from the face outward.
On the legitimacy of the 8-minute nap, he says “sleeping with your legs elevated can help improve sleep onset and quality as it allows blood to flow more easily throughout the body. This is the sleep science behind the 8-minute Navy Seal nap, but that's not the only thing that makes this nap potentially effective.”
One answer to why the special forces have beards is that they need to blend in. The military allows the special forces “relaxed grooming standards” not because of folliculaphilia but because of the jobs they do. For instance, showing up to the Middle East without a beard can put a soldier at a disadvantage.
The standard states that the employer cannot permit respirators with tight-fitting facepieces to be worn by employees who have facial hair that comes between the sealing surface of the facepiece and the face, or that interferes with valve function.
Trivia answer: Special Operations Forces are allowed to have beards and long hair so that they have the opportunity to blend in with the communities they work in, such as in Afghanistan, where beards are common.
1930: The U.S. military prohibited beards because they prevent a tight seal for gas masks.
The induction haircut has both practical and psychological purposes. Originally, one of the reasons for the induction haircut was to reduce the chances of disease among closely quartered recruits from different geographical areas (with varying immunities), such as head lice.
So far, the Air Force has banned beards for all except those who have five-year medical waivers for pseudofolliculitis barbae, or chronic razor bumps, or religious waivers for those for whom beards are central to their observance, like Sikhs, Jews, Muslims and Norse Heathens.
So why the restriction? Well, it all has to do with safety. Beards can interfere with the proper seal of a pilot's oxygen mask. In the event of an emergency, a beard could prevent a pilot from getting the oxygen they need to stay conscious and alert.
Currently, beards are allowed in the Air Force only with religious exemptions or with a medical shaving waivers.
It is vital that the mask seals well against the face. Unfortunately, a beard would prevent the mask from forming a proper seal and would cause a loss of oxygen to the wearer. You definitely don't want your pilot and co-pilot losing consciousness during your flight for obvious reasons.