What exactly are the rules on male facial hair in the military?

Is the fact that you hardly ever see a moustache in the British Army any more simply a reflection of current fashions?





What is the process for actually applying to grow one- I think I%26#039;ve heard you have to apply to your CO. Is there anyone that generally isn%26#039;t allowed to grow one?





Only asking out of curiosity!|||It is more of a current trend, during the 80%26#039;s you used to see a lot more. The rules are you can grow a moustache. Beards are permitted in certain regiments for ceremonial reasons for example in my regiment, the assault Pioneer Warrant Officer is allowed to grow a full beard.





Generally you inform your Platoon Sergeant/Company Sergeant Major and tell him you are intending to grow a moustache. The rule of thumb is that you have a fortnights grace to see if you can sprout a decent growth. If you can then you are permitted to retain it. If not then you%26#039;ll be asked to shave it off. At this point you will have more than likely been the butt of many jokes within your Company for sporting a crap tache!|||Within the British Army a moustache is acceptable though generally only worn by those of slightly more experience / rank. The rule%26#039;s pertaining to Facial Hair relate to the use of the issue S10 respirator. A beard or such like would result in a poor / non airtight seal when using the respirator and could lead to death in a Nuclear, Biological or Chemical warfare situation. Traditionally some members of the Royal Navy have worn beards and indeed still do. As in times of NBC war the whole ship is sealed and no respirator is required. The Royal Air Force also have stringent rules regarding facial hair mostly pertaining to the use of gas masks / breathing apparatus.|||You have to have a %26quot;no shave chit%26quot; to grow a beard. That means there%26#039;s a medical reason that you wouldn%26#039;t be able to shave., (Skin irritation) The catch is that you%26#039;re not allowed to trim it and make it look nice. You either shave or you don%26#039;t shave at all. There%26#039;s always a catch. I%26#039;ve seen people accomplish this by shaving 4 or 5 times in one day and going to medical and claiming that they had a skin condition. They%26#039;re given a no shave chit and don%26#039;t have to shave anymore. Once a month I think.|||AR 670-1 will give you basic guidelines for military appearance, but individual units, batteries, brigades, etc... may add to this regulation. I.E. my husband%26#039;s unit specifies which type of socks they are allowed to wear to PT. (crew, ankle, tube, etc...)





Some units of the Army deployed to Afganistan are allowed to have a beard as well as a mustache. In my husband%26#039;s 9 years of service he has never been allowed to have facial hair and his hair has always had to be shorter than regulation due to unit%26#039;s additions on Ft. Bliss.





Not sure if any of this helps...|||Just tell them you%26#039;re a Muslim and want to grow a 10 foot beard. No...seriously you can have a moustache if everyone else in you unit has one...but you can%26#039;t be the odd one out.|||No idea, but I know someone in the army(US) and he has to shave his head and doesn%26#039;t have any facial hair so I%26#039;m guessing that you probably can%26#039;t. Google it, I bet there will be an answer.|||no beard, but you can have a moustache but it must not cover the upper lip and must not extend past the width of lips.|||Depending on the unit you might be ordered to grow one.ie. farrier/blacksmith in the Lifeguards.|||shut your noise|||NOT ALLOWED