Purpose:
The aim of this policy is to modernize grooming standards within the United States Military, promoting equality in personal expression, enhancing morale, and acknowledging the findings of recent studies which support the compatibility of beards with military equipment, including gas masks.
Policy Overview:
-
Right to Personal Expression:
- Acknowledging the evolving standards of personal expression in society and military inclusivity, this policy extends the right of male service members to express their individuality through grooming, similar to allowances made for female service members.
-
Facial Hair Regulations:
- Authorization:
- All male service members are authorized to grow beards.
- Length and Maintenance:
- Beards must be kept neat, clean, and professional in appearance.
- There is no maximum length for beards, but they must be well-groomed and not interfere with the proper wearing of military equipment or headgear.
- Service members must ensure their beards do not extend below the point where the collar meets the neck or below the cheekbones.
- Authorization:
-
Operational Compatibility:
- Gas Mask Studies:
- Multiple studies have shown that facial hair, including beards, does not significantly impair the seal of modern gas masks when properly maintained:
- A 2018 study published in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene concluded that while beards can affect mask seal, this can be mitigated with training and proper mask fit testing.
- Another study from the U.S. Army Research Laboratory in 2019 found that with current mask designs and maintenance protocols, the impact on gas mask efficiency due to facial hair is minimal when compared to other factors like mask fit and user training.
- Multiple studies have shown that facial hair, including beards, does not significantly impair the seal of modern gas masks when properly maintained:
- Field Testing:
- Service branches must conduct or reference ongoing field tests to ensure that beards do not compromise safety or operational effectiveness in scenarios involving chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) threats.
- Gas Mask Studies:
-
Health and Inclusion:
- This policy addresses health concerns like pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB), which disproportionately affects African American men, by eliminating the need for frequent shaving which exacerbates this condition.
- It also promotes inclusivity, allowing service members of various cultural and religious backgrounds to maintain facial hair as part of their identity or beliefs.
-
Implementation:
- Training:
- All service members will receive training on how to maintain facial hair in compliance with military standards, including how to ensure compatibility with protective gear.
- Equipment Adjustments:
- Military equipment, particularly gas masks, may need to be adjusted or selected based on the individual’s facial structure and hair growth to ensure a proper seal.
- Training:
-
Review and Feedback:
- A review committee will be established to gather feedback from units, analyze any impact on morale, discipline, and operational readiness, and recommend adjustments to the policy if necessary.
-
Exceptions:
- Commanders can only require service members to be clean-shaven in actual wartime CBRN environments where the immediate threat of chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear attack is present. This requirement does not extend to training scenarios or peacetime operations unless explicitly justified by the immediate operational necessity.
-
Public and Military Perception:
- Efforts will be made to educate both the public and military on these changes to avoid perceptions of lowered standards, emphasizing that discipline and professionalism are maintained through grooming standards, not merely the absence of facial hair.
Legislation and Oversight:
- This policy will be enacted through amendments to the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) and respective service branch regulations.
- The Department of Defense (DoD) will oversee the implementation, ensuring that all branches comply with the new standards while maintaining operational integrity.
Effective Date:
- The policy will take effect 90 days following its approval to allow for the necessary updates to regulations, training, and public education.
This policy aims to balance tradition with contemporary personal freedoms, ensuring that the military remains an inclusive environment that reflects the diversity of the nation it serves, while also addressing practical concerns through empirical evidence rather than outdated assumptions.