re: Army allowing beards now.

Back when I first enlisted in the Marines the Navy allowed Petty Officers of some rank I think three stripes down to wear beards and the Air Force actually had a dress uniform in shorts.

All we had were wool and poly dress uniforms woodland camo without fig tags and yes white T's or no T's were mandatory.

Before AIDS you had to keep your scalp shaved around the ears.

I don't know when ridiculous grooming standards started but with rank certain conditions should be allowed IMO.