Army allowing beards now.

For men AND women or just the men?

Also, what is a man?

They just don't get it

quote:

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However, as the Army has struggled with recruitment, it has looked into ways to promote inclusivity and encourage men with beards to sign up.

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I could compromise on beards in the armed forces, but in return I'd like our armed forces to eliminate anyone with a goatee.

Gas, gas, gas


O shite

Did anyone besides me bother reading the article?

They’re talking about the freaking BRITISH Army.

Clearly a play to get Aloha Snackbars.

Where do they stand on bearded clams?

You got me

The whole point of not allowing beards was that they interfere with the proper seal of a gas mask.

quote:

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I could compromise on beards in the armed forces

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Um in the last 4 years we've compromised more than that:



Here are the major dress code modifications in the US military today compared to 4 years ago:

**Air Force**¹²:
- Simplified and clarified dress and personal appearance instruction.
- Implemented the Religious Accommodation Process.
- Introduced No-hat, No-salute areas.
- Specialized nametag wear for DAF and Joint Chiefs support staff.
- Introduced two-piece flight duty uniform.
- Updated bag policy, including gym bag, backpack, handbags.
- Allowed female wear of mess dress trousers or slacks.
- Allowed wear of caps for baldness or hair loss due to medical conditions.
- Permanent wear of EPME badge.
- Security Forces shield on the OCP uniform.
- Allowed beverage consumption while walking in uniform.
- Authorized wear of commercial maternity cold weather outerwear.
- Wing commander delegation to approve religious regalia.
- Organizational emblems on the back of morale shirt.
- Heritage morale patches on the flight duty uniform.
- Updated grooming standards for tattoo/brands/body markings, mustache wear, male and female hair standards, female nail polish colors and other cosmetics.
- In March 2023, the Air Force updated its dress and appearance standards policy to allow tattoos up to 1 inch long on the hands and back of the neck¹5.
- The Air Force continues to prohibit tattoos on the head, face, tongue, lips, eyes, and scalp¹5.

**Army**³4:
- Implemented the AGSU.
- Clarified policy on breastfeeding or pumping in uniform.
- Authorized breastfeeding/pumping Soldiers to wear an optional undershirt.
- Implemented the Improved Hot Weather Combat Uniform.
- Full transition to the Operational Camouflage Pattern, removing references to the Universal Camouflage Pattern.
- New face coverings and a female version of the hot weather combat uniform.
- The Combat Cloth Face Covering color changed from Operational Camouflage Pattern to black and coyote brown.
- No minimum hair length for all personnel1.
- Soldiers are allowed to wear multiple hairstyles as long as it maintains a neat and professional appearance1.
- Women are allowed to wear a short ponytail if their hair does not have the texture or length for a bun4.
- The Army is also removing the minimum hair length for female soldiers, and will permit two hairstyles to be worn at once4.
- Optional wear of earrings, lipstick and nail colors for women and clear nail polish for men.

- In 2015, the Army began allowing soldiers to have tattoos, granting more freedom for individual expression¹.
- In June 2022, the Army updated its regulations for tattoos¹². The changes include:
- Soldiers can now have one tattoo on each hand that does not exceed one inch in length¹².
- Soldiers can place one tattoo no larger than two inches on the back of their neck and one, inch-long tattoo behind each ear¹².
- Tattoos can be impressed between fingers as long as the designs cannot be seen when the fingers are closed¹².
- The Army continues to prohibit tattoos on a Soldier’s face¹.


**Navy**¹5¹6:
- Reinstated the female bucket cover and allowed sailors to place their hands in their pockets¹5.
- Introduced a new, lightweight safety boot and modifications to the maternity service dress blue coat¹5.
- Allowed female sailors to wear the tiara as an optional uniform component when wearing dinner dress blue and white jacket uniforms¹5.
- Allowed sailors to wear black or navy blue leggings with the physical training uniform shorts and fitness suit pants¹5.
- Allowed female sailors to wear t-shirts specifically designed for women¹5.
- Allowed sailors to wear false eyelashes or eyelash extensions in uniform¹5.
- More Navy crews are expected to receive the two-piece, flame retardant uniform in 2024¹6.
- In 2016, the Navy eased its tattoo rules for the first time in a decade8.
- The Navy now allows one tattoo on the neck or behind the ear that is no larger than one inch7.
- The Navy allows multiple or large tattoos below the elbow or knee, including the wrists and hands8.

**Marine Corps**¹²³:
- Made hosiery optional for women wearing uniform skirts¹.
- Female Marines will get dress slacks — a replacement for the service’s last required skirt — in time for the Marine Corps birthday balls in November 2024².
- Female Marines no longer have to wear pantyhose when they wear uniform skirts³.
- In 2007, the Marine Corps banned sleeve tattoos¹².
- In 2016, the Marine Corps upheld the ban on sleeve tattoos but allowed for an unlimited number of tattoos on other body parts (except the head, neck, and hands)¹³.
- In October 2021, the Marine Corps updated its tattoo policy to allow "sleeve tattoos" that cover most of the arms and legs¹².