Can you grow a beard in the Navy?

Answer 1

In the Royal Navy it's OK, as long as you get permission. In the British Army and RAF it's not allowed, unless it's for a medical condition (severe shaving rash etc).

The reason?

The RAF and British Army use the S10 respirator, a "gas mask" for use in Nuclear, Biological and Chemical (NBC) warfare situations. The mask is a special rubber, that resists such environments. The only way it can form an effective seal on your face is if you've got a shaved face. Army and Air force personnel can wear a moustache, but anything near the jawbone and chin would make this seal ineffective.

The RN use a different kind of NBC suit, with a flash hood respirator, (I think this is because the S10 Respirator's filter is ineffective when submerged in water). Wearing a flash hood allows you to wear a beard.

Answer 2

It has little or nothing to do with blending in - that -might- have worked in Iraq to some extent in the cities, but in Afghanistan, the people there live in such tight-knit communities that even if you took a native from another village and gave him a beard, they'd still know that he wasn't supposed to be there. Facial hair is a status symbol for the Pashto culture. The practice was originally used by Army SF during the invasion as one of many ways to gain the trust and respect of the different tribes each ODA was assigned to work with, and later adopted by pretty much every other SOF that had to work with the locals - meaning pretty much everyone. Also, Afghanistan isn't in the Middle East.

Answer 3

Grooming standards for the U.S. Navy state that only facial hair authorized is a mustache. Growing of beards is only allowed due to medical condition, and with a current "NO SHAVE CHIT" issued by a recognized medical authority. The reason is that the U.S. Navy uses the MCU-2P gas mask, and a beard interferes with the seal required for proper function of the mask.

Answer 4

In the Royal Navy you can grow a beard but its all or nothing, no goatee's or moustaches only. You are given about 2 weeks to get it to a reasonable stage then its checked and if it's rubbish and patchy you have to start shaving again. there is on limit on length but it must be kept neat. At sea on deployment rules are relaxed and stupid facial hair competitions are common but you must be clean shaved before you get back. RN also use s10 respirators so its nothing to do with that.

Answer 5

In Australia you are allowed to have a beard in the navy. If you can grow a beard that is. It must be kept trimmed and neat also.

Answer 6

Growing beard is not allowed in the Navy.

Answer 7

In Polish Navy (as well as Army and Air Force) you can, but you need a permission from the unit's commander.

Conscripts don't wear facial hair at all.
Regulars sometimes do (especially a moustache).

As for reserve personnel called in for a periodical re-training, no-one seems to care with permissions. They wear whatever they like on their faces ;) I used to stop shaving under field conditions (when hot water is in short supply, you may prefer to use it for other tasks) and no one - from my direct superior NCO to company's capitan, seemed to give it a damn.

Answer 8

Yes and no.....you can grow a beard AND moustache but not one without the other. Both have to be saved off in time of conflict as it is not possible to wear a gas mask with facial hair.

Answer 9

In the US navy NO! unless you get a medical waiver which some guys had. Their faces would break out in huge zits if they shaved. This happened to negros mainly.

Answer 10

To those who say no - you are wrong! in the British Royal Navy you are allowed after getting permission from the M.A.A.