Originally Posted by
trekker pete
Yes, the navy changed it's rule on beards back around 1984, not long after I got out of bootcamp. All those old movies you see of sailors with beards are atleast 25 years old.
They used the excuse that you couldn't properly wear a MK5 gas mask. I think it was probably just some ahole admiral that couldn't grow a decent one anyway.
So, for the OP, you can get a military waiver on the recumbent beard law.
You really ought to buy a fake one though. Never know when you might be out on a ride and are spotted by other 'benters who will assume you just stole your bent and attack you.
Oh, I thought the poster meant that they allowed them now. I was not only in the Navy, but on the firefighting team and in a Repair Locker when they made everyone go clean shaven. Too many failing to get a good seal on not only the Mk5, but the OBA as well. They tried making people trim them for a fit first, but inspection teams would still find people that couldn't get a proper seal.