stokes stokes:
About time, Beards are dirty!!! Guys have bullshitted for years about getting a proper seal around their masks, now they have the shave before they show up for fire training!!!
They're no dirtier than your hair. I wore a beard from the mid eighties when they we're reinstated, till the present day and at no time while serving did I ever have any problem getting a seal on my chemox or gas mask. The trick was to keep your beard properly trimmed and your neckline clean shaven.
This is another politically correct move by the military to weed out hormonally challenged losers who can't grow proper beards, sailors who don't maintain their beards or to appease the other two branches who don't allow them, except in special circumstances.
Just wait till all the medical chits start pouring in for skin rashes from shaving like they did when they we're banned before.
This is big brother all over again, saying you're to stupid to ensure your own safety by trimming your beard and shaving your neckline, so we have to do it for you.
Fucking stupid.
Another freedom of choice moment removed by your friendly politically correct masters.