In the United States Army, the regulations regarding facial hair and beards are determined by each soldier’s rank and duty assignment. Only certain ranks are authorized to wear beards, and even then there are strict guidelines regarding beard length and appearance. Understanding Army grooming standards can help soldiers abide by regulations and avoid any issues.
Quick Overview of Army Facial Hair Regulations
In general, most ranks in the Army are required to be clean-shaven when in uniform. The exceptions are soldiers who are granted religious accommodations or medical profiles that authorize them to wear beards. Additionally, some special operations units have more relaxed grooming standards that permit operators to wear beards during deployment.
Here is a quick rundown of which Army ranks are authorized to wear beards:
- Enlisted soldiers in most conventional units are not allowed to wear beards when in uniform.
- Commissioned officers are generally required to be clean-shaven as well.
- Special Forces operators may be granted permission to wear beards during deployment at their commander’s discretion.
- Soldiers with religious accomodations may wear neatly trimmed beards up to 2 inches in length.
- Soldiers with medical profiles authorizing a shaving waiver may wear short, well-kept beards.
The regulations aim to balance the Army’s interest in uniformity and discipline with soldiers’ medical needs and religious practices. Commanders have some discretion to relax facial hair standards, but most conventional troops must remain clean-shaven when in uniform.
Grooming Standards for Enlisted Soldiers
The Army grooming regulations are laid out in Army Regulation 670-1. This policy covers acceptable hair styles, facial hair, fingernails, jewelry and other aspects of personal appearance for soldiers.
For enlisted soldiers from ranks Private to Sergeant Major, the regulations state that men must be clean-shaven when in uniform. Mustaches are permitted, but they must be neatly trimmed and cannot extend past the corners of the mouth.
Sideburns cannot be worn lower than the bottom of the ear opening, and the sideburns must have a straight line at the bottom, not flared. Goatees, beards and other eccentric facial hair styles are not authorized.
The only exceptions for enlisted soldiers are those who receive permission to wear beards for medical or religious reasons. These soldiers may wear short, neatly groomed beards up to 2 inches in length.
Enlisted women may wear cosmetics and nail polish in service and dress uniforms, but eccentric styles are not allowed. Hair must be worn in a professional manner and may touch, but not fall below, the bottom edge of the collar.
Summary of Facial Hair Rules for Enlisted:
- Men must be clean-shaven when in uniform
- Mustaches permitted if neatly trimmed
- No beards unless religious accommodation or medical profile
- Sideburns cannot flare out or extend past ear opening
- Women’s makeup and nails must be professional
Grooming Standards for Commissioned Officers
Commissioned officers in the Army, which includes ranks from Second Lieutenant to General, are expected to set the example when it comes to military bearing and professional appearance.
According to Army Regulation 670-1, male commissioned officers must be clean-shaven when in uniform. Mustaches are allowed, with the same trim requirements as enlisted soldiers.
Like enlisted personnel, the only exception for male officers to wear beards is if they have received authorization for religious or medical reasons. Female officers must also avoid eccentric hairstyles and makeup.
Summary of Facial Hair Rules for Officers:
- Men must be clean-shaven when in uniform
- Mustaches allowed if neatly trimmed
- Beards only authorized for religious/medical waivers
- Women’s makeup and hairstyles must be conservative
Officers who need shaving waivers for medical conditions may wear short, neatly trimmed beards no longer than 2 inches. This also applies to officers who receive religious accommodations to wear beards.
Special Forces Grooming Standards
Army Special Forces units such as the Green Berets have more latitude when it comes to facial hair and grooming standards. SF operators are often deployed to remote areas or conducting missions that require blending in with local populations.
According to Field Manual 3-05.20 for Special Forces operations, SF commanders may authorize their troops to wear beards and adjust grooming standards during deployment as needed to meet mission requirements.
However, this relaxed standard does not apply when Special Forces personnel are back home at their home duty station. The SF exception is only intended for deployed troops based on their mission needs.
Key Facts About SF Grooming:
- SF operators may wear beards when deployed at commander’s discretion
- Intended to help blend in with local population
- Back home, SF personnel must adhere to Army regulations
- SF exception only applies to deployed troops, not home station
Medical and Religious Accommodations
Army regulations make allowances for soldiers whose religious faith or medical needs preclude them from shaving. In these cases, troops can request permission to wear short, well-maintained beards.
For religious accommodations, Army Directive 2017-03 lays out the guidelines for soldiers seeking waivers for religious practices. Requests are reviewed on a case-by-case basis by the soldier’s chain of command.
If approved, the soldier may wear a beard up to 2 inches in length, measured from the bottom of the chin. The beard must be worn with a mustache and cannot be eccentric or faddish in style.
Troops with painful skin conditions that make it difficult to shave may also receive a temporary or permanent shaving profile authorizing a short, neatly trimmed beard up to 2 inches long.
Key Facts About Religious and Medical Beards:
- Religious waivers reviewed case-by-case by chain of command
- May wear 2 inch (or shorter) beard with mustache if approved
- Medical shaving profiles issued by healthcare provider
- Medical beards also 2 inches max and require mustache
These waivers enable soldiers with unique circumstances to serve while respecting their religious convictions or medical needs.
Summary of Which Ranks Can Have Beards
To summarize, here is an overview of which Army ranks are authorized to wear facial hair and beards:
| Rank | Facial Hair Allowance |
|---|---|
| Enlisted Soldiers | Clean shaven unless shaving waiver approved |
| Commissioned Officers | Clean shaven unless shaving waiver approved |
| Special Forces | May wear beard on deployment at commander’s discretion |
| Religious Accommodation | May wear 2″ beard with mustache when approved |
| Medical Shaving Waiver | May wear 2″ beard with mustache when approved |
As the table illustrates, conventional enlisted and commissioned soldiers must remain clean-shaven unless they have secured permission for a short, well-maintained religious or medical beard. Special Forces personnel have more leeway to wear beards when deployed.
Conclusion
Army grooming standards aim to balance uniformity, safety and professionalism with religious freedoms and medical needs. For most conventional soldiers, this means maintaining a clean-shaven face when in uniform.
Only Special Forces operators, soldiers with religious accommodations, and troops with medical profiles are granted exceptions to wear short, neatly groomed beards. Commanders can exercise discretion for deployed troops based on mission needs.
By understanding the Army’s facial hair and beard regulations, soldiers can present a polished, professional appearance and avoid any issues with standards compliance.
With appropriate exceptions for religious practices, medical conditions and deployed missions, the Army’s grooming policies aim to have soldiers looking sharp and upholding military bearing while allowing some flexibility when needed.