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British Soldier: Soon you'll have a choice
Photo: Rahmat Gul / AP
It was forbidden for 100 years, but now the ban has fallen: soldiers and officers in the British army are now allowed to wear beards on duty. This was confirmed by a spokesman for the British broadcaster BBC. The Times first reported. King Charles III made a corresponding decision. as commander in chief signed on Thursday.
This means that the third part of the Crown's armed forces has now left the outdated ban behind. The Air Force and Navy allowed facial hair several years ago.
The army leadership expects this innovation to be able to attract more recruits. There are concerns that the younger generation in particular could be deterred by the ban. According to the reports, a survey of soldiers and reservists showed that an "overwhelming majority" believed that the army should allow its soldiers to wear beards.
"Ridiculous"
Defense Secretary Grant Shapps described the ban as “ridiculous” last year, reigniting years of discussion about the ban. "How can we still be struggling with recruitment and then arbitrarily say you can't join," Shapps said.
The British army is now making it clear: the new beard freedom has limits. According to the reports, the beard must be between 2.5 and 25.5 mm long and must not extend beyond the cheekbones and neck. In addition, the hair must be well-groomed and must not have “spotty or uneven growth” and “no exaggerated colors.”
In Germany, beards are also allowed in the Bundeswehr. In the guidelines for the external appearance of soldiers it is stated under the point “Beard costume”: “If you wear a beard, it is in a well-groomed and trimmed condition.” And because this probably does not apply to a three-day stubble, it also says: “ If you want to grow a beard, it must be done during your vacation.«
The Easter vacation could be enough for that.
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