The clean-shavenness fetish in the American military is just that, a fetish. There are perfectly competent militaries the world over that include bearded men. In the 19th century most notable American military figures had facial hair. Sikhs have traditionally be ferocious and loyal warriors and are required by their religion to wear beards. The excuse of gas-masks is out-dated since a modern chemical weapons environment would require full CBW suits. Getting rid of pointless regulations is a boon to business, ordinary life, and military preparedness, and the clean-shaven regulation is a pointless regulation.
