Why are Certain Indian Special Forces Allowed to Keep Beard and Long Hair? (2024)

FAQs

Why are Certain Indian Special Forces Allowed to Keep Beard and Long Hair? ›

India. In the Indian Armed Forces, male Sikh servicemen are allowed to wear full beards as their religion expressly requires followers to do so.

Practically speaking, looking like the locals helps with reconnaissance, security, and capture operations. Even at home in America, blending in is important for Special Forces operators. Beards, longer hair, and other popular styles allow them to fit in with a civilian populace.

Both the Navy and the Marine Corps generally don't allow facial hair other than mustaches, but they allow beards for religious reasons or for service members with medical conditions like razor bumps.

When wearing the uniform or in a duty status, hairstyles/haircuts will have hair off the ears and above the collar. Hair will be no more than 2 inches in bulk, 4 inches in length and not to extend below the eyebrows when headgear is removed or show underneath when headwear is worn.

You can have any hair length if it is worn up. If worn down, your hair should not extend beyond the lower edge of your collar when standing up straight in uniform.

Psychological Reasons for Special Forces Beards

Growing a beard can have psychological benefits for Special Forces personnel, such as increased confidence and self-reliance, as it allows them to assert their individuality and break away from traditional military grooming standards.

Troops of certain faiths, such as Sikhs, Muslims and Rastafarians, were already allowed to grow full beards as long as they did not put their operational effectiveness, health or safety at risk.

Delta operators are granted an enormous amount of flexibility and autonomy during military operations overseas. Relaxed grooming standards such as civilian hairstyles and facial hair are allowed to enable the members to blend in and avoid recognition as military personnel.

The only places on the body that are off limits are the head, face and scalp. Tattoos on the torso are also allowed, but they must not be visible underneath whites.

Excluding limited exemptions for religious accommodation, the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps prohibit beards on the basis of hygiene and the necessity of a good seal for chemical weapon protective masks.

Can Army rangers have beards? ›

Handlebar mustaches, goatees, and beards are not authorized. Beards are only authorized for those Soldiers who require a medical exemption or religious accommodation. Soldiers may receive a profile for facial hair if they have a medical condition warranting facial hair. This will be determined by a medical provider.

Your haircut and style should present a balanced appearance. Ponytails and braids are allowed as long as the ends do not fall more than 3 inches below the edge of your uniform collar. Locks are allowed as long as they fall above your collar.

The Navy is more concerned with protecting the "how" of its missions than the "who." As an elite fighting unit that specializes in covert operations, its methods are, of course, a matter of national security. The Navy expects SEALs to adhere to their nondisclosure pledges and seriously disciplines those who do not.

Extreme colors include, but are not limited to, purple, bright pink, red, gold, blue, black, hot pink, green, yellow, white, grey, ombre, and fluorescent/neon colors, to include French manicure. Colors that are authorized to wear include but are not limited to nude/natural shades, American manicure and light pink.

The Army directive says that each lock, or dreadlock, "will be of uniform dimension; have a diameter no greater than 1/2 inch; and present a neat, professional, and well-groomed appearance."

Trivia answer: Special Operations Forces are allowed to have beards and long hair so that they have the opportunity to blend in with the communities they work in, such as in Afghanistan, where beards are common.

While the standard does not ban beards per se, it does require employers to ensure that bearded employees who are required to wear tight-fitting facepieces trim their beards so that they do not interfere with the sealing surface of the respirator or are not so large that they could interfere with valve function.

Hair should be kept neat and well-groomed. Hair should be no longer than 4.0 inches. Hair may not touch the ears or collar.

Its use is diverse and includes many facets such as: identity protection, the maintenance of its neck at human temperature, or the protection against the wind and the rain. Let's see now all this in more detail starting with the use of the balaclava by the special forces of different countries.

In the early days of the American military, soldiers were required to have short hair and clean-shaven faces. These regulations were enforced for practical reasons, as long hair and facial hair could interfere with the proper fitting of helmets and gas masks.