Officers and enlisted men will be allowed to grow beards, but they must maintain a professional appearance and follow specific guidelines on the appearance of their beards, Carney said. The policy came into effect on Friday to allow people on Easter holidays to immediately start growing their facial hair.
Those who are unshaven should expect to have their appearance reviewed to ensure their beard complies with Army regulations. It will sometimes still be necessary to remove the beard if the operational situation requires it.
Grant Shapps, British Defense Secretary, is among the supporters of the new measure. He told The Times last year that banning beards in the military was “ridiculous” and called for the institution to “modernize.”
With the change, Britain joins the armies of Denmark, Germany and Belgium, which already allow their troops to grow beards, the BBC reported.
Politico
