How can you wear a helmet with a turban on top of your head? Or seal a gas mask if you have a beard? And what about camo? Do the turbans come in chocolate-chip versions?
There are reasons for standards. Deviations should be for legitimate mission-oriented reasons, not for feel-good ones.
What a crock of PC crap…
I would love to run into a beard wearing serviceman who is in uniform while visiting the PX. My wife should videotape it. Just envision R Lee Ermey in Full Metal Jacket as he unloads on Pile.
This is way beyond PC, as CenTexTim says - how do you seal a gas mask with a beard? I would be fine with letting said individual participate in the latest chemical weapons experiments - in fact he/she should be required to!
How will our servicemen/women differentiate between themselves and the terrorists?
Umm - wasn’t it the POINT of America to come here - and ASSIMILATE? This ‘we are the world’ bs is going to get us killed.