Related Articles
Hipsters in the ranks…Royal Air Force top guns persuade military chiefs to let them grow beards
- Airmen have quit their military careers because they were forced to shave, says RAF survey
- Until now, they could only grow beards on religious grounds or for authorised medical reasons
- The military chiefs have been persuaded and the change will come into effect from September 1
- But when there is a hazard, people with beards may be told to modify it so they can wear respirators safely
The Royal Air Force may soon boast trendy hipsters among its ranks after top guns persuaded military chiefs to let them grow beards, The Mail on Sunday can reveal.
Junior airmen were angry that they couldn’t adopt the look – and now following a year-long campaign, top brass have relented.
The main caveats are that airmen must gain permission from their commanding officers before growing facial hair and they must present their beards for inspection.
Handlebar moustaches similar to Wing Commander Roger Morewood’s might be making a comeback: RAF chiefs have been persuaded to let their juniors grow bears after many left their military careers because they were forced to shave
The change is confirmed in a routine orders document for 903 Expeditionary Air Wing (EAW) based at RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus where British pilots have been launching bombing raids against Islamic State targets in Iraq and Syria.
The boss of 903 EAW, Group Captain Jonny Moreton, told his troops: ‘The RAF facial hair policy will come into effect from September 1, 2019. This policy will permit RAF Regular and Reserve personnel to grow and wear a beard.’
It comes after an RAF survey revealed that being forced to shave was a major factor in many airmen quitting their military careers.
610 Squadron’s Alf Bridson and Steve Biggs are pictured holding down the plane’s tail for an engine test with clean-shaven faces. Until now, they could only grow beards on religious grounds or for authorised medical reasons
Until now, RAF personnel were only permitted to grow beards on religious grounds or when specially authorised for medical reasons.
But handlebar moustaches, lovingly waxed and twirled, were once synonymous with RAF pilots, as spectacularly sported by Wing Commander Roger Morewood, a Battle of Britain hero.
The Mail on Sunday understands that under the new rules, when a hazard clearly exists, those with beards may be ordered to modify facial hair to enable the correct wearing of respirators and breathing apparatus.
During the campaign in Helmand province, ground troops were granted a temporary waiver from shaving duties – a move intended to impress elders in Afghanistan, most of whom had long beards.
Shaving was also difficult for soldiers facing water shortages.
Advertisement
Source link
