Harri S...h on 36IOT in 1979 had been recoursed to us due to various problems that were not anything to do with his ability or confidence. Harri decided on being recourse that he would play them at their own game and had turban, beard etc. Great guy who went on to fly Hercs, sadly a bit too low over Swindon.

Oddly enough not a single airman under my command who has left in the last 5 or so years has cited the lack of beards as a reason for PVRing.

Beards only look right on sailors and Action Man.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-49313406


So now its out there, will this mean the Navy can have moustaches?

The Army will still need to write to Betty ;)

Prince Harry was given special permission from the Queen to keep his beard during his wedding as he chose to wear his Army uniform during the ceremony.

Oh well, further degradation of standards. (Don't bother to harangue as it's water off a duck's back)

Perhaps a measure of how difficult recruitment to HM Forces is nowadays.

I can't imagine why . . .

Grief, it will be tattoos next. Ah, think that's been discussed before.

Different guy. No wings but definitely looks related

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....ef1134bb69.jpg

I did not know Edward Smith was Royalty.

Must have been revealed in a new conspiracy theory about his ship that I haven't read yet.

[QUOTE]I have to assume recruiting and retention was going fine in the 60s, otherwise we* would have been allowed shoulder-length hair back then?[QUOTE]

Just reminded me of an occasion when we were sitting in the mess dining room at Akrotiri having breakfast when 3 very long haired types in flying suits came and sat at an adjacent table. I thought our very stuffy squadron CO was going to have a stroke, as long hair was a bête noire of his. He was just getting up to administer a huge bollocking to the offending blokes when one of our number pointed out that they were a civvy Canberra crew, who I think flew target facilities aircraft for the Navy from Exeter

Quite true, I remember, in 1967, as a young JT at Wittering, piling into my old Ford Zephyr with 5 others and driving across to Spalding to see Jimi Hendrix and Pink Floyd. Must have looked total prats in kaftans and flares with regulation haircuts

Oh, pass the eye bleach! I know exactly how you felt, but by 67 I was at tengah, and close-shorn. It was the heat, you know!. :)

Airmen leave because they're not allowed a beard? What! Perhaps they should grow some b****cks instead. God-knows how they'd have survived in the old Number 2 uniforms and had to share a billet & make bed packs once a year for the AOC's inspection. I can feel the snowflakes melting as I type... :ouch:

Relaaaaaaaax...
 

Yes, but you are a Viking !!!

Do the bearded folk have to cover the beard in Vaseline (other products are available!) before donning a face-wellie?

Presumably someone will produce guidance? Otherwise the RAF could find itself with a few ZZ Top lookalikes...

Pony tails next?

Gosh! Harry's aged a bit

They have. And we won't.