Beards in the RAF
 

As an old stager I recall an Air Force within which you could only sport a beard in uniform following facial burns or a skin allergy.Those on RN Service also got away with it.
Having been sensitised by a recent couple of examples, I now am conscious of seemingly increasing numbers of RAF "Beardies"..
I fear you reap what you sow................

What a terrible state of affairs... It's appalling.

Thank you for bringing this to our attention.

I shall write to my MP at once and in the event of war breaking out I will be demanding that we boycott the RAF until they are all clean-shaven.

:rolleyes:

what precisely are you “reaping”?

We gave this subject a good going over a year or two back https://www.pprune.org/military-avia...ghlight=beards

Nearly 200 replies, might be worth reading through if you missed it first time.

Thanks TTN I missed it.
I'll look back
H.
As of 1st September 2019 apparently.....
Hair nets "in" yet?

Take a loyalty pill VP! Surely that's why video calls are the norm, so the SWO can check the standard of your ironing?

Dreadful state of affairs....it will be false eyelashes next 😈

Haraka
 

This RAF beardy weirdy thanks you for your concern.

I will be sure to be on the look out for freshly sown seeds to reap.

BV

PS. I think they look scruffy as hell but I have always hated shaving so I’m happy as Larry. How’s that for double standards?!

...and don't forget...it applies to the men to! :O

If this boils your blood Haraka, wait until you hear about what happened the other day to a young RAF Regiment recruit. Oh, I forget - you did, and you were totally ok with it.

I personally cannot stand stubble on my face. Never had a balancing slug when in and never wanted one since I was out. Maybe because anything attempted 1/. didn't grow. 2/. was ginger. I do need a ruddy good hair cut mind!

The originator. in my opinion quite rightly, pulled that thread and I won't be goaded by your simplistic and incorrect allegation into resurrecting it here.

Good grief.!,with all the pay you chaps get now I would have thought that you would have bought Flag-poles,whistles and flags , in the garden for ceremonial `raising/lowering ,if working from home,dressed appropriately of course...!!

Surprised the Rocks didn't get the razors out. Would have done in the old days. An Eye Brow for and Eye Brow. Drunk armourers were always losing them.

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....7637d9509e.jpg
We used to have them back in the days of black and white!

OK, so it ain't that great but it helped pass the time!

Mog

Bang goes your anonymity, Mogwi...!!

I just appreciate that Mog has both his name and which hand it is (RIGHT / STBD) written on the back of his glove.

Anyway, dashing good looks or something.

I wonder where he wrote UP and DOWN?

Sums up this (and many) threads:

Every time literally anything changes in the RAF:

Serving personnel: ok whatever

Veterans (who are 100% unaffected): THIS IS AN OUTRAGE THE END OF THE RAF WAY TOO PC NOW AINT MY RAF.

Naw, just say you don’t have a camera on your computer.

And if using an official one: "bandwidth problems, Boss!" :)

I can understand that Darn Sarf they had a few more pressing concerns than shaving, so Mog can be excused his bum fluff.

But on a cosy airfield somewhere in England (or Canada for some on here) it doesn't take much time to shave and it looks way way much smarter than tipping into met brief/1st parade looking like the biker from the Village People.

Why did the Air Force Board stop at shaving? Why not let everyone wear civvies and dispense with saluting? Why not get everyone to wear a commercial logo on their polo shirts and earn some extra moolah?

But I'm a retired old fart so back to the Times and a big leather armchair for a snooze!

One could choose to be offended by the service accomodation, lack of work life balance, increasing cuts to facilities and capabilities, or any number of other things. Or one could choose to be offended by beards...

Hence my "reap what you sow" implication. Pandering to ever multiplying "Wokeness" current pressures on the Service, whilst sidestepping key issues, is a dangerous path to follow in the longer term.

Haraka
 

I hear you about wokeness. I think you need to choose your battles a little better though.

Allowing beards is not ‘woke’. It’s just a reflection of changing times.

In the 18th century men used to plait their hair and wear wigs into battle. Eventually that went out of favour and times moved on. How is the acceptance of beards any different?

Remember, change isn’t wrong. It’s just different.

I also think that those no longer serving shouldn’t really expect a vote on what is acceptable any more. There are an awful lot of practices from bygone eras that we no longer use. That can be good and bad.

I don’t really allow any of it to upset me too much. And I am still serving.

D&I training days are another great example of something that upsets a lot of people (especially older males). However, from listening to the conversations of some people that I serve alongside it is clear that we have a way to go before they are no longer required.

Honestly there are bigger and better things to get upset about.

BV

Well said m8. :ok:

text speak! Oh my god this forum is ruined!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Raaaaaaaggggee11111!!!!!!!!

BV seemed to imply he may have one?

212Man, not sure that Bob works for the same Air Force as you...

On a practical note, does the beard interfere with the fit of the mask, especially if pressure breathing is active?

Clearly not, looking at Mogwi's picture.

I think Mogwi looks pretty good for 73!

Well there was always this precedent.


https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....1bd6080013.jpg

It's the beard!

The Royals don't count.

The Prince James Hewitt Jr used to wear one in full dress uniform but he's bu66ered off to California now so forget him.

Beards in the RAF appears to not be on my list of problems in the world to worry about?

Am I missing something?

Well some people have been out of the armed forces way longer that they were in them! 🤣🤣

Mog has been very kind to me in the past, so I shall choose my words carefully... what I mean is, does a full beard interfere with the seal of the mask?!

Not completely, if the attached photo of BV's Doppelgänger is anything to go by https://www.nationalgeographic.com/h...s-alphabet-spd :D

Jack

I was only young, yer honour!:ok:

BV, very true and very astute. I experience this constantly. Not living in Blighty just now, I can only conclude from internet and media studies the the phrase "Woke" is a term meaning: "Someone has called me on my crass and self-centered views".