The British Army now permits its leaders and soldiers to grow beards while still serving in the army.
The moustaches and beards need to be well-groomed, tidy, and often inspected.
The army is the last of the armed forces to permit its members to grow beards, thus the regulation takes effect immediately.
The new rule is the result of years of deliberation over the army’s facial hair policy.
An army official said that the decision was made after a multi-month investigation into the army’s appearance policy.
Army leadership then looked at the findings before deciding to change the policy.
“We have listened to our people and acted,” the spokesman said.
The army said that there may be specific occasions where the personnel are required to be clean-shaven, officers and soldiers will be “directed to shave as and when circumstances dictate”
Army leaders hope the new policy will help attract new recruits among a generation of young men who are choosing to sport facial hair in greater numbers than in recent decades.
Several foreign armies such as those of Belgium and Denmark allow troops to grow beards.
