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CAF Beard policy-CANFORGEN 158/18

Shamelessly stolen from Reddit

R 251819Z SEP 18

FM NDHQ CMP OTTAWA

TO CANFORGEN

BT

UNCLAS

SECTION 1 OF 2

CANFORGEN 158/18 CMP 078/18

SIC WAC

BILINGUAL MESSAGE/MESSAGE BILINGUE

SUBJ: AMENDMENT TO BEARD POLICY

REFS:A.QR AND O 17.02

B. QR AND O 17.03

C. A-DH-265-000/AG-001 CHAPTER 2

1.PERSONAL DRESS AND APPEARANCE OF MILITARY MEMBERS REFLECT ON THE

PROFESSIONALISM AND CREDIBILITY OF THE CANADIAN ARMED FORCES (CAF).

IN ACCORDANCE WITH QUEEN S REGULATIONS AND ORDERS

(QRO) 17.03 (REF B), THE WEARING OF A BEARD IS SUBJECT TO

RESTRICTIONS AS ORDERED BY THE CHIEF OF THE DEFENCE STAFF

2.CONSULTATIONS WERE HELD WITH CAF MEMBERS BY THE NATIONAL





PAGE 2 RCCPJAQ1040 UNCLAS

DEFENCE CLOTHING AND DRESS COMMITTEE (NDCDC) WHICH REVEALED CONCERNS

REGARDING THE EXISTING BEARD POLICY. IT BECAME APPARENT THAT THE

EXISTING POLICY IS BROADER THAN REQUIRED TO MAINTAIN OPERATIONAL

EFFECTIVENESS. CHANGES TO THE BEARD POLICY IN THIS

CANFORGEN CONTINUE TO RECOGNIZE BOTH THE NEED TO ENSURE FORCE

PROTECTION AND COMFORT TO MILITARY MEMBERS OVER A WIDE RANGE OF

OPERATIONAL AND CLIMATIC CONDITIONS WHILE ALSO SUPPORTING THE

COMPLETE SPECTRUM OF ACTIVITY FROM CEREMONIAL DUTIES TO COMBAT

OPERATIONS, WHILE ALLOWING CAF MEMBERS INCREASED FREEDOM TO MAKE

PERSONAL CHOICES REGARDING THEIR APPEARANCE

3.EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY, THE WEARING OF A BEARD IS AUTHORIZED FOR

ALL CAF MEMBERS UPON ATTAINMENT OF THEIR OPERATIONALLY FUNCTIONAL

POINT (OFP) OR HAVING COMPLETED DEVELOPMENTAL PERIOD ONE, WHICHEVER

COMES LAST. HOWEVER, COMMANDERS OF COMMANDS, TASK FORCE COMMANDERS

AND COMMANDING OFFICERS RETAIN THE RIGHT TO ORDER RESTRICTIONS ON

THE WEARING OF A BEARD TO MEET SAFETY AND OPERATIONAL REQUIREMENTS.

THIS INCLUDES RESTRICTIONS PERTAINING TO OPERATIONS AND TRAINING

WHERE, IN A CHEMICAL BIOLOGICAL RADIOLOGICAL NUCLEAR (CBRN)

ENVIRONMENT OR CBRN TRAINING ENVIRONMENT, A BEARD CAN BE ORDERED TO

BE REMOVED TO ENSURE FORCE PROTECTION ON OPERATIONS OR TRAINING.





PAGE 3 RCCPJAQ1040 UNCLAS

SUCH RESTRICTIONS WILL BE AS TEMPORARY AS FEASIBLE (E.G. AS LONG AS

THE ENTIRE DURATION OF AN OPERATIONAL TOUR IN A CBRN ENVIRONMENT OR

AS SHORT AS A SINGLE TRAINING DAY FOR CBRN OPERATIONS). WHERE

CURRENT CAF EQUIPMENT CAPABILITIES CANNOT ENSURE FORCE PROTECTION OR

THE ABILITY TO EFFECTIVELY EMPLOY SAFETY SYSTEMS WHILE WEARING A

BEARD, BEARD RESTRICTIONS FOR MEMBERS USING THAT EQUIPMENT FOR

OPERATIONAL OR SAFETY REASONS MAY BE PUT IN PLACE BY A COMMANDING

OFFICER

4.WHERE THE WEARING OF A BEARD IS AUTHORIZED:

A. IT SHALL BE WORN WITH A MOUSTACHE,

B. IT SHALL BE NEATLY TRIMMED, ESPECIALLY ON THE LOWER NECK AND

CHEEKBONES,

C. IT SHALL NOT EXCEED TWO CENTIMETERS IN BULK. A MEMBER WILL, ON

THEIR OWN ACCORD OR UPON DIRECTION FROM THEIR COMMANDING OFFICER OR

THEIR CO S DESIGNATE, SHAVE OFF UNSUCCESSFUL ATTEMPTS TO GROW A

BEARD.

5.THE DIRECTION PERTAINING TO THE TRIMMING OF A BEARD AT PARA 5

ABOVE DOES NOT APPLY TO CAF MEMBERS WHO ARE EXEMPT, FOR MEDICAL

REASONS, FROM SHAVING THE LOWER NECK OR CHEECKBONES

6.THIS CANFORGEN DOES NOT, IN ANY WAY, MODIFY THE RELIGIOUS AND





PAGE 4 RCCPJAQ1040 UNCLAS

SPIRITUAL ACCOMODATIONS DESCRIBED IN SECTION 3 OF REF C

7.THE INTENT OF THIS UPDATE TO THE POLICY IS TO ENSURE THE CAF

MAINTAIN OPERATIONAL CAPABILITIES, WHILE STRENGHENING ORGANIZATIONAL

MORALE AND TEAM COHESION

8.AN UPDATED REF C WILL BE PUBLISHED AT r/HTTP://CMP-CPM.MIL.CA/ASSETS/CMP_INTRANET/DOCS/EN/PUBLICATIONS/CH2-POLICY-AND-APPEARANCE.PDF

END OF ENGLISH TEXT / LE TEXTE FRANCAIS SUIT
 
Ah, it is what it is. Some people won't trust social medial regardless of if it's an official account. I have seen official CF accounts be hacked before, so it's not like Kratz is completely unjustified. -300 might be a little extreme, especially given the CANFORGEN came out not long after I posted but whatever...they're just milpoints. I'm not using them for anything.

MJP said:
Hahaha I can't belive Kratz gave you negative milpoints for posting the CDS's message.  Not official blah blah blah, must wait for the poorly formatted ALL CAPS message or you're an idiot for believing the top soldier in the CAF might know what he is talking about.  Just imagine a world where the top leaders use relevant social media connect with and inform their soldiers of relevant topics instead of waiting for some slow *** 1970s distribution and message system.  What's next?  The loss of the cavalry charge?  Oh pls tell me it isn't so.
 
So is anyone in a position to confirm that what is posted here and on Reddit in fact matches what went out on DWAN?
 
R 251819Z SEP 18
FM NDHQ CMP OTTAWA
TO CANFORGEN
BT
UNCLAS
SECTION 1 OF 2
CANFORGEN 158/18 CMP 078/18
SIC WAC
BILINGUAL MESSAGE/MESSAGE BILINGUE
SUBJ: AMENDMENT TO BEARD POLICY
REFS:A.QR AND O 17.02
B. QR AND O 17.03
C. A-DH-265-000/AG-001 CHAPTER 2
1.PERSONAL DRESS AND APPEARANCE OF MILITARY MEMBERS REFLECT ON THE
PROFESSIONALISM AND CREDIBILITY OF THE CANADIAN ARMED FORCES (CAF).
IN ACCORDANCE WITH QUEEN S REGULATIONS AND ORDERS
(QRO) 17.03 (REF B), THE WEARING OF A BEARD IS SUBJECT TO
RESTRICTIONS AS ORDERED BY THE CHIEF OF THE DEFENCE STAFF
2.CONSULTATIONS WERE HELD WITH CAF MEMBERS BY THE NATIONAL


PAGE 2 RCCPJAQ1040 UNCLAS
DEFENCE CLOTHING AND DRESS COMMITTEE (NDCDC) WHICH REVEALED CONCERNS
REGARDING THE EXISTING BEARD POLICY. IT BECAME APPARENT THAT THE
EXISTING POLICY IS BROADER THAN REQUIRED TO MAINTAIN OPERATIONAL
EFFECTIVENESS. CHANGES TO THE BEARD POLICY IN THIS
CANFORGEN CONTINUE TO RECOGNIZE BOTH THE NEED TO ENSURE FORCE
PROTECTION AND COMFORT TO MILITARY MEMBERS OVER A WIDE RANGE OF
OPERATIONAL AND CLIMATIC CONDITIONS WHILE ALSO SUPPORTING THE
COMPLETE SPECTRUM OF ACTIVITY FROM CEREMONIAL DUTIES TO COMBAT
OPERATIONS, WHILE ALLOWING CAF MEMBERS INCREASED FREEDOM TO MAKE
PERSONAL CHOICES REGARDING THEIR APPEARANCE
3.EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY, THE WEARING OF A BEARD IS AUTHORIZED FOR
ALL CAF MEMBERS UPON ATTAINMENT OF THEIR OPERATIONALLY FUNCTIONAL
POINT (OFP) OR HAVING COMPLETED DEVELOPMENTAL PERIOD ONE, WHICHEVER
COMES LAST. HOWEVER, COMMANDERS OF COMMANDS, TASK FORCE COMMANDERS
AND COMMANDING OFFICERS RETAIN THE RIGHT TO ORDER RESTRICTIONS ON
THE WEARING OF A BEARD TO MEET SAFETY AND OPERATIONAL REQUIREMENTS.
THIS INCLUDES RESTRICTIONS PERTAINING TO OPERATIONS AND TRAINING
WHERE, IN A CHEMICAL BIOLOGICAL RADIOLOGICAL NUCLEAR (CBRN)
ENVIRONMENT OR CBRN TRAINING ENVIRONMENT, A BEARD CAN BE ORDERED TO
BE REMOVED TO ENSURE FORCE PROTECTION ON OPERATIONS OR TRAINING.


PAGE 3 RCCPJAQ1040 UNCLAS
SUCH RESTRICTIONS WILL BE AS TEMPORARY AS FEASIBLE (E.G. AS LONG AS
THE ENTIRE DURATION OF AN OPERATIONAL TOUR IN A CBRN ENVIRONMENT OR
AS SHORT AS A SINGLE TRAINING DAY FOR CBRN OPERATIONS). WHERE
CURRENT CAF EQUIPMENT CAPABILITIES CANNOT ENSURE FORCE PROTECTION OR
THE ABILITY TO EFFECTIVELY EMPLOY SAFETY SYSTEMS WHILE WEARING A
BEARD, BEARD RESTRICTIONS FOR MEMBERS USING THAT EQUIPMENT FOR
OPERATIONAL OR SAFETY REASONS MAY BE PUT IN PLACE BY A COMMANDING
OFFICER
4.WHERE THE WEARING OF A BEARD IS AUTHORIZED:
A. IT SHALL BE WORN WITH A MOUSTACHE,
B. IT SHALL BE NEATLY TRIMMED, ESPECIALLY ON THE LOWER NECK AND
CHEEKBONES,
C. IT SHALL NOT EXCEED TWO CENTIMETERS IN BULK. A MEMBER WILL, ON
THEIR OWN ACCORD OR UPON DIRECTION FROM THEIR COMMANDING OFFICER OR
THEIR CO S DESIGNATE, SHAVE OFF UNSUCCESSFUL ATTEMPTS TO GROW A
BEARD.
5.THE DIRECTION PERTAINING TO THE TRIMMING OF A BEARD AT PARA 5
ABOVE DOES NOT APPLY TO CAF MEMBERS WHO ARE EXEMPT, FOR MEDICAL
REASONS, FROM SHAVING THE LOWER NECK OR CHEECKBONES
6.THIS CANFORGEN DOES NOT, IN ANY WAY, MODIFY THE RELIGIOUS AND


PAGE 4 RCCPJAQ1040 UNCLAS
SPIRITUAL ACCOMODATIONS DESCRIBED IN SECTION 3 OF REF C
7.THE INTENT OF THIS UPDATE TO THE POLICY IS TO ENSURE THE CAF
MAINTAIN OPERATIONAL CAPABILITIES, WHILE STRENGHENING ORGANIZATIONAL
MORALE AND TEAM COHESION
8.AN UPDATED REF C WILL BE PUBLISHED AT r/HTTP://CMP-CPM.MIL.CA/…/PUBLI…/CH2-POLICY-AND-APPEARANCE.PDF
END OF ENGLISH TEXT / LE TEXTE FRANCAIS SUIT
OBJ: CHANGEMENT DE POLITIQUE - PORT DE LA BARBE
REF. A.ORFC 17.02
B. ORFC 17.03
C. A-DH-265-000/AG-001 CHAPITRE 2

LA TENUE ET L APPARENCE INDIVIDUELLE DES MILITAIRES REFLETENT SUR

LE PROFESSIONNALISME ET LA CREDIBILITE DES FORCES ARMEES CANADIENNES
(FAC). CONFORMEMENT AUX ORDONNANCES ET REGLEMENTS ROYAUX APPLICABLES
AUX FORCES CANADIENNES (ORFC) 17.03 A LA REF B, LE PORT DE LA BARBE
EST ASSUJETTI AUX RESTRICTIONS PRESCRITES TEL QU ORDONNE PAR LE CHEF
D ETAT-MAJOR DE LA DEFENSE

LE COMITE SUR LA TENUE VESTIMENTAIRE DES FORCES CANADIENNES

(CTVFC) A TENU DES CONSULTATIONS AVEC DES MEMBRES DES FAC. DES


PAGE 5 RCCPJAQ1040 UNCLAS
PREOCCUPATIONS CONCERNANT LA POLITIQUE ACTUELLE SUR LE PORT DE LA
BARBE ONT ETE IDENTIFIEES. IL A ETE PERMIS DE CONSTATER QUE LA
POLITIQUE ACTUELLE A UNE APPLICATION PLUS GENERALE QUE REQUISE POUR
MAINTENIR L EFFICACITE OPERATIONNELLE. LES CHANGEMENTS A LA
POLITIQUE SUR LE PORT DE LA BARBE CONTENUS DANS CE CANFORGEN
RECONNAISSENT LA NECESSITE D ASSURER LA PROTECTION DE LA FORCE ET LE
CONFORT DES MILITAIRES DANS DES CONDITIONS OPERATIONNELLES ET
CLIMATIQUES VARIEES EN SUPPORTANT TOUS LES CHAMPS D ACTVITES
MILITAIRES, DU DEVOIR RATTACHE AUX CEREMONIES MILITAIRES AUX
OPERATIONS DE COMBAT, TOUT EN PERMETTANT AUX MEMBRES DES FAC D AVOIR
UNE PLUS GRANDE LIBERTE DE CHOIX PERSONNELS CONCERNANT LEUR
APPARENCE
3.EN VIGUEUR IMMEDIATEMENT, LE PORT DE LA BARBE EST AUTORISE POUR
TOUS LES MEMBRES DES FAC, UNE FOIS QU ILS ONT COMPLETE LE NIVEAU
OPERATIONNEL DE COMPETENCE OU LA PERIODE DE PERFECTIONNEMENT UN (LA
PLUS LONGUE PERIODE DES DEUX SERA APPLIQUEE). LES COMMANDANTS DE
COMMANDEMENT, LES COMMANDANTS DE FORCE OPERATIONNELLE ET LES
COMMANDANTS CONSERVENT LE DROIT D IMPOSER DES RESTRICTIONS SUR LE
PORT DE LA BARBE AFIN DE REPONDRE AUX BESOINS OPERATIONNELS ET AUX
BESOINS EN MATIERE DE SECURITE. CELA INCLUT LES RESTRICTIONS


PAGE 6 RCCPJAQ1040 UNCLAS
RELATIVES AUX OPERATIONS ET A L ENTRAINEMENT. DANS UN ENVIRONNEMENT
CHIMIQUE BIOLOGIQUE RADIOLOGIQUE NUCLEAIRE (CBRN) OU DANS UN
ENVIRONNEMENT D ENTRAINEMENT CBRN, LE PORT DE LA BARBE PEUT ETRE
INTERDIT AFIN D ASSURER LA PROTECTION DE LA FORCE DURANT LES
OPERATIONS OU ENTRAINEMENTS. DE TELLES RESTRICTIONS SERONT AUSSI
TEMPORAIRES QUE POSSIBLE (PAR EXEMPLE, PENDANT LA DUREE ENTIERE D UN
TOUR OPERATIONNEL DANS UN ENVIRONNEMENT CBRN OU DURANT UNE JOURNEE D
ENTRAINEMENT AUX OPERATIONS CBRN). LORSQUE LES CAPACITES ACTUELLES
DE L EQUIPEMENT DES FAC NE PEUVENT ASSURER LA PROTECTION DE LA FORCE
OU LA CAPACITE D EMPLOYER EFFICACEMENT DES SYSTEMES DE SECURITE
QUAND LA BARBE EST PORTEE, UNE RESTRICTION SUR LE PORT DE LA BARBE
POUR LES MEMBRES UTILISANT CET EQUIPEMENT POUR RAISONS
OPERATIONNELLES OU DE SECURITE PEUT ETRE MISE EN PLACE PAR UN
COMMANDANT

LORSQUE LE PORT DE LA BARBE EST AUTORISE:

A.ELLE DOIT ETRE PORTEE AVEC UNE MOUSTACHE,
B.ELLE DOIT ETRE SOIGNEUSEMENT TAILLEE, EN PARTICULIER A LA BASE DU
COU ET AUX POMMETTES,
C.ELLE NE DOIT PAS EXCEDER DEUX CENTIMETRES D EPAISSEUR.
UN MEMBRE DEVRA, DE SON PROPRE CHEF OU SUR ORDRE DE SON COMMANDANT
BT
#1040

R 251819Z SEP 18
FM NDHQ CMP OTTAWA
TO CANFORGEN
BT
UNCLAS
FINAL SECTION OF 2
OU D UNE PERSONNE DESIGNEE PAR SON COMMANDANT, RASER TOUTES
TENTATIVES INFRUCTUEUSES DE FAIRE POUSSER UNE BARBE
5.LES DIRECTIVES CONCERNANT LE TAILLAGE DE LA BARBE AU PARAGRAPHE 5
NE SONT PAS APPLICABLES AUX MEMBRES DES FAC QUI SONT DISPENSES DE SE
RASER A LA BASE DU COU ET AUX POMMETTES POUR DES RAISONS MEDICALES
6.CE CANFORGEN NE MODIFIE EN AUCUN CAS LES ACCOMMODEMENTS RELIGIEUX
ET SPIRITUELS DECRITS A LA SECTION 3 DE LA REF C
7.L INTENTION DE CETTE MODIFICATION A LA POLITIQUE EST DE S ASSURER
QUE LES FAC MAINTIENNENT LEURS CAPACITES OPERATIONNELLES, TOUT EN
RENFORCANT LE MORAL ORGANISATIONNEL ET LA COHESION DE L EQUIPE
8.UNE VERSION A JOUR DE LA REF C SERA PUBLIEE AU HTTP://CMP-CPM.MIL.CA/…/PUBL…/CH2-POLITIQUE-ET-APPARENCE.PDF
 
Brihard said:
So is anyone in a position to confirm that what is posted here and on Reddit in fact matches what went out on DWAN?

Looks exactly like the message center version I received from our CR
 
CFG 158/18 isn't yet up on the Defence Team Intranet.  It's not official until it's posted on Facebook.
 
So I guess all those memos asking for permission to grow a beard weren't needed after all. 

I'm sure that isn't going to stop some chains of command continuing to insist on them though.  :not-again:
 
MJP said:
Looks exactly like the message center version I received from our CR

It is out on the CR message centre, I seen the copy from the 3CDSG Sigs CR, I'll take that over a intranet page any day.  Happy beard day!
 
Old EO Tech said:
It is out on the CR message centre, I seen the copy from the 3CDSG Sigs CR, I'll take that over a intranet page any day.  Happy beard day!
Now all we need is certain HQs to over think it like they did BOOTFORGEN
 
MJP said:
Now all we need is certain HQs to over think it like they did BOOTFORGEN

Hopefully not, the message already gives CO's the authority to order members to shave of "unsuccessful attempts".  That statement should be suitably broad to even make certain CoC happy :-/
 
Haggis said:
It's not official until it's posted on Facebook.

Said no military that ever won a real 'shootin' - bombin' - loot your capital city - war', ever ;)
 
The thing is...all of these troops that went and got a med chit; the med condition is still there. Their face didn't get better because of a CANFORGEN. So either their face heals miraculously and they get off their P-CAT which leads me to question the severity of the problem in the first place and the ethics of all parties involved. Or, they don't come off category and now we have a bunch of soldiers who have luscious beards but can't deploy etc....
 
Poppa said:
The thing is...all of these troops that went and got a med chit; the med condition is still there. Their face didn't get better because of a CANFORGEN. So either their face heals miraculously and they get off their P-CAT which leads me to question the severity of the problem in the first place and the ethics of all parties involved. Or, they don't come off category and now we have a bunch of soldiers who have luscious beards but can't deploy etc....

I personally believe that the conditions exist (largely, not solely) due to people not knowing how to shave.  Commercial razors are crap, people don't know how to condition their skin and they do crazy things like shave against the grain!

Get a brush and dish of shaving soap, some pre-shave oil, a safety razor (single blade, just like great grandfather had) and some HOT water.
1.  Shower.  Ensure face is well-scrubbed.
2.  Apply HOT water to  your face.  Hot towel would be better.
3.  Apply pre-shave oil to face.
4.  Lather up that shave brush and apply HOT foam to face. Really massage that skin and have that foam nice and thick.
5.  Shave WITH the grain.
6.  Rinse off with COLD water.
7.  Apply HOT water to face.
8.  Apply pre-shave oil to face.
9.  Lather up that shave brush and apply HOT foam to face. Really massage that skin and have that foam nice and thick.
10.  Shave AGAINST the grain.
11.  Rinse off with COLD water.
12.  Apply post shave balm.

For about 4 years now I've been doing this every day and I still marvel at how smooth the shave is.  I rarely nick myself and I no longer have any unseemly "bumps" or rashes from shaving.

Oh, the blades are dirt cheap.  I use a brand called ASTRA and I change blades every week.  I got 300 blades for under 20 dollars on Amazon.

 
6 months from now...

In other breaking news: in light of the new CAF beard policy the CANSOF dress comitee has voted unanimously to ban beards.  Thousands of reservists immediately shave.
 
Poppa said:
The thing is...all of these troops that went and got a med chit; the med condition is still there. Their face didn't get better because of a CANFORGEN. So either their face heals miraculously and they get off their P-CAT which leads me to question the severity of the problem in the first place and the ethics of all parties involved. Or, they don't come off category and now we have a bunch of soldiers who have luscious beards but can't deploy etc....
 

I don't think I ever heard of anyone with a "no shave" chit being on a PCat or not deploying...  :dunno:
 
Remius said:
6 months from now...

In other breaking news: in light of the new CAF beard policy the CANSOF dress comitee has voted unanimously to ban beards.  Thousands of reservists immediately shave.

So, you just had to push this thread towards the drain but starting that crap?  There would be more than just Reservists shaving.
 
Haggis said:
So, you just had to push this thread towards the drain but starting that crap?  There would be more than just Reservists shaving.

Sorry, was just trying to be humorous.  It was self inflicted humour, based on my own experience as a reservist. 

My apologies if it ruffled any feathers or hackles.
 
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