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No more beards for sailors at sea
Darlene Blakeley, Navy editor, Maple Leaf, The Trident, 12 Aug 09
Article link
Seagoing sailors and beards—they just seem to go together like salt and pepper, rum and coke, burgers and fries—but no more.
On July 14 the Navy announced that effective immediately all persons serving in HMC Ships and submarines are to be clean shaven. The decision was made for operational reasons—to ensure the safety of sailors using respiratory protection systems employed onboard naval vessels.
“I know this decision may be difficult to accept, but it was not made lightly,” said Command Chief Petty Officer (CCPO) Robert Cleroux. “It was absolutely necessary for operational reasons. Facial hair, beards in particular, prevent a proper face-to-face-piece seal when wearing respiratory protection systems. When the argument boils down to safety versus tradition, the safety of our sailors must remain paramount in all of our decisions.”
The practise of sailors wearing beards at sea dates back to the era of wooden ships when there wasn’t enough fresh water for sailors to shave properly, CCPO Cleroux explained. “On modern warships there are almost always sufficient quantities of fresh water for sailors to shave, and our sailors wear beards mostly for the sake of tradition. For hundreds of years sailors wore beards and put tar in their hair to keep it together—those days are long gone.”
The tradition of allowing sailors to wear beards will be protected to some extent, as those serving ashore will still be able to wear them. “This decision doesn’t affect all Navy personnel,” CCPO Cleroux stressed, “but it does affect seagoing billets where sailors are expected to participate in shipborne firefighting duties that necessitate the use of a self-contained breathing apparatus. Sailors must be able to wear the apparatus to protect themselves and others.”
This decision only affects the wearing of beards; moustaches and sideburns can still be worn in accordance with CF dress regulations. Reasonable accommodation will also be made for personnel with religious and medical exemptions.Other navies, including the British and US navies, already have this policy in place.
CCPO Cleroux admitted that for those who have worn beards for most of their naval careers, the new policy will be difficult. But he is leading by example—he shaved off the beard he has been wearing for more than 25 years. “I did it in support of sailors at sea, but also because it is getting very grey.”
His wife, who is away tending to their daughter and a newborn baby, has not seen his newly shorn face yet. “She’s going to be surprised,” CCPO Cleroux laughed.So will many of the other wives and girlfriends who may be seeing their sailors’ clean shaven faces for the first time. But, as CCPO Cleroux noted, “safety must come first.”
No more beards for sailors at sea
Darlene Blakeley, Navy editor, Maple Leaf, The Trident, 12 Aug 09
Article link
Seagoing sailors and beards—they just seem to go together like salt and pepper, rum and coke, burgers and fries—but no more.
On July 14 the Navy announced that effective immediately all persons serving in HMC Ships and submarines are to be clean shaven. The decision was made for operational reasons—to ensure the safety of sailors using respiratory protection systems employed onboard naval vessels.
“I know this decision may be difficult to accept, but it was not made lightly,” said Command Chief Petty Officer (CCPO) Robert Cleroux. “It was absolutely necessary for operational reasons. Facial hair, beards in particular, prevent a proper face-to-face-piece seal when wearing respiratory protection systems. When the argument boils down to safety versus tradition, the safety of our sailors must remain paramount in all of our decisions.”
The practise of sailors wearing beards at sea dates back to the era of wooden ships when there wasn’t enough fresh water for sailors to shave properly, CCPO Cleroux explained. “On modern warships there are almost always sufficient quantities of fresh water for sailors to shave, and our sailors wear beards mostly for the sake of tradition. For hundreds of years sailors wore beards and put tar in their hair to keep it together—those days are long gone.”
The tradition of allowing sailors to wear beards will be protected to some extent, as those serving ashore will still be able to wear them. “This decision doesn’t affect all Navy personnel,” CCPO Cleroux stressed, “but it does affect seagoing billets where sailors are expected to participate in shipborne firefighting duties that necessitate the use of a self-contained breathing apparatus. Sailors must be able to wear the apparatus to protect themselves and others.”
This decision only affects the wearing of beards; moustaches and sideburns can still be worn in accordance with CF dress regulations. Reasonable accommodation will also be made for personnel with religious and medical exemptions.Other navies, including the British and US navies, already have this policy in place.
CCPO Cleroux admitted that for those who have worn beards for most of their naval careers, the new policy will be difficult. But he is leading by example—he shaved off the beard he has been wearing for more than 25 years. “I did it in support of sailors at sea, but also because it is getting very grey.”
His wife, who is away tending to their daughter and a newborn baby, has not seen his newly shorn face yet. “She’s going to be surprised,” CCPO Cleroux laughed.So will many of the other wives and girlfriends who may be seeing their sailors’ clean shaven faces for the first time. But, as CCPO Cleroux noted, “safety must come first.”
