{"id":45659,"date":"2023-12-21T10:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-12-21T10:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/uncategorized\/2023\/12\/21\/new-in-2024-will-we-learn-the-findings-of-the-navys-beard-study\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T20:02:40","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T20:02:40","slug":"new-in-2024-will-we-learn-the-findings-of-the-navys-beard-study","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/news\/your-navy\/2023\/12\/21\/new-in-2024-will-we-learn-the-findings-of-the-navys-beard-study\/","title":{"rendered":"When will we learn the findings of the Navy\u2019s beard study?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Where is the Navy\u2019s beard study? When, if ever, will it be made public, and will its findings lead to a sea change in allowed sailor stubble?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These questions aren\u2019t new.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From online forums to all-hands calls, many active duty sailors have said they\u2019d like to grow a beard, even as some who sport them for medical reasons say they are sometimes ostracized for their facial hair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Big Navy has said no to beards for all, citing concerns that sailors can\u2019t get a snug oxygen mask seal with facial hair, should they have to fight a shipboard fire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Still, Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro directed that the service conduct a fresh assessment of the issue in 2022 as part of the department\u2019s diversity, equity and inclusion efforts. Officials said they expected the study to wrap in 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n