Sikh.

This is coolbert:

I always wondered about this and now [?] I have the answer?

From "The Volokh Conspiracy" thanks to WaPo and the article by Eugene Volokh.

"Sikh soldiers now allowed to wear turbans, beards, unshorn hair"

"Sikh American soldiers have finally prevailed against a three-decade ban preventing observant Sikhs from serving in the United States Army. New regulations just issued by the Secretary of the Army provide that — except in rare circumstances — sincere followers of the Sikh faith may no longer be forced to abandon their religious turbans, unshorn hair, or beards to serve their country."

"the sole restriction that soldiers may be asked to shave in the case of active tactical situations involving specific and concrete threat of exposure to toxic agents"

THE HOSTILE ENVIRONMENT OF THE BATTLEFIELD TO INCLUDE AN ENEMY USING POISON GAS. BEARDS AS PRECLUDING THE POSSIBILITY OF A SEAL BEING OBTAINED WHEN WEARING THE GAS MASK [called a protective mask in the U.S. military].

As for piloting a warplane [oxygen mask] or serving as a member of the crew on a submarine and having to instantly don a breathing apparatus during a fire, what then?

ASKED TO SHAVE? NO!! ORDERED TO SHAVE!!

I would think so!!

coolbert.