The Prerequisite 'Tactical' Beard

Nov. 20, 2014
My conundrum is this, though: how does having facial hair make you more competent either in the field or as you deliver training?

As part of ‘no-shave-November,’ and to complete a promise to my son, I’ve not shaved (except for my neck) since my attendance at the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) Conference in Orlando.  That may not seem like a big deal since I’ve had a goatee (actually a mustache and a goatee, together more properly called a “Van Dyke”) for better than a decade.  I never really considered my facial hair anything beyond a potential compliment to my facial structure and therefore, an addition to my appearance.  Obviously, I’ve missed out on the strengths of having a full beard.

You see, about a year ago (at SHOT Show 2014) I realized that you can’t be an “operator” or even really be taken seriously in the law enforcement and military training community unless you have a beard.  Want proof?  Guys like Rob Pincus, who used to have just a Van Dyke, now has a full beard. (Editor's Note: Rob has been kind enogh to correct me.  He USED to have a full beard, grown in response to a challenge.  Now he's back to his clean shaven look (but might be adding the Van Dyke back?)  Chris Costa, a big name in the industry, has a nickname of Chris “The Beard” Costa because he’s had a full beard ever since he got into the spotlight.  Heck, there’s even a Facebook page for the Tactical Beard Owners Club (TBOC).  Come next week, I might be able to join.

My conundrum is this, though: how does having facial hair make you more competent either in the field or as you deliver training?  In what way is the simple fact of not shaving “proof” of competency or, for that matter, experience?

Those questions nag at me as I look at folks who, three years ago, didn’t have beards but now they do.  Sure, there’s the absolute possibility that they just didn’t like shaving in the first place and now they have the perfect excuse not to: sales and marketing.  Sure, there’s the absolute possibility that their significant other just likes the way they look with more of their face covered (like my wife does).  Sure, there’s the absolute possibility that the gray in their full beard adds a touch of perceived maturity which can certainly come in handy during business negotiations, sales presentations, etc.  Beyond a doubt there is a current perception that veterans or current service members with full beards are more tactical and combat experienced than those without.

That’s a dangerous perception and it can be a huge MISperception.  Just because some guy has a beard doesn’t mean he has a clue what he’s talking about.  Some long-time instructors in the industry, who didn’t used to have beards and whose reputation as an instructor was, shall we say, slightly tarnished, have since grown those full beards, been seemingly welcomed into the “tactical operators instructors” club and now are selling themselves at a higher rate.

Please be cautious.  No matter how impressive the beard may be, the person wearing it may still be a snake oil salesman.  Look into the background of people before you hire them.  Get some references for others they’ve trained… heck, just Google them and look for what others have said.  Yes, it’s possible to find negative stuff about anyone (yours truly included) because we’ve all pissed off people at some point in time (if you’ve been in the industry long enough), but one or two negative posts/opinions is one thing; when you find several dozen you might want to rethink the value of the instructor.

For me, I can’t wait for Thanksgiving. I promised my son I wouldn’t shave until then and then itch is driving me nuts!!  I’ll be back to having just my Van Dyke and who I am, as an instructor, a writer, an editor, a husband, a father, a friend…  it won’t have changed (much to some folks’ dismay).  The beard doesn’t make me, and removing it won’t break me.

What’s on your face?

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