Originally Posted by
USMCFLYR
You are correct - they did - but did that apply to aviators?
Yes to both officers and aviators, but only helicopter pilots due to the O2 mask issue. Not sure when they changed it, but it was after 1982.
The problem with beards and O2 masks isn't the seal in the event of a depressurization, it's smoke entering the mask in the event of a fire.