![]() ![]() Olds did as he was instructed, but his legacy continues to be felt throughout the Air Force even to today. In fact, upon returning home, the then Chief of Staff of the Air Force didn't take too kindly to his "handlebars," bluntly telling him to "Take it off." ![]() With his renowned "bulletproof mustache," Olds did his own peaceful protest against the then-current regulation prohibiting pilots from displaying facial hair. Robin Olds is attributed with creating what we now call Mustache March. Elizabeth McLean with the 387th Air Expeditionary Group, Air Force Brig. I've even had people refuse to engage in conversation, and now I'm quoting, "with my mustache."Īs it turns out, this nationally-adopted manly tradition has more to do with the military than I ever knew.Īccording to an Air Force commentary by 1st Lt. This motivated me to determine the origin of this annual pattern of apparent mockery I was subjecting myself to if not for the sake of tradition, then, at least, for my own amusement. Believe me, as a photojournalist, having an unattractive mustache doesn't help my case with onlookers, especially when I take photos of my own children at the playground. This carries on to my work-related activities, too. I also encountered heckles from friends and co-workers as the barely-there mustache began to form into something, shall I say, more disturbing than attractive. This year, I chose to follow the ritual by growing an almost pencil-drawn one on my facial path, later deemed "hideous and ridiculous" by my wife. Yes, I, too, have participated in this cherished custom known as Mustache March.īut what is Mustache March, and where did it come from? I've asked myself this many times, as with many traditions I've practiced without any real explanation or understanding behind where it came from or why I do it. In fact, I last saw this trend on the man in my mirror. a mustache.) And, seemingly like a virus, this new trend would carry over to his coworkers, each donning their new facial hair variations. Many times, I'd see a fellow Airman in February, run into him a few weeks later and do a double-take about him sporting a Burt Reynolds (i.e. It doesn't concern deployments or fitness fads just the Airmen who conduct them, specifically males during the month of March. While I've only been in the Air Force five years, I've noticed a certain pattern reoccurring at least for one month out of each year. 1st Special Operations Wing Public Affairs. ![]()
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