Mustache March: 4th FW keeps upper lips warm, traditions alive

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Aaron J. Jenne
  • 4th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. --  Spring is a time of growth. From flowers in bloom to trees producing new foliage, March signals transformation.

Air Force members are embracing this time of growth as scores of upper lips have sprouted foliage of their own.

Since March 1, Airmen across the 4th Fighter Wing have dove headfirst into the camaraderie and mustache-growing competition initiated by Air Force Chief of Staff Mark A Welsh III, asking Airmen to embrace the unique tradition.

"The 4th Fighter Wing answered General Welsh's across-the-board call for hairy upper lips," said Chief Master Sgt. Jeffrey Craver, 4th FW command chief and Mustache March participant. "Team Seymour is definitely embracing the spirit of this time-honored tradition as mustaches are popping up all over base; some obvious and some not so obvious."

The competition grew out of a legendary Vietnam era mustache, said to be "bulletproof", grown by Brig. Gen Robin Olds. This one mustache brought about many more over the years as the tradition gained momentum and support of leadership.

 Brig. Gen. Robin Olds
Editor's Note: All mustaches must be in compliance with Air Force Instruction 36-2903 section 3.1.2.2, which allows the growth of conservative mustaches confined to the area above the upper lip line not exceeding the corners of the mouth.

Although Mustache March is inherently male oriented, women also play a key role in the monthlong competition.

"The women in our Air Force have a critical role to play here," Welsh said. "Their job is to ridicule us nonstop about the idiotic look that these mustaches will have on most of us, as we try to look like Tom Selleck and end up looking like a three-haired mole."

At the end of the month, many mustaches will be laid to rest, ending up in the drain of a bathroom sink; an unceremonious death. But the camaraderie produced by a single month of mustaches echoes throughout the year.