This week’s overhaul of military grooming standards has raised fears of a coming crackdown on religious waivers for growing beards. Get Task & Purpose in your inbox Sign up for Task & Purpose Today to get the latest in military news each morning. That number includes service members who have since separated or are no longer in active or reserve status, he said. The Navy approved 334 requests for various religious accommodations and denied nine in fiscal year 2024. The Army assesses religious accommodations to its facial hair policy “on a case-by-case basis,” said Army spokesman Maj. Travis Shaw.