Most of the Marines I know and work with savor more than two days off in a row so they can give their face a break. If I was given the option of a beard I would take it. I can imagine Mendes, after years of combat experience, growing a beard.

With that said, I can't imagine any of the drill instructors I know with more than a high and tight's worth of hair on their entire head to this day. The Mendes of my imagination while reading the books made me think of my personal experience with that type of Marine.

It could go either way really. The Marine Corps ruined action movies for me a long time ago. I'm just glad 343 is adapting the books to this format.

: He's always been described as paying close attention to his personal
: appearance to set an example to his subordinates/trainees. It's not that
: someone would order him to shave the beard off, he's just the kind of guy
: who would do it anyway.