JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS, Va. –
In today’s
world, there are many styles of facial hair, from mustaches, to beards trimmed,
or not. Some are gown on a whim, while others choose not to shave, but for some
there is a purpose.
For U.S.
Air Force Staff Sgt. Oscar Bruck, 1st Aircraft Maintenance Squadron dedicated
crew chief, his mustache not only makes him happy, but also helps raise money
for non-profit organizations.
For as
long as Bruck could remember, the men in his family have always had facial hair,
and the tradition “grew” on him.
According
to Bruck, he had a full beard since high school, which made him look older than
he truly was, but the U.S. Air Force would change all that.
“In basic training, I had to shave three times
a day,” said Bruck. “As soon as I graduated, I grew the only facial hair I was
allowed to—my mustache.”
With his
fascination for facial hair, Bruck began following the bearding community after
stumbling across a freestyle beard competition. For approximately 15 years he
searched for a club where he could share his passion for mustaches and beards,
but his first two bases did not yield any results.
After being
transferred to Langley Air Force Base in 2012, Bruck’s search for a bearding
community led him to an unexpected encounter at a pet store. He met a like-minded
individual who introduced him to the Hampton Roads Beard and Stache Society.
As part of
the non-profit organization, Hampton Roads Beard and Stache Society, he found
lasting and made numerous friendships, ranging across all the mustache and
beard styles. For Bruck, he found more than a simple club, he found a cause.
“While
driving, I often see people in need or homeless, and many have served our
country,” said Bruck. “How can I serve them? That’s the question that drives me
to compete.”
Over the
past three years, Bruck has partnered with the HRBSS, participating in
barbecues and different events that Vetshouse host, getting to know the men and
women for who they’ve raised close to $20,000.
The club hosts
their own competitions and combine their efforts with other clubs in support of
ovarian cancer research and other charities like the Pink Ink Fund. The Pink
Ink Fund is a non-profit organization that seeks to aide people with their post
mastectomy tattoo needs as part of their breast reconstruction due to breast
cancer and/or diagnosis.
In Sept.
2017, Bruck was able to compete in the World Beard and Moustache Championship
in Austin, Texas, where part of the money raised went toward hurricane relief
efforts in Texas.
While at
the World Beard and Moustache Championship, Bruck shared the stage with his twin
brother, who competes in the full beard category.
There are many
categories and styles to participate in, but for Airmen like Bruck, military
regulations regarding facial hair can make it feel like bringing a knife into a
gunfight.
“Back in
2008 when I went to Afghanistan, you would see the Germans and other countries’
military would have beards,” said Bruck. “I would love for the military to
change their ways and allow us to grow beards as long as it was professional; I
would be content with a zero to two inch beard!”
Facial
hair aside, there is no limitation on the impact that Airmen can have on their
community and according to Bruck, there is always room to grow.