Ant Middleton has been "blamed" for the rise in beards in the military.
The 38-year-old former solider is said to have influenced army recruits to shun shaving, with Steve Thornton - boss of military vehicle supplier Forces Cars Direct - claiming the \'SAS: Who Dares Wins\' star is "changing our dynamic of our military personnel".
During a \'FCD & Ant Middleton Road Trip\' YouTube video, Steve joked: "I think the MoD are blaming you. The RAF, the army, they\'re all saying, \'Ant is modern and cool, and he\'s a beard guy and he\'s the one that\'s changing our dynamic of our military personnel,\' because they all want to be like Ant Middleton ... what do you reckon about beards in the military?"
The military only allows recruits to grow a beard or moustache during periods when they are out of uniform, but must keep it trimmed with the intention to be clean-shaven when dressed.
However, Ant explained that beards are banned from the military as they do not form a "perfect seal" with a gas mask.
He said: "Yeah, absolutely. The only reason why you don\'t have a beard is because when you put your respirator - your gas mask - it has to form a perfect seal but that\'s when you get a chemical attack. Can you see that happening? Probably not and if it does, go and get a shave."
But Steve joked: "You\'re gonna know they\'re on you that you\'re coming close to a potential action before you do that. When obviously, Special Forces, you never shaved anyway, did you?"
Ant told Steve that he left the Army in 2008 to join Special Forces where the rules of facial hair are more relaxed.
He added: "That\'s the reason I joined the Special Forces so I can grow my hair and grow a beard."
