Chappie Kept it “In Regs”
"Blackman and Robin," depicting Colonels Chappie James and Robin Olds (Artist: Christopher Hopkins)
Black history is AMERICAN history.
In a couple of weeks it will be #MustacheMarch again … Time for Airmen & Guardians to refrain from shaving their upper lips for the entire month.
The tradition is credited to United States Air Force General Robin Olds, the famous fighter pilot (pictured, right) whose claim to fame was killing North Vietnamese MiGs in 1967.
Some believed Olds’ lucky mustache made him bulletproof. So, while he was overseas (focused on killing the enemy) no one really cared that his mustache didn’t conform to the Air Force’s grooming regulations.
Olds’ believed that maintaining the out-of-regs mustache was a simple act of defiance against a bureaucratic system that tried to micromanage from afar -- a system that enforced rules which hindered more than it helped to fight the war. With his fabulous ‘stache, Olds’ gave the system the middle finger while still getting the job done.
Since Vietnam, Airmen and Guardians worldwide have been growing mustaches in March to pay tribute to a great leader they admire. (This is not to be confused with Mustache November, or "Movember," which is focused on raising awareness of men's health issues.) Robin Olds certainly deserves the respect we pay him each March by letting our lips grow out.
With no disrespect to Olds, I also like to remember General Daniel “Chappie” James Jr. during #MustacheMarch. Chappie James is probably best-known for being the first African-American to earn the rank of four-star General. He’s also known as a great aviator. Aside from starting his career as a Tuskegee Airman, he flew 78 combat missions in Vietnam. Did you know he was also a Public Affairs Officer? Yep! Just like yours truly, Chappie James was PA … ALL DAY! (Well, at least from 1970 -1974, anyway.)
But during the Vietnam war, he’s also remembered as Robin Olds’ Vice Commander -- his right-hand man. They called the duo “Blackman and Robin.” (It was clearly a different time.)
James wore a mustache, too — as did many others in those days. But judging by old pics, I assume this was just his everyday look — not an act of rebellion, as was the case for Olds.
I also assume James was keenly aware of the impact he had on people’s perceptions of Black people in military service. He was an advocate for equality in the military, having served during segregation as a young officer. As he grew in rank, I’m sure he felt a responsibility (whether he wanted it or not) to project a positive image of Black people in the Air Force.
Perhaps that’s why most pictures you'll see of James show his upper lip to be nicely groomed, appearing to conform to the rules and grooming standards. I suspect James knew that while many people saw Olds’ out-of-regs mustache as an inspiring act of rebellion, if James were to wear an out-of-regs mustache, he would be labeled as being disrespectful ... "uppity" even. To those who didn’t want to serve in a desegregated military, seeing James rock a flamboyant, oversized, handle-bar ‘stache that covered his top lip (à la Olds) would’ve been like poking a finger in their eye, especially if James outranked them. During a time when many people felt Black people were inferior and unfit for military service, James knew he couldn’t give anyone a reason to criticize him, nor the people he represented.
I think James rose to success by not only being a great aviator and Airman, but by demonstrating that there was no need to fear African-Americans in the armed forces. Black people could serve as faithful advisors and followers, as he did under Olds. And they also had the qualifications and capacity to lead others, as he did for years before his retirement.
General Chappie James (left) and yours truly (circa 2018)
I used to enjoy participating in the time-honored tradition of #MustacheMarch. (Here's a pic of me in 2018 as a Lieutenant Colonel trying to work on my Steve Harvey. It clearly didn't go so well.)
Like Robin Olds, I wore a mustache as a sign of solidarity with my fellow Airmen & Guardians against a sometimes bureaucratic system. But like Chappie, I also tried to "keep it in regs.”
There are lots of amazing Airmen & Guardians who walk on an unseen layer of thin ice daily -- striving for greatness while being sensitive to negative perceptions, unwarranted criticisms and unfair comparisons from those who believe that their success depends on the erasure and villainization of others. These officers are often told to "break barriers," while also silently knowing they can't always break the rules as freely as their peers.
The cool thing about being a General, though? I hear you get to make the rules.
To my fellow military officers, keep charging.
“If my making an advancement can serve as some kind of spark to some young Black or other minority, it will be worth all the years, all the blood and sweat it took in getting here. ”
As my time in uniform comes to a close, I think I'll forego participating in the Mustache March festivities this year. Not just because I don't look good with a 'stache, but because the end of my military career signals the freedom to not have to worry about "staying in regs."
I can't wait to test the waters.
I'd like to think Chappie would approve.
