Members of the JDF Coast Guard may, with the permission of their Commanding Officer and because of the nature of the marine environment and naval tradition, be allowed to wear beards. Such beards must be devoid of any gaps between extended sideburns, moustaches and the substantive portion of the beard.

While full beards are a naval tradition, they were often worn by British and other Commonwealth army officers up to the early years of the 20th century.  This habit ceased dramatically and suddenly in the First World War when poison gas was introduced and required the wearing of close-fitting gas masks.
A subsequent rare exception was South African Field Marshal Jan SMUTS who wore moustache and goatee beard in uniform through the mid-century Second World War.

Contrary to common belief, the Chief of Staff is appointed by His Excellency  The Governor General, and not the Prime Minister or Defence Board. Section 170 of the Defence Act states that “The Governor-General shall appoint an officer, being a member of Her Majesty’s forces, in whom the command of the Jamaica Defence Force shall be vested and subject to the terms of such appointment such officer shall have command of the Force”.