Some special ops troops told to lose the beard

[unhappycamper]

Some special ops troops told to lose the beard
By Jeff Schogol
Stars and Stripes
Published: August 19, 2010

ARLINGTON, Va. — For Afghan men, beards are a sign of manhood. And that is why special operations forces tend to look like Grizzly Adams — to earn the trust of locals.

For special operations troops, the beards not only help bring them closer to Afghans, they also set them apart from the conventional forces who traditionally must keep stricter grooming standards.

But the higher ups have decided that at least some of the U.S. special operations forces should get better acquainted with their razors.

“Soldiers who work as training cadre and those in operational activities where we partner with Afghan Commando and other Coalition troops who are themselves mostly clean-shaven, are better prepared, and set a better example if they meet a traditional military appearance standard,” said Bob Coble, spokesman for Combined Forces Special Operations Component Command-Afghanistan, via e-mail.

“A clean-shaven, ‘squared away’ appearance communicates membership in a disciplined and motivated team, important characteristics for soldiers in most military environments,” he added.

[dipsydoodle]

1. No dreadlocks either I guess

:)

[SoCalDem]

2. I can see those bearded ones telling them to go pound sand.

Those beards make them less of a target, so they may not be eager to part with the hairy face..

[glowing]

3. Sounds like one some stuped middle management issue where

someone at a desk with a field manuel wants something done just because.. and the people doing the work are going to do the job and try not to be killed.

[SoCalDem]

4. I seem to recall that when Japan sent a handful of soldiers to Iraq

they provided guards & fake beards so the might fit in better...:rofl:

[Canuckistanian]

5. I'll bet Bob Coble is a is a whiz with paperwork

And he always wows 'em at the Pentagon cocktail parties. And those big brass doorknobs are always perfectly shiny.

I also bet he hasn't spent a MICROSECOND in the field in Afghanistan.

[old mark]

6. Imagine all the hours of handwringing and teeth gnashing anguish

the high level brass has endured while "those people" ran around with beards and field expedient uniforms actually doing their job...

I see one thing has not changed in the Army in the last 40 years - there are still a lot of unnecessary self important assholes near the top with very little to do.

Can we get rid of some of them do you think?

rec.
mark