Beards in the British Army

[Mr Evil]

Beards in the British Army


An interesting story from the BBC. Apparently, soldiers about to be deployed to Afghanistan have been ordered to grow beards, in deference to that country`s culture, where, as it states, beards are a sign of male status.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/highlands_and_islands/6500269.stm

 

[Jellicoe]

RAF actually , but the Marines and Paras (I think) did something similar too.

 

[DM]

RAF actually

Handlebar moustaches are obviously not sufficient in 'Stan

 

[Mr Evil]

Beards ROCK

 

[emperorpenguin]

They should send Sikh soldiers, they've always been allowed to wear beards in the British army for religious reasons :lol:

 

[The Old Soldier]

American SF types have been doing it for sometime. Help build trust, and also helps blend with the locals.

 

[hegemon]

I've seen a couple of lads from the regiment and hell they were shaggy buggers, stubble, messy hair and whole works

 

[GJD]

They used to frown on face fungus in the RAF for pilots as it prevents a good seal on the oxygen mask, apparently. I'd have thought that the flowy white, silk scarf flapping about the cockpit would have been more of a problem...

G.

 

[Greg Smith]

It is interesting that under the Taliban Afganistani men were forced to wear beards. One of the smaller freedoms that they achieved was the right not to wear one if they chose.