Originally Posted by the_13th_redneck

They've got thick beards and long hair... I guess it's from being out in the field without proper wash opportunities for a long time?
Or they're Special Forces of some kind... but I'd be surprised they'd let photos of themselves be taken like that in that case.
Great photos.

No, they are not SF, just a general practice "when in Rome" thing
The locals do not shave etc, so it is a bit better for blending in (from a distance) if you get my drift.
Also, when i was in, it wasnt seen to be the highest priority when bush to shave etc.
It has been part of our Army's lifestyle when on ops since its birth, better to concentrate on the job at hand.

Yeah they aren't SF, just normal soldiers. Hair cuts and shaving takes a back seat to war fighting. Discipline with shaving in the field etc may not be the strong point of the Australian army, more of a focus is put war fighting discipline.

Corporal Damian Thomas on an RTF 4 building site in Oruzgan Province Afghanistan.




Corporal Adam Walsh reading letters at an Australian patrol base North of Tarin Kowt



International Stabilisation Force (ISF) Soldiers New Zealand Infantry Private (PTE) Takarirangi Smith ('Tango') and Australian Infantry PTE Cameron Thomas, 21 Berowra NSW, on patrol in the streets of Los Palos,Timor-Leste.




Private Tim Hughes, 19, from Rockhampton is watched by locals while maintaining security at Gleno Forward Operating Base in Timor



Lance Corporal Chris Lewis working alongside the Afghan National Army Engineers section he is mentoring in Oruzgan province, Afghanistan.

The haircut/shave thing sounds realistic. Thanks for the clear up!

Originally Posted by the_13th_redneck

The haircut/shave thing sounds realistic. Thanks for the clear up!

I like the system of not shaving. Nothing is more demoralising than a cold, dry shave on an icy winter morning.

I agree. And a beard helps one stay warm in the winter time anyway.

If you get gassed and have to put on your mask, you would wish you had shaved. Besides discipline, thats the main reason for shaving in the field.

Shoot I totally forgot about that one actually.
Then again, I've always doubted the mask would REALLY save my life in the case of a chemical attack.
I guess it's a very remote possibility that there will be a chemical attack in A'stan. Doesn't appear like the guys are carrying their gas masks anyway.

C'mon Sarge, NBC Specialist, maybe your just sleepy. The beard don't let you get a proper seal as I am sure you know. Why they don't have their masks, I have no clue, masks and rifles were with us always like our body parts.

I know, certain gasses the mask would probably do nothing for ya, but certain ones I think they do indeed work.

I know. We never went anywhere without gas masks or rifles.
And you're right, with a beard you won't get a good seal.
But if the NBC threat level is absurdly low... even then if it were entirely up to me, I'd say hang on to it because the enemy might do a surprise attack involving tear gas and the like. It DOES work against tear gas anyway. How effective it would be against actual chemical weapons... I don't know.
Then again, I'm just a lowly Sergeant, what do I know huh?