Special Forces Told to Shave

[Guest Vern Gagne]

"WASHINGTON (CNN) -- U.S. special operations forces in Afghanistan have been ordered to shave and wear regular uniforms to look more like U.S. soldiers rather than locals, according to an official at the U.S. Special Operations Command in Tampa, Florida.

 

The order to shave facial hair and to "re-adapt uniform and grooming standards" came after a special operations commander, Maj. Gen. Geoff Lambert, saw numerous photographs of troops operating on the ground in Afghanistan with full beards and partial uniforms, the official said.

 

Lambert, a career special operations soldier based at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, conferred with the joint commander on the ground in Afghanistan, Lt. Gen. Dan McNeil, and senior special operations forces leadership, the official said.

 

An agreement between the two commanders within the last week was made that special operations forces would return to the standard uniform.

 

The decision came after the perception that the grooming standard of the troops was out of hand and that the time had passed for the need of the soldiers to blend in.

 

The official said that the leadership put the highest priority on the security of its forces and would not give an order for grooming if it would put the troops at harm.

 

Early on in the war, special operations forces adapted their uniforms to local culture with baggy clothing and scarves, though elements of the uniform if seen up close clearly identified them as U.S. soldiers, the official said. They were not passing themselves off as workers from non-governmental organizations, he added.

 

Some reports have said that NGO workers were not happy with the special operations soldiers trying to fit in as it put those workers in danger.

 

The official said that a slight consideration was given to that argument in the decision to return the soldiers to standard uniforms. "

 

 

 

What's the big deal if they have beards and longer hair. They're doing their job and since there on security detail won't it be safer to blend in.

 

If anyone has some pics it's really strange seeing special forces with full beards and longer hair.

[Guest Cancer Marney]

Thing is, the time is past when they had to blend in. Now, the more they stand out, the better off they and the people they protect will be.

[Guest Kahran Ramsus]

How can you inspire fear if you blend in? It should be as stark a contrast as possible. Like the Stormtroopers in Star Wars.

[Guest Some Guy]

It's not only about instilling fear, it's about knowing who to shoot at. It is a lot easier to prevent friendly fire if the troops are shaven and in full uniform when the enemy by and large is bearded and in rags.

[Guest Cancer Marney]

Like the Stormtroopers in Star Wars.

As long as they shoot straighter than the miserable Stormtroopers...

 

"Only Imperial Stormtroopers are so precise," said Obi-Wan in one of his less stunningly accurate pronouncements. Obi must have gotten a little too much sun during his Tattooine holiday, because as the rest of the movie shows Imperial Stormtroopers couldn't hit the sidewalk with a can of paint.

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