PANORAMA Hunting the Taleban, video

[Jt.]

Or you could just watch this one

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/p ... 187660.stm

[Worthers Original]

I thought the Forces in Afghanistan were sporting beards these days because local Afghanis expect men to have beards, so it's a part of the "hearts&minds" to have British Forces with beards too. ARen't the beards some sort of show of respect to the locals, nothing to do with being "special" forces.

[SO19]

It hasn't got anything to do with being 'special', it's just easier and less hassle for the blokes to not have to shave all the time, especially given the climate and being constantly out on the roam. Of course, water preservation, respect from the male populace, and looking 'Ally' are all contributing factors aswell.

[Paratrooper01]

They are a brigade level recce unit, not special forces.

The reason we/they grow beards out there is for a few reasons. Firstly, a man is not a man without a beard in afghanistan so if we were all clean shaven the afghanis would see us all as boys running about the desert. Second, when 3 para were there it was all about fighting the war not about barrack bullsh*t and having your hair cut, sideburns up etc etc, and i think that Royal have the same idea. (Camp Bastion is different and everyone has to shave there, but out on the ground its big boys rules.) Lastly i guess it was a bit of respect to the locals and all played a part of the hearts and minds.