US Casualties

[Dmanton300]

My number one thought when I see Americans dealing with locals is invariably "TAKE YOUR FRIGGIN SUNGLASSES OFF!". Shades change the face, and hide the eyes, it may be a small thing, but I hate talking to people wearing shades. To my mind it's even more important than the whole helmet/Beret thing. There was a US officer on TV the other night talking to a crowd, his message was sincere but it was lost in the impersonal sense in which it was delivered. The eyes are described as the window to the soul, that may be a stretch but there's at least some truth in it.
Winning the war was easy, winning the peace will take patience and subtlety. . .

[TK421]

Might be a cultural thing. I've never given sunglasses a second thought. When it's cold you wear a jacket, when it's bright you wear sunglasses.

[Sisyphus]

D.

Seems you've been watching too many 'Join the Army' adverts.!

[barryc]

I agree about the sunglasses issue. Making eye contact is essential in communication of this sort, if you are lecturing you make eye contact to keep the beggars awake and to judge if your message is being received. The mouth can be saying one thing and the eyes quite another e.g. "Of course I'm not lusting after your body", may be the words but the yes give the game away. It seems to me that the Iraqis have the right to try to judge the sincerety of a message by being able to see the same, or a different message in the eyes. Shielding the eyes from that inspection can only give the impression that you are hiding something.

As with my peers on this forum, I add the caveat that the above is a personal opinion, and is not a dig at the US soldier's or their intentions.

Barry

[lew]

I have to say I also agree with the sunglasses issue, being a sun glasses wearer pretty much all year round there is a difference when talking to someone, as eye contact is paramount to understanding what is being said, and if its believable or not, the fact that the two languages are different and there are problems communicating with the public anyway, sunglasses are not making the soldiers job any easier...



lew

[Twenty One]

I must agree with the sunglasses issue here.Eye to eye contact can and most probably win over the confidence of the other person to whom you are addressing.The Americans need to be taught on how to win hearts and minds from the British Army they are experts at it.

[GINGE]

Vietnam no difference, looks bad and very un professional, I have yet to see a Royal in the field with shades on not cool

[rabby]

I have yet to see a Royal in the field with shades on not cool

You didn't watch "Fighting the War" on BBC 2 over here then, Can't remember who it was now, I think it was the guy in control of the hovercraft, but he was wearing a rather fetching pair of shades.

[Contractor]

Rabby,

Common sense me thinks when IC of a boat with all the sun and glare, probably keeps his eyes healthy and the boat safe. Different matter when face-to-face on the street.

[rabby]

Now you do have a point there...

[crusader]

Wear the shades if they're gonna help... stands to reason - it's a bloody sunny country! But I agree on the effect they can have by taking them off, so you can see someone's eyes and get a real sense of what they are saying and what they want (especially if you don't speak the same language!)...
Thats why you always see the prison guards in these films (Cool Hand Luke etc...) wearing those mirrored shades... you cant see their eyes and it is intimidating!
But a pair of Oakleys seem to first thing on the kit list with US troops...

[lew]

It is true, me being an old hand when it comes to water sports, in the summer sunglasses are a must, the glare from the sun off the water is at times un-bearable and can cause migraines, purple spot, and even sight problems in really bad cases.

I personally don’t see any problems with tank drivers, boat skippers etc wearing sunnies but the soldier on the ground shouldn’t be wearing them...



lew

[TK421]

Vietnam no difference, looks bad and very un professional, I have yet to see a Royal in the field with shades on not cool


Hmmm, I guess these guys have spent too much time around Americans

http://media.militaryphotos.net/photos/ ... cdo_845sqn

http://media.militaryphotos.net/photos/ ... optelic209

http://media.militaryphotos.net/photos/ ... optelic180

http://media.militaryphotos.net/photos/ ... id=b_rmc01

I'm sorry I'm not sure how to actually put the pictures in my post like GINGE did. And I'm not trying to pick a fight, just having some fun. And I do see the point you all are making about eye contact :fadein:

*edit* well that didn't work it just redirects you to the main page. Oh well, in the Gulf War 2 section there are several pictures of Brits in the field with their Oakleys

[Marina]

HI Lozhop,

Amazing pictures !
I like those firearms too. What are they called in technical terms ?
In the first pic is that a sort of jungle knife attached to the gun ?

[Dmanton300]

Marina,
Seriously though, thats the famous SA80.
Laterz
Loz

Errr. . . "famous"? Reckon you forgot two little letters IN front of that Loz!