I think this is the correct section to post this thread in.
I recently served in the military and enjoyed shaving at the time because I was really enthusiastic about the art.
Now I still shave, but I also grow a full beard and I wonder why soldiers need to shave.
I tried to find information online but there is none! It's like no one questions this.
My assumption that I don't think it's even close to the truth is that all soldiers must look alike. But this sounds silly.
Another assumption I made is that they have to be disciplined, but does shaving require disciple? Not for me at least.
Keeping your rifle clean has a purpose. Keeping your face clean of hair on the other hand.. serves no purpose. No tactical advantage.
I wonder about this because there was a time that soldiers were not required to shave. I know that in the past we were not so advantaged when it came to shave gear, but don't tell me that the sole reason is that soldiers should shave because they can in comparison to another era.
Call me a conspiracy theorist but Shave products companies would lose a lot of money if soldiers were suddenly not required to shave anymore, so.. Well it's pretty easy to see where I'm going with this.
Sorry, for the long post. Does anyone know why soldiers have to shave daily?
I thought about the gas mask thing. But you will get shit just because you have a 5 o' clock shadow and that's really weird. They have a BBS fetish. I know from experience.Get a tight fit over the face when wearing a gas mask, maybe. Recognition is easier too.
Thank you for the answer. A less than 1 cm beard would not cause any problems in battle. Being clean-shaven was different back then of course, so it makes sense. And soldiers could be clean shaven today as they were in medieval times, without using blades but a cheap trimmer. That's why I feel like all armies in the world are investors of Gillette. I am half-kidding of course. lol...If I recall correctly, and I may not, Alexander the Great ensured that his soldiers were clean shaven so that in battle there was less chance that opposing forces could grasp them by their beards. In modern armies I would hazard a guess that one of the reasons may be hygiene related. The problems armies can suffer from lice are well documented from the eastern front during World War II. I also suspect it has something to do with a countries armies being ambassadors and also something to do with looking fit and clean akin to the way a lions potential prey will demonstrate their physical fitness if a lion comes close. I have often read how european citizens noticed how clean shaven, fit and good looking US forces appeared to them; this was surly by design in the same way America's national carriers TWA / Pan Am in the sixties ensured that all their pilots and airline staff received world-class tailor made clothing, hair styling and make-up as they were seen as ambassadors for the USA. There may of course be a more simple reason and I am sure someone will be along soon...
Get a tight fit over the face when wearing a gas mask, maybe. Recognition is easier too.
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