Navy Seals: Long hair, beard, jeans, etc.

One of the worst (or best depending on how you look at it) parts of blending in in a country like Afghanistan is having to eat nothing but local food for a couple weeks so your body sweats/smells like their's, man the first 2 weeks is rough till your body gets used to it....so I've heard. :)
 
To be honest, I think it is a little of both. Because they can, and because it makes sense.

Didn't work a lot with the seals, more so with other groups, and they tended to be as varied as any other unit, some big, some average, one small, but all with endurance.

I just recently went through training with a retired seal that works for another federal group, and I would never have guessed it. That was until he began speaking and teaching.
 
I worked with some of the JSOC and SOCOM forces in both AFG and IZ. The ones conducting FID (Foreign internal defense) and other white/green type mission at least use the logic of they have to grow beards in order to build rapport in with Arab and Pustun societies; however, the non SF trainers don't and are able to do the same thing as the SF ones.

The ones working on the "black side" mission will claim, they are attempting to not look like US Spec Ops from JSOC units, instead they believe they look more like contractors. However, when they run around in things like Marines MCCUUS or FROGS with beards and white afros, everyone knows who they are.

I found it humorous that they wanted the LNOs and attachments from non-SOCOM units to go native for the period of time we worked with them. In most cases it was decided it was better to stay within regs to fit in on the base.
 
"One of the worst (or best depending on how you look at it) parts of blending in in a country like Afghanistan is having to eat nothing but local food for a couple weeks so your body sweats/smells like their's..."
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Then send me to the Middle East; I'd love to eat Paki/Indian food. Hell, I'd probably not come back. :p
 
Yeah, now we'll be seeing guys growing "tactical" beards and hair. Dyed black of course.

I predict a new wave of ex-seal wannabes popping up with long hair and beards now since they were in "the stan." lol.
 
Tactical Body oder, now thats something I can relate to. We opened two new FOB's while I was in OEF. Do you have any ideal what 90+ days of living in Polypro long johns (the same ones) without showers does for your BO:(. It felt like it took another 30 days to smell like a normal person again. Oh and my feet:rolleyes:
 
you of it all wrong

I disagree with all the ideas put forth here. I believe that the seals grow thief beards to help them fit in and be accepted by the coalition forces with whom they live and fight.
 
I disagree with all the ideas put forth here. I believe that the seals grow thief beards to help them fit in and be accepted by the coalition forces with whom they live and fight.
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Well that only applies to a very limited amount of the people doing it. The Army SF guys who are doing the FID mission. However, the MiTTs, ETTs and other types of transitions teams doing the exact same job who don't grow beards and long hair don't seem to have a problem. When I was a MiTT, the Iraqis even tell you, they understand we are Americans and didn't need to grow beards.

Honestly, I think it is more of we can do it so we will sort of thing. A team doing SR or DA has absolutely no need to grow their facial hair out, they live a sequestered life; separate from everyone else and hardly ever deal with locals other than their terps and when on the target.
 
Earlier this year I was working with SF guys from all branches, just walking into the chow hall you point out who's who. Beards and skin cancer barbie tans were the seals, beards and some kinda attempt to be in a military uniform were the marines, clean shaven in ABU's were the Air Force PJ's, and clean shaven in ACU's were Army task force. With a couple 3 letter government agency guys thrown in the mix.

No I'm not SF, I just worked with them for 4 months.
 
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What it boils down to isn't so much who it is, rather where it is. If your in a very garrison place, your going to see the guys with fresh hair cuts and a proper shave. If its a primitive AO, people let themselves go a bit. For example, I was in Al Asad for a while. If I didnt shave every day you would see me at parade rest getting my ass chewed. Here in camp gannon though where we do number two in a bag, you can walk around in a hoody and have long hair. Its all about the resources.

Now, the SEALs do get away with it in garrison areas, but if you ask me its stupid. I know SEALS are VERY good at their job and operating, but when they're not they're a bunch of toolbags if you ask me. Just my opinion though..
 
Now, the SEALs do get away with it in garrison areas, but if you ask me its stupid. I know SEALS are VERY good at their job and operating, but when they're not they're a bunch of toolbags if you ask me. Just my opinion though..
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As you may know, SEALs may get called from "garrison" assignment to an operation in a matter of hours. They can't necessarily keep things high and tight just to make the other troops happy.
 
STLRN, I'm at gannon II. Its in the process of being built up and albeit it's happening quick, but still pretty basic. When my team got here it was nothing but MREs.

Also I do realize they can be called upon in a matter of hours. I know they do in fact do spec. ops. but like others have said its nothing that requires them to be raggidy. The teams I have seen and dealt with would stick out like a sore thumb, even though they have their hair all grown out. All it comes down to is them trying to be different and stick out because they can as far as garrison areas are concerned.
 
Its so that they blend in more easily with the locals to look like this...

team-america-20040719101833503.jpg


...instead of looking like this:
kiss-me_team-america.gif
 
In the real world back home the SEALs still have grooming standards and uniforms. So do Delta. Several Delta guys used to come to a NC IPSC match, you could tell it was on in late 2002 when they showed up with beards and a satellite phone. They left after a call mid-match, didn't see them again for a long time.

Locally in Virginia Beach you can always spot the Seal. Mdoerately fit, talks like a surfer, shorts, flip flops, sunglasses, great tan. If seen at the range they shoot the same Sig with the same deliberate draw stroke. I'm not sure if they issue the off-duty disguise but it sure is universal amongst the young Seals.
 
Its for the same reason all front line British troops in Afghanistan are allowed to grow beards and long hair. It helps them gain a rapport with local tribes were men all have beards. It the mark of a man in that country. Only girls and boys don't have beards. The British military have been trying to get the US forces to allow their male soldiers to grow beards to no avail.
 
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