Why does the military shave recruits heads?

Cooties and uniformity because there is no place for individualism and diversity in the military if you are going to prevail on the battlefield.
Political correctness is deadly and will get you killed.

The first time the military started shaving heads during recruit training was actually post WW ll during the late 1940's by the Marine Corps. The Army would soon follow suit then the Navy.

The U.S. Army Air Born went with extreme white walls (high and tight) looking like Mohawk Indians during WW ll. Marine Corps Force Recon did the same during the Vietnam War and most Marines wear their hair today "high and tight."


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If a liberals were ever to become CnC of the military in the future, you can expect your pubic hairs being shaved during boot camp.

 

I jumped right into college after 4 years active duty. Tried to stay with the Nat. Guard, but college demands made me give it up.

I've noticed more Marines than any other military people having problems giving up their military bearing and blending-in.

I don't wear my hair that long at all, never have, but having the short hair back in the early 1980's made us Army guys stand out like strobe lights in the civilian world.

 

Also easy to stop military personnel by their walk. Closed fists, even stride, quicker pace.

 

But not for ever - the same wack jobs cheerleaded for Iraq, and even after Iraq became a huge fiasco, they still rattle their toy swords to tackle Iran!!!!

 

Sadly, unless that job is done in large scale by civilian DOD contractors most military experience does not qualify. Got a FNG at work who spent 7 years in the Air Force as a "plumber". I taught him how to read a tape measure with my signature "For Bastard Children" diagram.

Perhaps you should Google James and Jimmy McCain.

That's because Marines don't blend in. We meet the enemy on their terms, and while a fight with a Marine is never fair, it would be unethical to take an enemy by surprise.

 

I believe he's the one who condemned the repeal of DADT. Why the bigotry? Why shouldn't gays be allowed to serve in the military??

 

That would be John McCain. James and Jimmy would be his sons, and both served in Iraq, as infantrymen.

 

And at least when I went to boot camp, even if you shave your head ahead of time, they still charge you for the haircut. For the first couple days I still tried to brush back hair that was no longer there.

It's not going to take years or months to grow back when your haircut has to conform to military standards.

 

I just keep my head buzzed at a 2. I used to rock the high and tight but now I just buzz my own hair once a week.

You're right about your first part too. When I arrived for basic (OSUT), I already shaved my head because I knew they were going to anyway. Still got charged 15 clams

 

Oh,ok. Thought I read where one of them endorsed the archaic notion that gays shouldn't be in the military when everybody knows it is full of them.

 

I wouldn't say it's full of gay people. I know two throughout my time here. Both are cool dudes though. Never would have known they were gay.

 

Thank you for your service. I never did but often wish i had.

Correct me if im wrong.

My take from vets i have known well is that above all the "break down" process is about respect. You learn to respect others by learning to respect yourself. Military training affords one to learn what they are capable of. You learn your strengths and weaknesses. You acknowledge them. You enhance your strengths and overcome your weaknesses.You learn to rely on the man next to you because you know what he is capable of and you know he knows what you are capable of. It is the only way you men (and women) can do what you have to do and do it better than anyone else has ever done. You are individuals with a single mindset and purpose.

Vast majority of the vets i have known, even those who dislike the military admit the are a better person because of the experience.

 

Your take is basically correct. We did find a guy that was sniffing glue, and we beat the crap out of him and told him we'd do it again if we caught him - it rots your brain and you become useless - don't care if you want to destroy yourself, but others may depend on you.

 

Well, depending on how long your hair is. Based on what he's claimed, Balto has long hair, and it might take years for his hair to grow back.

 

If we banned gays in the military we wouldn't have a Navy

 

Being mostly bald now the wife just buzz cuts me with a 2 or 3 too.

 

I hope you were intending that to be a joke.

 

I always thought they shaved their heads so that they wouldn't have outbreaks of lice.

 

People are different. Take any group of 1,000 or more people and you're going to find some who are really good, some who are really bad, and rest (the vast majority) being somewhere in the middle. The military didn't create someone with that killing mentality, it just became the outlet for that part of his psychological makeup.

I've known plenty of people who have served and fought in actual combat. They managed to integrate into society just fine. Again it's a case of people being different. Some will just return to civilian life with no problems, some will have problems, and most will reintegrate with a few bumps and bruises at the start and then it's smooth sailing.

 

First bold point. Most of the military is comprised of killers and warriors. It's a special kind of job. We take the fight to the enemy and **** them up! Who doesn't want a combat deployment? Why even join?

Second bold point. What about Marines, Airmen, and sailors?

 

The military will give some individuality back, but in basic training, it's all about being 1 cohesive unit. Working together to accomplish a mission. You will always have leaders and followers of any group so individuality is always still there. But the overall group is more important than an individual at this point.

 

This^

 

A better way is to simply remove all profit from wars. Do not use taxpayer dollars to finance and profit warmongers. This way if Halliburton and Bechtel want a war, let them finance it themselves. Once all the profit is taken out of war, there will be no further incentive for keeping them going. That will end wars.

 

That will not end wars. That will give other countries incentives to attack us because we'd have no money to defend ourselves.

 

Have you ever met a Marine before?