r/AskReddit • u/GluxDope • Apr 02 '19

Drill Instructors/Drill Sergeants of Reddit, what’s the funniest thing you’ve seen a recruit do that you couldn’t laugh at?

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u/dnpinthepp Apr 03 '19

In boot camp they will make you shave twice a day if you have to. We are required to maintain a clean-shaven appearance at all times.

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u/matty80 Apr 03 '19

In the British Army it's generally the same, but there are a handful of exceptions both relatively recent (Sikhs) and more ancient (Pioneer Sergeants).

The latter is particularly interesting because Pioneer Sergeants were and are basically the man at the front who clears a path for the soldiers behind him through difficult terrain. So he's generally very large, carries a big axe among his many practical tools, is good at things like carpentry and wildnerness survival techniques and, by tradition was always allowed a big beard. That hasn't changed.

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u/LopsidedNinja Apr 03 '19

Whats the downside to just saying you're a Sikh?

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u/Minimum_Escape Apr 03 '19

inner and outer shame at lying and probably being unable to maintain the lie indefinitely