Thread: New user: military advice

You've reminded me of some memories of a lifetime ago in a part of US history few know. I was deployed into the jungle. The local military kids loved my disposable blade razors, blue plastic things. They asked to have them when I was done with them. I had a straight with me and learned to strop the blade on the side of a car tire. I got decent shaves, nothing great, as the razor was new to me, and so was shaving with a straight. But I wanted to give the young military kids (practically children in some cases) new blades and not "hand-me-downs". I had simply tied a rubber band around a poorly honed straight and tossed it in the duffle bag. I used it sparingly every few days.

I have to admit that supporting NSD 17 (and the straight razor I was known to carry) gave me a youthful badass reputation that served me well from that day forward.

It's a great memory that reminds me of the immediate comraderie we developed fighting and shaving together, as goofy as that probably sounds. Reminds me of this forum sometimes.

Here's a link: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nica...ion#Contra_War

Originally Posted by AFDavis11

You've reminded me of some memories of a lifetime ago in a part of US history few know. I was deployed into the jungle. The local military kids loved my disposable blade razors, blue plastic things. They asked to have them when I was done with them. I had a straight with me and learned to strop the blade on the side of a car tire. I got decent shaves, nothing great, as the razor was new to me, and so was shaving with a straight. But I wanted to give the young military kids (practically children in some cases) new blades and not "hand-me-downs". I had simply tied a rubber band around a poorly honed straight and tossed it in the duffle bag. I used it sparingly every few days.

I have to admit that supporting NSD 17 (and the straight razor I was known to carry) gave me a youthful badass reputation that served me well from that day forward.

It's a great memory that reminds me of the immediate comraderie we developed fighting and shaving together, as goofy as that probably sounds. Reminds me of this forum sometimes.

Here's a link: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nica...ion#Contra_War

That's an awesome memory to have.

Originally Posted by dmnc

At the beginning would advise laying the razor flat on your face, lift the spine a tiny one, and try a short stroke. Easy mistake is too steep an angle at the beginning.

Got that mistake of using just like a shavette the out the window now. Loving these shaves.

So far have a poor man strop, Straight razor design kangaroo strop, the razor, AOS Pure Badger brush, repurposed a Aquafor container for my soap. VDH grated and stuffed into the container, a green prosaro, and my homemade shave oil mixes. Gonna get a family size toiletry bag from llbean that looks like will work out. And also looking to get another razor and want to get a hone. Need serious help figureing out the hone.

Originally Posted by Wayne1963

Unless you're going to be bunking in a hotel and/or have a good amount of spare time in the mornings, I would advise using a safety razor. You'll have to pack less kit, and you'll accomplish the shave quicker. If you drop your straight and ding the edge, it has to be re sharpened, with a safety, just simply change the blade. Also, if you're shaving in an area with a bunch of other guys moving around you, I surely wouldn't want to use a straight. Myself, I would use a cartridge (gasp!), but with wetshaving prep, a brush and soap, and beard reduction technique. Thank you for serving your country.

Refuse to go back to cartridge all my issues are gone. No more irritation etc. the furthest I'll go is to my DE.

From my understanding of someone who had the same deployment as me should have access to a bathroom will be in barracks own room shared head. Hopefully will work out.

Know you don't want to hear it but the shavette or one better like a Feather and a couple packs of blades will carry you for a long time,non extra stuff to carry , like the strop , and forget about a hone , you ain't going to make it easier by messing up your edges before you actually know how to shave. I,m experienced at this hing and for travel on my bike trying to keep the bag small I use a Feather rg with the pro blades, gets me a great shave and no need to strop or worry about my razors needing honed. And the DE was a great suggestion, I wound up getting my DE in country after I went on a leave, my shaving conditions weren't as nice as yours sounds like, mine was a steel pot, water from the tank and shave with a 2"x2" mirror I had stuck to a post outside the hooch. Good luck. Tc

How long are you being deployed for? I went to Bosnia back in 95/96 for 6 months. At that time I only used crappy disposables. If I'd been an SR user back then, I think I'd have taken a DE and spare blades. I didn't have space for much else in my kit.

Hope your deployment goes well. Stay safe. Good luck.

Originally Posted by wayne394

How long are you being deployed for? I went to Bosnia back in 95/96 for 6 months. At that time I only used crappy disposables. If I'd been an SR user back then, I think I'd have taken a DE and spare blades. I didn't have space for much else in my kit.

Hope your deployment goes well. Stay safe. Good luck.

Going for a year to Bahrain.

Originally Posted by Rdefreitas

Going for a year to Bahrain.

Thank you for serving.

Originally Posted by rolodave

Thank you for serving.

Yes, thank you for your service.