Gentlemen,
I'm a 33-year old US Marine infantryman. I currently shave with a multi-blade disposable. I also shave my balding head. I find myself in the field for at least two of the four weeks of the month. Recently, I was conducting training in the jungle, and as I woke at 0430 to shave with a three-week old, rusty disposable, I realized that shaving with a bad blade sucks. I can get a shave with a jagged piece of metal, if I have to. But do I have to? We speculated that the only way to keep gunk (hair, shaving cream, gel, non-foaming gel, etc) from clogging our razors was to use a razor that didn't have the nooks and crannies that a modern razor had. That led us to the theory that shaving with a straight razor might be the answer. We don't usually have running water to properly clean a multi-blade, hence the rust and dullness. A few questions about straight razor shaving while in the field or in combat follow.

Can I expect to shave at the level of BBS while in the field? Anyone out there shave without a mirror (I often have to shave without light or with very little light)? How long does a straight razor shave keep a respectable, clean look (for instance will a straight razor shave equal a 10-hour old disposable razor shave after 36-hours?)? I realize that historically gentlemen/officers shaved with their razors "in the field" but the conduct of war has changed to be a 24-hour operation since WWI. I'm not concerned with having to strop in the field. That seems akin to caring for my weapon or gear. Also, I can heat water. However, how do creams and soaps "travel"?

I'm looking forward to feedback and some assistance to getting started. I would like to thank all of you for the beginner information that I have already found on this site.