Shemaghs as a part of dress?

[hiv]

I seem to recall a former CO of mine strolling about in the winter wearing one of these delightful staples of the SAS. After conferring with some of my colleagues a couple informed me that personnel are permitted these fashionable items which came as quite the shock to me. Anyway, I decided to investigate this further and after pouring through the CF dress regs I was unable to find any mention of the topic. So my question to the denizens of this fine forum is if any of you have heard of this policy or anything similar? Or was my CO just a little too eccentric?

Cheers
Your friendly neighbourhood Able Airman

 

[MG34]

They are not authorized dress,but are tolerated in Afghanistan,where they were issued,but not authorized for wear in Canada.

 

[Armymedic]

tolerated at various tiems here and Canada...usually when there are no RSMs or CSMs around...

 

[Infanteer]

It's funny; the things really tend to stir people up in a love/hate mentality.  I have one and love it, infact, most of my Platoon wore one (up to the Platoon Commander).  However, the CSM really didn't like them, going to the point of sending down on order to put them away (yet allowing guys to wear black tuques).  The Platoon Commander was a smart subbie and didn't try to fight it out with the CSM (who was an excellent CSM, I might add).

 

[mdh]

All right, I'll fess up - what's a shemag?

 

[D-n-A]

http://www.tea-and-medals.co.uk/images/shemagh.jpg

I've been looking for one, but so far all I can find are the red/white ones, which I don't want.

 

[mdh]

Ah right! Now I want one! - if you find out where let me know where I can get one as well - if we all  band together and wear them it'll become an irresistable movement.
Cheers, mdh

 

[rdschultz]

http://secure.sovietski.com/cgi-bin/Sovietski.storefront/413287c6022904cc9c4ec0a80a6606a6/Product/View/150813&2D1

or, if you want to buy something else from them and save 5 bucks: 

http://secure.sovietski.com/cgi-bin/Sovietski.storefront/413287c6022904cc9c4ec0a80a6606a6/Product/View/S150813&2D1

 

[qjdb]

Or you can find them all over ebay

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=588&item=2265447992&rd=1

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=588&item=2264481613&rd=1

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=588&item=2266120572&rd=1

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=19255&item=5516779610&rd=1

and they are spelt shemagh, by the by   They are the traditional headcovering of most of the arabic world, like the thing that you see on Yasser Arafat, etc.

Quentin

 

[hiv]

I got mine from a friend who made a trip to the UK. I guess that's not really useful for you but if by some chance you happen to be in the area...

 

[KevinB]

No longer issued in Afghanistan.

They are issuing tghe US Army Brown scarf (cost measure - or some bin rat sold them all on EBay, but there were no more in theatre).

They are tolerated on patrols - but not camp dress.  The NATO PX (The Blue) at KAIA sells the brown/tan ones that were issued

 

[AlphaCharlie]

I saw a few guys wearing them at ARCON this year.....

 

[Redeye]

and they are spelt shemagh, by the by  

Just to pick nits, since the word is originally Arabic and Arabic doesn't really have any written short vowels, any variation of the spelling is sufficient, since we all know what they're talking about.

A perfectly field-serviceable shemagh can be made from the combat scarf, and they work quite nicely.

 

[Armymedic]

Does anyone have the link about how to properly attire oneself with this item?

Like, I mean , to put it on...

 

[Fishbone Jones]

Try this:

http://www.actiongear.com/agcatalog/shemagh.html

or this

http://www.walkingtarget.ascuk.net/wasps/shemagh.htm

 

[1feral1]

Fashion statement or not, these are quite common here. I have one, and this thing really comes in handy. Many are used either in OD or desert colours.

Cheers,

Wes

 

[Armymedic]

Thanks for the links

 

[HollywoodHitman]

They're an OUTSTANDING piece of kit. Not to mention the fact that they are quite fashionable on the modern field soldier. In all seriousness though, I am never without mine in the field. when worn properly, it can make the difference between freezing on some bald a** prarie or mountain and being mildly uncomfortable.

I've been lucky, no CSM's jumping on me for wearing one in the field yet. I've even had one or 2 ask me where they could get one for themselves.

:threat:

 

[D-n-A]

I just picked one up a few days ago when I was in Edmonton, for about $16, not bad, cheaper than some I've seen sold on websites, plus I don't gotta pay s/h.

 

[Jarnhamar]

They look like pretty neat pieces of kit, I'd really like to buy one when i come across it. (Or maybe one of you guys send me one)

Warstory time  :warstory:
It's annoying when people obsess over it. I remember seeing a section who's "thing" was to have them. (Which i thought was pretty cool)As it always happens, someone a little higher didn't like them and decided to shit can it so they were not to wear them for the remainder of the ex.
Hell i think we should be allowed to use them. Someone else didn't, like it or not thats how it works. (Just like it was mentioned in Afghanistan someone came up with the rule no personal kit?)  Problem with these guys is they complained about it non stop. "f**k this army and their rules, no wog should tell me what to wear bla bla bla". The sections whole attitude went down hill and they pouted. They really shut down. Everything sucked. Being pissed was fine but they really made a big stink out of it and make sure everyone knew they were pissed. The master corporal even put in a memo saying they should be allowed to wear them. I asked one of the privates what the big deal was and he replied they NEEDED this piece of kit.
Need it how I asked.  "Besides the OBVIOUS uses you can blind fold a prisoner or tie his hands up. You can use it for first aid and stop bleeding or in a splint. You can use it to choke a sentry to death. (and my favorite) if your being extracted by helicopter using a rope ladder you can use it as an emergency sling to tie your weapon to yourself.
Kinda caught me off guard. The kid was right about it even if it's pretty out there. I had the feeling this was a line fed to him by the Mcpl. I asked what about wetting it then twisting it like a towel and wipping someone in the eye but he didnt get the joke.  Defeated I said a triangular bandage could do the same but it was lost on him.

Morale of the story is for the rest of their ex they seemed to get all the shittiest taskings and shitty jobs. They acted like children all because they didn't like their Shemag being taken away.
SO, if your going to cry make sure it's when no one can see you