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[–] Blacksmith21 0 points 3 points (+3|-0) ago 

The photo doesn't appear to be shopped, other than the red circles and black boxes. As far as the photo itself, weird? I've been to AFG. You don't go out in the villages without battle rattle. If those LNs (local nationals) were working on a FOB/Camp/Base, it wouldn't be out of order for the soldier to be geared down except his rifle.

You can look at the analysis yourself, upload the photo: https://29a.ch/photo-forensics/#error-level-analysis

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[–] gramman74 0 points 1 point (+1|-0) ago 

Dudes ear looks kind of like cauliflower ear. A deformity of the ear caused by trauma. Was the guy wrestler high school. That's why they make you wear that funny looking headgear in wrestling class. I'm not sure about the rest

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[–] Roughpatch 0 points 1 point (+1|-0) ago 

Photo shopped ..slight shadow around him

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[–] SuckaFree 0 points 1 point (+1|-0) ago  (edited ago)

Answers to #'s 1 & 2, as a "former" combat vet and Sailor, those answers are a resounding NO. No professional soldier, Sailor, Airman, or Marine would be caught dead wearing ear buds in uniform while out on a patrol. The only thing going into your ears are a radio ear bud or an ear plugs to help defend against the noose firearms and munitions make and the damage they cause to your hearing.

Also, not one soldier, Marine, Sailor, or airman will ever leave an overseas compound in the middle of a "Hostile fire Zone," or "Imminent Danger zone" WITHOUT their gear. It NEVER fucking happens, UNLESS they're defecting to a terrorist org, like Berghdal did. And he even had his gear in til he got to Al Qaida, his own admission.

First, your safety is the primary personal concern for EVERYONE, correct? So, this goes against people's right thinking judgement. Only a few select people, in relation to the rest of the world, will ever risk their personal safety like that. I know this, because I was a Navy EOD tech. Most of us are certifiably insane. You have to be in order to do the jobs required of us in ANY of the SoecOps fields. It's controlled insanity, but insanity just the same.

Second, uniform rules and regs also extend to certain areas of the world. In the battlesphere, your PPE is your main life saving equipment, after your brain. PLUS, if you're caught out and about outside of a compound without your gear, it's not just a simple reprimand. You get some variation of "non judicial punishment." You get written up on UCMJ violations and sent to see "the old man" for your transgressions. It goes on your permanent record, but you avoid brig time, usually, with a NJP judgement. The usual punishment is reduction in rank, forfeiture of 1/2 your pay for 2 mths, plus restriction to your barracks and extra duty. It's a pain in the ass, and hurts the bank account, so most people do whatever they can to avoid it.

Third, NO ONE wants to be "that guy." The guy that risks their own safety and the safety of your team if you're not geared up properly. I don't know how many times I saw guys get fucked up because they weren't prepared right, or were missing some sort of equipment. Even something as simple as not enough toilet paper can fuck a team's mission up. Seen that scenario play out more than I care to admit.

No one survives long in those environs without the proper gear, too. No one. Part of the problem in Vietnam was guys going out on patrols without all their gear. In the oppressive heat and humidity if S.E. Asia, I can somewhat understand, but a lot of guy got killed or maimed because they weren't geared up right. The Military put an end to all that bullshit after analyzing that conflict. Most of the deaths and injuries could've been avoided had the guys just worn what they were issued to protect themselves. Today is no different.

Without looking at this video, or researching this particular guy, I'd say that he's an idiot, at the very least, and lucky to be alive. At worst, he's a Stolen Valor asshole. I'll have to research this guy, but my gut tells me he's a fake. I don't know anyone in the military or a vet, in or out of the Spec Ops arena that would be stupid enough to leave a compound on an op without their gear. It just doesn't happen that way. That shit is for the movies and TV. Real life battlefields are much, much different. Terrorists go around with no gear, and that's a major reason why they're so easy to exterminate. We don't, and it's a major reason why we're the most effective fighting force in the history of mankind.

Edit: this looks to be on some sort of U.S. compound. It's hard to tell, but this guy doesn't even have his cover (hat) on. The ONLY places that's EVER allowed is indoors or in a compound or of some sort. Hope that clears the air up a little.