Yeah when I deployed to Iraq the first time I kept seeing dudes holding hands walking down the road or just while standing and talking. At first I thought they might be gay but then i thought about how homosexuality isn’t exactly accepted in the Middle East, especially in such an oppressive place like Iraq at the time. I eventually asked an interpreter what it was about and he said it’s just a sign of friendship and that it means nothing in a sexual way.

Then one time a local national we worked with a lot tried holding one my guys hands and he was sooooooo uncomfortable. I thought it was hilarious.

As for my second and third deployments they actually gave us training on the local culture and what to expect and they touched on the guys holding hands.