Troops Spending own money on equipment?

Question

I've heard several reports on the news claiming that U.S. troops going to Iraq and Afghanistan were spending up to $1000.00 of their own money on personal protective gear. Can Anyone who is there or their families confirm this? If this is true it's an outrage. We need to be providing the best available.

let me be clear that my question isn't another Bush bashing rant. I just think if true we all need to be contacting our congressmen to insure proper appropriations to get these men what they need to be as safe as possible. Heard something about Cher donating some money for a helmet attachment and that spurred one of the news talk discussions.

Rebel
well..i am also avietnam vet and while i know people "acquire things (i was a radio operator and got a grease gun to go with my .45) what i was asking about was something entirely different. if you read my entire question you'd know i wasn't bashing the administration.

Answer 1

I am headed to Iraq in October, and I can tell you that I have spent close to $1000 already on equipment. Things like a good GPS, better boots, socks and t-shirts than the Army supplies, knee and elbow pads, communication equipment, modifications for my rifle (scopes and slings), pistol holsters, etc.

It is not that the Army equipment is not good - it is, and for the most part, it helps keep soldiers alive. It is just that it could be better. And it takes forever and a day to field new equipment in the Army. Almost everyone headed over will search for lessons learned in Iraq and read what is REALLY needed over there. And soldiers will spend money to be in comfort or have equipment that works better.

So, I don't blame the government, and I don't think it is an outrage. I have been in for 15 years, and it has always been the same. No matter what the Army has, someone will sell one that is bigger, better or more durable. It the nature of and the beautiful thing about capitalism. :-)

EDIT: reichman2007 - You liberal commie (yeah, I read a lot of your hateful, anti-American answers), it has NOTHING to do with the current or any administration. We did the same thing under your god - Bill Clinton. He did a lot of things wrong and was about the crappiest Commander in Chief most military members can ever think of, but it wasn't his fault there was better equipment out there. It is the nature of capitalism ... when someone invents or builds something, someone will come along and make a better one. The Army can't keep replacing equipment just because something newer comes out. Your taxes would be at 90% then ... or maybe that would just make you happy.

Answer 2

Not unusual. I am a Vietnam Vet, and we did such things in RVN. Each unit has what is called a TO&E ( Table of Operatiions and Equipment), outlining what is needed for each type of unit to perform its assigned duties. On my job in RVN, I was not authorized a grenade launcher to be issued me by our unit TO&E (Intelligence Agent), but I wanted one, so I traded with an Infantry guy for one. I also bought (with my own money), a Colt .38 revolver with leather gear and 4 boxes of carterages, from a Vieatmese vender in Phuoc Vinh to use as a side arm. I was issued a .45. I sold the rig to a new comer. I suggest you not make judgements about military matters that you hear from main stream media if you have no military back ground. They are extremely biased and dead set on destroying the Bush Administration and discrediting the military. The Administratiion and Military are doing a fine job. Rebel.

Answer 3

This is an outright distortion. I was there and we all had protective plates in our Kevlar vests. When the insurgency started up, there were a lot of unarmored Humvees, but they were up-armored literally as fast as the factories back home could make the armor.

A lot of guys (myself included) buy special gear to look and feel high-speed.

Answer 4

That's it blindly blame the current administration. They did after all, "vote for the war before they voted against it", oh I'm sorry that was Kerry. The current administration is not perfect, but they are the first administration to actually do something about terrorist.

Answer 5

when my hubby went to Iraq he was given ALL of his equipment before he left. They carried all of there equipment on the plain with them over to Iraq. The only thing we spent our money on was a personal cooling vest and that is something not military issue.

a military wife

Answer 6

Yes, shameful!
& I read a story earlier this week,
Armor Upgrade causing Army Humvee too Roll.
& I CAN FIND NO REFERENCES TO IT NOW.
Gone disappeared & as 4 lil lady below, well Lucky U!

Answer 7

yes some troops spend money on more body armor

but i have only spent about 300.00 on eye protection

Answer 8

That's pretty damn sad..and IF true is just another example of the incompetence of the current American leadership.

Answer 9

yes, soldiers are spending their own money. and it is an outrage. the tax dollars should be going to that, not to fund political agendas...

Answer 10

My husband and I are both military - my husband just recently deployed again - we never paid for anything other than hygiene stuff.
Everything else is paid for.