Equip for deployment to afghanistan

[piaa_ump]

Just a brief rant.....my daughter's fiance will be deploying to afghanistan for his fourth tour. 2 to Iraq and now 2 to Afghanistan.....we have been outfitting him with gear for the year .....from merrill boots to better holsters, to mag pouches, to sun glasses....the list goes on and on....

we are bailing out banks, and spending money our grandkids cant pay back and we cant send an american soldier to battle with THE BEST available gear.....

Now I am sure that the issue gear is serviceable, but if all these troopers want the better stuff there has to be something to it.....

Troopers first......bankers......last...

[Smoke681]

Sorry, but I'm going to call some BS right now. First, your soon to be son in law is a good man, a Patriot, and a hero. No doubt about that.

And you're a fantastic person for purchasing him top of the line gear. That's great, and there's no doubt that he appreciates it and it will be put to good use. But we in the military are getting issued GREAT gear. Really, we are. At least we Marines are. I recently got my new CIF (Consolidated Issue Facility) after I transferred to my new Unit. I was in awe of our gear. First of all, it's all brand new. Completely unused. Top of the line is an understatement, if I may say so. It's rugged, surprisingly comfortable, and more than adequate gear.

I remember, before OIF and such, that the gear system in the Marine Corps (and likely the rest of the military) was slightly absurd. It used to be that you got issued your gear once, and you had it for most of your career...you took it with you each time you PCS'd. Over time, after several field exercises and deployments, the gear got run down and shitty. But unless it was unserviceable, as outlined by the guidelines set forth by Supply, you were stuck with it. Now? I get brand new, fresh out of the package gear every single time I PCS. ANd it's very high quality stuff. Now, I still have bought some better gear here and there (a better M9 shoulder holster, extra boots, knives, etc), but that's NOT because my issued gear is inadequate.

Again, I mean no disrespect. But our military is better equipped now than we've EVER been, and some people still aren't happy.

Hell, I might even be willing to take some pictures of the gear, and show you taxpayers what you're buying for us. I think you'd be pretty impressed.

[domenick2x]

I used to work for a company that made some small parts for the military. The specs were incredible - and we had to test and prove that we met the specs, which was interesting to say the least.

I'd love to see some pics.

[Jiddy78]

My adding machine is from 1983...I refuse to get a new one despite countless offers by my boss...I even found the receipt to it in our office...From 1983...I hope I have it forever. I'm demanding I take it if I ever leave.

[LionFanFormerlyInLA]

Sorry, but I'm going to call some BS right now. First, your soon to be son in law is a good man, a Patriot, and a hero. No doubt about that.

And you're a fantastic person for purchasing him top of the line gear. That's great, and there's no doubt that he appreciates it and it will be put to good use. But we in the military are getting issued GREAT gear. Really, we are. At least we Marines are. I recently got my new CIF (Consolidated Issue Facility) after I transferred to my new Unit. I was in awe of our gear. First of all, it's all brand new. Completely unused. Top of the line is an understatement, if I may say so. It's rugged, surprisingly comfortable, and more than adequate gear.

I remember, before OIF and such, that the gear system in the Marine Corps (and likely the rest of the military) was slightly absurd. It used to be that you got issued your gear once, and you had it for most of your career...you took it with you each time you PCS'd. Over time, after several field exercises and deployments, the gear got run down and shitty. But unless it was unserviceable, as outlined by the guidelines set forth by Supply, you were stuck with it. Now? I get brand new, fresh out of the package gear every single time I PCS. ANd it's very high quality stuff. Now, I still have bought some better gear here and there (a better M9 shoulder holster, extra boots, knives, etc), but that's NOT because my issued gear is inadequate.

Again, I mean no disrespect. But our military is better equipped now than we've EVER been, and some people still aren't happy.

Hell, I might even be willing to take some pictures of the gear, and show you taxpayers what you're buying for us. I think you'd be pretty impressed.

I for one am glad to hear this, and not really surprised. The focus on the men and women in the armed forces has really advanced leaps and bounds. For this, I am thankful. I am a bit of a Civil War geek, so I have read tons on that particular era and the often piss-poor treatment of the men in the field (usually as a benefit to some asshole, getting rich on selling rancid food to the military).

[domenick2x]

My adding machine is from 1983...I refuse to get a new one despite countless offers by my boss...I even found the receipt to it in our office...From 1983...I hope I have it forever. I'm demanding I take it if I ever leave.
If you have to take it into battle with the IRS... are you ready?

[becherr]

Sorry, but I'm going to call some BS right now. First, your soon to be son in law is a good man, a Patriot, and a hero. No doubt about that.

And you're a fantastic person for purchasing him top of the line gear. That's great, and there's no doubt that he appreciates it and it will be put to good use. But we in the military are getting issued GREAT gear. Really, we are. At least we Marines are. I recently got my new CIF (Consolidated Issue Facility) after I transferred to my new Unit. I was in awe of our gear. First of all, it's all brand new. Completely unused. Top of the line is an understatement, if I may say so. It's rugged, surprisingly comfortable, and more than adequate gear.

I remember, before OIF and such, that the gear system in the Marine Corps (and likely the rest of the military) was slightly absurd. It used to be that you got issued your gear once, and you had it for most of your career...you took it with you each time you PCS'd. Over time, after several field exercises and deployments, the gear got run down and shitty. But unless it was unserviceable, as outlined by the guidelines set forth by Supply, you were stuck with it. Now? I get brand new, fresh out of the package gear every single time I PCS. ANd it's very high quality stuff. Now, I still have bought some better gear here and there (a better M9 shoulder holster, extra boots, knives, etc), but that's NOT because my issued gear is inadequate.

Again, I mean no disrespect. But our military is better equipped now than we've EVER been, and some people still aren't happy.

Hell, I might even be willing to take some pictures of the gear, and show you taxpayers what you're buying for us. I think you'd be pretty impressed.

Having been through 20 years in the military I would suspect you are likely to begin seeing a decline in the equipement issued.

[domenick2x]

Having been through 20 years in the military I would suspect you are likely to begin seeing a decline in the equipement issued.
Well, unless the economy turns around, it wouldn't surprise me to find that there's fewer items replaced at every new assignment.

[Jesse Helms' Ghost]

My adding machine is from 1983...I refuse to get a new one despite countless offers by my boss...I even found the receipt to it in our office...From 1983...I hope I have it forever. I'm demanding I take it if I ever leave. And here I thought you used an abacus??

[piaa_ump]

Now, I still have bought some better gear here and there (a better M9 shoulder holster, extra boots, knives, etc), but that's NOT because my issued gear is inadequate.

Again, I mean no disrespect. But our military is better equipped now than we've EVER been, and some people still aren't happy.

Hell, I might even be willing to take some pictures of the gear, and show you taxpayers what you're buying for us. I think you'd be pretty impressed.


I think we may be closer in agreement than we think.....I do agree and assert that the issue gear is perfectly serviceble...yet, if after deploying, the troops themselves find gear that is better suited for the mission, then I would like them to have it.......(and I do by purchasing it with my own money....)

maybe I am just the scared dad here...yet if dragon skin (??) is a safer vest, I want you to wear one too....

many thanks for your service.......