(no subject)

[razorjak]

Isn't this nifty?

Soldiers are being threatened with disciplinary action AND the loss of their death benefits if they don't leave their superior, privately purchased body armour behind when deploying overseas.

Last I heard, a fair number of soldiers weren't even being ISSUED body armour. Now Big Brass is threatening them if they try to use gear they (or their families) have purchased themselves.

Discuss.

Comments

*sigh*

[raindrops.livejournal.com]

Now, I understand the issues coming from the top down, and don't even wish to comment on SOP and procurement and who really makes the decisions that affect soldiers' lives... but

If I had been restricted to the standard issue kit, I'd most likely be dead, along with a bunch of my mates. We used what we were comfortable with using, even if it didn't come from Supply. Looking down from the ivory towers, it's all well and good to say that soldiers and their gear should be interchangable and uniform, but looking up from the mud at someone who is dead-set on killing you, it's reassuring to know that you geared up that day with everything that YOU know you need to survive, not just what you've been told to use.

Re: *sigh*

[ex-tech-prie207.livejournal.com]

No arguments from me...that's why I happily plunked down the cash to get what kept my skinny irish ass alive and in one piece.

Re: *sigh*

[raindrops.livejournal.com]

Alive and in one piece is always a good thing.

Killing the other poor bastard is how you win wars, but staying alive at the same time is a definite plus.

IMNSHO.