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June 21, 2005

The Army You Have

Via John Cole I see that tales of Soldiers and Marines being required to buy their own gear for use in Iraq remain popular. While I can't speak for the Marine Corps, I am going to step up for the Army in defense of this type of claim.

My entire career the Army equipment you're issued has always been supplemented with gear bought from military suppliers like Lightfighter.com and U.S. Cavalry. Why didn't the Army provide Soldiers with this gear? Because they were forbidden to do so by Congress. Not because Congress or the Army wants to prevent people from getting the best possible equipment, but because they're trying to be good stewards of the public's money. The Army (and all the military services) can't buy equipment until it has gone through vigorous testing and bidding systems designed to minimize fraud, waste and abuse. These processes probably do prevent money from being spent on boondoggles, but the cost is the time it takes to get equipment approved for military purchase. We never have truly cutting edge gear issued to us, because by the time it's properly vetted, it's no longer cutting edge.

So many of us spend our own money to buy better gear that isn't approved for military use because we feel it is worth it and we don't have to jump through the hoops required of the Army. I've bought my own rucksack, helmet, Camelbak, gloves, GPS, and various other gear because I like it better than what I'm issued.

That leaves the valid objection regarding issues like body armor, however. A Camelbak or rucksack of a particular type may be a nice-to-have item, but when it comes down to protecting the lives of our Soldiers, they ought to have the best protection money can buy. Under Congress' rules, that wasn't an option. So the Army worked with Congress to create the Rapid Fielding Initiative. Most of the Soldiers we train here at Fort Carson are given all of this gear shortly after they arrive, while the rest have it issued to them in Kuwait before they head north. The program helps to ensure that all Soldiers are equipped with the latest in battlefield technology to include both IBAS (Interceptor Body Armor System) and SAPI (Small Arms Protective Inserts) plates, two items which weigh Soldiers down considerably but which help to minimize the number of fatalities and serious injuries.

Does this mean that people aren't necessarily still buying some equipment for themselves? Almost certainly not. I know I'll be keeping my civilian GPS in favor of the military-issue one if I go over there, for example. But American Soldiers are not having to choose between spending their own money for protective gear or going without, and I suspect that neither are Marines.