Are soldiers authorized to wear tactical equipment other than issued?

SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 06 Aug 2018 22:41:31 -0400

Greetings
I have several soldiers who decided to buy tactical gear to use it in the field. Also there is other NCO's complaining about that soldiers can use just the issue equipment. I am pretty sure that the one who authorizes the use of other gear is the unit commander but I'm not so sure either hence I'm looking for enlightenment. I Google it but I didn't found anything. I dont want to misinform my soldiers. If someone can let me know either the FM or regulation that applies to I will be very grateful.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 6 at 2018 10:54 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 06 Aug 2018 22:54:38 -0400

It's up to the unit. "Tactical gear" is a pretty broad term. Anything that involves protection for ballistic, eyes, and ears has to meet certain standards. That's why eyepro, body armor, and ear pro are all issued. When it comes to gloves, pouches, packs etc, if there's no SOP in place there's nothing you can really say.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 6 at 2018 11:07 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 06 Aug 2018 23:07:53 -0400

Common sense has to come in to play. For example, gloves. I probably have a dusty tough box somewhere full of nothing but assorted, brand new, Army issued gloves. Very few Army issued gloves ever got used. Im pretty sure I’m not the only one.

At the same time, I wouldn’t recommend that strategy with helmets or plates.

Best of luck.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 7 at 2018 3:58 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 07 Aug 2018 03:58:08 -0400

CO gives the Green light unless someone higher says otherwise.
Example: a few of us had high cut helmets and used then often. CO didn’t care. Then one day a full bird came to the field to do the whole hand shakes and pretend to care about us act. He saw our high cuts and threw a huge fit.

Response by CSM Darieus ZaGara made Aug 7 at 2018 5:51 AM

CSM Darieus ZaGara — Tue, 07 Aug 2018 05:51:56 -0400

The Army issues everything a Soldier needs and more. Military issue is what they are authorized. I am sure that your unit has a field SOP with diagrams for the field uniform, and. TA-50 layout. Commands do, sometimes authorize specialty items prior to deployment that are not yet available as an addition to the unit issue, for that you can ask the 1SG. Thank you for your service.

Response by SGM Bill Frazer made Aug 7 at 2018 9:38 AM

SGM Bill Frazer — Tue, 07 Aug 2018 09:38:08 -0400

Bottom line - the commander either approve the outfit, or normally turns a blind eye to what they are wearing in the field. Yes the issue gear has been determined to work in the field, and if you damage you personal gear, the Army will not reimburse you for it. What they buy, if they are allowed to get away with it needs to match in with what they are issued.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 7 at 2018 9:42 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 07 Aug 2018 09:42:48 -0400

If you get hurt wearing gear that is not issued to you, it will cause all kinds of headaches.

Response by SGT Joseph Gunderson made Aug 7 at 2018 9:49 AM

SGT Joseph Gunderson — Tue, 07 Aug 2018 09:49:26 -0400

Command discretion. I've never seen a command really care but if they truly want uniformity they can do that.

Response by CSM Richard StCyr made Aug 7 at 2018 10:17 AM

CSM Richard StCyr — Tue, 07 Aug 2018 10:17:32 -0400

Here is my issue with non- issued gear:
- Can't be DX'd if it fails, ( combat resupply)
- Train as you fight (see above)
- Issued gear while often not sexy or cool has been tested and is manufactured to strict standards (even though low bidder). Industry with few exceptions doesn't have the capacity to test gear for failure at the mass or volume that the military requires.

Some examples of non-standard gear that has caused issues and life safety threats in recent history:
- Dragon scale and other off the shelf body armor billed as lighter than issue IBA. (high fail rates)
- Mechanics brand work gloves ILO issued nomex gloves (melt under flash heat / IED incidents)
- Numerous sun / safety glasses. (did not meet ballistic safety ratings)