Does the Army issue too much 'gear'?

SGM Matthew Quick — Tue, 03 Dec 2013 13:23:04 -0500

When you inprocess a new unit and shuffle off to CIF, do you feel you're being issued too much gear...gear you really don't use? Gear you may eventually lose and have to pay for?

Why are Soldiers issued so much gear?

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 3 at 2013 1:26 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 03 Dec 2013 13:26:59 -0500

The care and maintenance of equipment teaches soldiers responsibility and accountability. Regardless of how much gear, equipment, vehicles, or supplies you are issued or signed for it's every soldiers responsibility for maintenance, security, and care of these items.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 3 at 2013 7:45 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 03 Dec 2013 19:45:06 -0500

As much as it may look like we get issued a lot of gear, it all plays a mayor role in our performance. Back in 2001, while in Bosnia our soldiers used to trade for souvenirs with our allies because, their gov didn't supply them with what they needed. So I think we are where we should be with our gear.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 3 at 2013 8:01 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 03 Dec 2013 20:01:37 -0500

Too much gear....yes.

As an Army we do a great job finding new gear to issue to everyone. We do a poor job of removing gear from the books (personal and unit equipment).

Response by SSG Luis Ortiz Rodriguez made Dec 3 at 2013 9:36 PM

SSG Luis Ortiz Rodriguez — Tue, 03 Dec 2013 21:36:11 -0500

I think yes....I am an Army band trumpet player, why do I need grenade pouches and flash bang pouches?

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 4 at 2013 4:01 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 04 Dec 2013 04:01:31 -0500

In the last four years if it wasn't a uniform, FLC, assault pack, or ACH I have had no use for it. To make matters worse my current unit did not supply me with my initial issue until I was mobilizing for deployment on the other side of the country. So all of that ACU pattern issue I had to pay to ship home.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 4 at 2013 6:07 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 04 Dec 2013 06:07:41 -0500

The gear we wear or use in combat should and always be shooters choice, give us an allowance to purchase the stuff and do away with cif.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 4 at 2013 7:40 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 04 Dec 2013 07:40:12 -0500

YES! I got RFI in 2008 for a deployment that never happened and most of it magically became ETS-transferrable so until I ETS or retire I get to inventory about 7K worth of liability.

Response by CPT Mike M. made Dec 4 at 2013 8:39 AM

CPT Mike M. — Wed, 04 Dec 2013 08:39:40 -0500

If they could talk, my woodland camo LBE, desert camo LBE and assault pack, 3 marshmallow suits, two sleep systems, and footlocker full of ECWCS silks & waffle outfits would say yes.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 4 at 2013 9:39 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 04 Dec 2013 09:39:27 -0500

I understand what you're saying MSG Cunningham, but the way he explained to me they still provided STT to their Soldiers, but in their hospital setting. I'm not saying he is correct, or that hospital should got to the field, I'm simply saying they didn't have the amount of gear I'm securing.

Now, imagine my disappoint when I thought I would have the opportunity to turn in all my gear once I began working at the WTB and the nice lady at CIF advised I would be keeping it all. Truth be told, because of the SD, I used it not one time while there.

Response by CPT Aaron Kletzing made Dec 4 at 2013 9:47 AM

CPT Aaron Kletzing — Wed, 04 Dec 2013 09:47:55 -0500

Great question here. Whenever I drew equipment, I would separate the items into 2 piles: 1 pile for the gear I absolutely knew I would need for field problems and mob/deployment situations, and 1 pile for the gear that I was going to keep in clean plastic bags and probably never use prior to turning it back in. I would also pack like this for deployment -- mission essential gear in one place, within arms reach, and the stuff like a Pro Mask, cold weather boots, etc. in another place. Although, I did use the cold weather boots in Iraq when it got freezing outside! :)

Response by SSG (ret) William Martin made Dec 4 at 2013 10:44 AM

SSG (ret) William Martin — Wed, 04 Dec 2013 10:44:46 -0500

MSG, You have brought up a very good point in which I have asked myself in reference to why I must have three sets of sleep bags of which one is woodland cover. I could try to turn in the woodland one in I suppose if CIF will take it.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 1 at 2014 11:20 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 01 Jun 2014 23:20:37 -0400

My surplus store, er um, my garage tells me yes, I've been issued far too much of it. Too many times through RFI. Some of I'm still dragging along since my first CIF issue, and i keep missing the "operation clean sweep"'s i keep hearing about to eliminate Soldier's surpluss gear. I try to reason with the CIF personnel when i get the chance; do I really need to maintain 12 pairs of boots? what about the green socks and tan tshirts i was issued in 2007 at RFI that they threw on my record; do they REALLY need to stay on there?

Response by SSgt Gregory Guina made Sep 9 at 2014 12:00 AM

SSgt Gregory Guina — Tue, 09 Sep 2014 00:00:31 -0400

While I cannot speak for the Army I can say that definitely the Marines have too much crap. Do you guys agree?

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 9 at 2014 12:31 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 09 Sep 2014 12:31:13 -0400

Absolutely, as a wheeled vehicle mechanic in an aviation unit the amount of gear we have makes no sense. The only time any gear gets even remotely used is when one of our guys goes to air assault school.

Response by TSgt Joshua Copeland made Sep 9 at 2014 1:26 PM

TSgt Joshua Copeland — Tue, 09 Sep 2014 13:26:47 -0400

This is why I love the AF so much. They only issue you gear when you actually are going to use it and turn it back in when you are done. None of this issue everything you MIGHT need when you arrive on station and try to keep track of it till you PCS, ETS or Retire.

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 9 at 2014 2:17 PM

CW2 Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 09 Sep 2014 14:17:23 -0400

I have so much gear that it is not funny. I literally have at least 4 duffel bags and 2 black boxes full. When I left Korea I took nearly all my gear with me and when I got to Bragg, being that I was under the rank of SFC, I was forced to accept all gear, even gear that I already had. Due to a CIF issue at Bragg, I PCS'd without turning in any gear. I have four of some items (BDU, DCU, ACU, and Multicam) I have three kinds of body armor, three sleeping bags, two marshmallow suits, blah blah blah, yet the Army likes to harass me about a DCU Kevlar cover from 2005. Let's also not forget all the gear that I have found that isn't on the books.....

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made Sep 9 at 2014 8:07 PM

MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca — Tue, 09 Sep 2014 20:07:49 -0400

The gortex winter boots, mittens and long johns before going to Iraq were a bit over the top.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 9 at 2014 8:31 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 09 Sep 2014 20:31:26 -0400

In my 8 years I have only lost and had to pay for 1 item and I question whether I actually ever had it simply due to the fact that is the only item I've ever lost. I usually end up with more than I started with. I also got into the habit on my last deployment of discreetly marking things in an obvious manner so I know what's mine.

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Sep 9 at 2014 10:20 PM

SFC Mark Merino — Tue, 09 Sep 2014 22:20:55 -0400

Yes, yes, 1000X yes!!! And Lord help you if you were aviation and on flight status! Enjoy the EXTRA 3 duffle bags and the full kit bag and that ISN'T including the Air Warrrior Batman gear!

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 10 at 2014 10:15 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 10 Sep 2014 10:15:52 -0400

The gear was bought and paid for... so I suppose the Army just wants it to be issued so that they don't have to continue to pay to provide storage. I tell you what though, SGM Matthew Quick , I have more than enough gear and would love to turn some in. I feel that a large portion of it isn't practical for general use. And, to top it off, if I did carry all that "gear" into combat, I would need more than just my ruck sack. I would need a HMMWV to haul it all.

Response by SSG Lisa Rendina made Sep 10 at 2014 10:51 AM

SSG Lisa Rendina — Wed, 10 Sep 2014 10:51:43 -0400

Both my husband and myself were AD. Our first apartment together was a 1-bedroom. We had TA-50 in the dining room, TA-50 in the pantry, TA-50 filling the closet. When it came time to deploy and we were packing our bags according to the packing list, and other items we knew we would need that for some reason were not on the packing list, it looked like an Army surplus store had exploded in the living room. I still had the desert IBA in addition to the ACU IBA and the rest of the RFI! Yes, the Army issues too much gear.

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 10 at 2014 2:19 PM

SGM Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 10 Sep 2014 14:19:28 -0400

Yes. Probably a hold over from the days in Valley Forge when soldiers couldn't find enough gear. Or Korea when we had not issued winter clothes. We have to be prepared for anything and everything. While we might need most of that stuff, we probably don't need to draw it all at once except in a combat zone or readying for deployment. I rarely needed 50% of it even in a grunt unit. Would prefer more weapons and ammo though.

Response by CW5 Sam R. Baker made Sep 16 at 2014 12:27 PM

CW5 Sam R. Baker — Tue, 16 Sep 2014 12:27:18 -0400

Yes and No. I have too much infantry stuff for an aviator and not enough flight stuff or gear that I could use. Most of my gear remains in the plastic bags it was issued in and will not leave the bag until it is opened and inspected upon PCS. However I have been shutdown from getting cold weather flying gear and other things for the field. So, again, yes and no!

Response by SSG Keven Lahde made Mar 14 at 2015 1:22 AM

SSG Keven Lahde — Sat, 14 Mar 2015 01:22:25 -0400

SGM Matthew Quick SGM I have to agree with you there. Half of the stuff issued is never used and yet you don't want to lose it or you will get charged for it.

Response by MSG Alfred Aguilar made Oct 17 at 2015 2:06 AM

MSG Alfred Aguilar — Sat, 17 Oct 2015 02:06:36 -0400

We sure carry more than the average Vietcong...

Response by SrA Darwin Nichols made Jul 27 at 2022 8:15 PM

SrA Darwin Nichols — Wed, 27 Jul 2022 20:15:08 -0400

Yes