I am in the Army National Guard and have been in both the Regular Army and the Army Guard since 1979. I have served under 5 Presidents starting with President Carter, (the lean years). I have seen many changes in my many years of service.
My Guard Unit has Drill this weekend and today we were issued another duffel bag full of brand new field gear. We recieved the new verson of the Kevlar helment that fits better and is smaller, a CamelBak ThermoBak 31 hydration system pack in the new digital camo pattern, a pair of cold weather and hot weather tan boots, 4 pairs of polartec micro thermal underwear, a polartec 300 weight bib and jacket, 4 coolmax t-shirts, 4 pr of coolmax socks, gortex medium and gortex heavy wt gloves, knee and elbo pads in the new digital camo pattern, and the latest body armor. We have been issued 3 duffle bags in addition to this latest issue over the last 6 months.
I am greatful to the tax payers and to President Bush for providing us with the latest equipment available. This is only the second time in my many years of servive that we have been "brought up to date" equipment wise. The last time we made a major jump in field gear tecnology was during President Reagan,s admistration in the mid 80's. I understand we are at war right now but its interesting that we got NOTHING during the years the Democrats were in office and only when we have a Republican President are we provided with the latest and best of equipment to do our jobs serving our country.
Once again I wish to thank the citizens of our great nation and President Bush for all this latest and best field gear available.......
*********************** "He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog. You are his life, his love, his leader. He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart. You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion." - Anonymous
Originally posted by Raven35031: I understand we are at war right now but its interesting that we got NOTHING during the years the Democrats were in office and only when we have a Republican President are we provided with the latest and best of equipment to do our jobs serving our country.
Except for the months and months that soldiers in Iraq went without body armor and other essential gear. I used to hate watching Rumsfeld trying to defend the fact that troops were going without essential protection because of burecratic screwups and simple carelessness. I tend to believe this administration has treated our fighting men and women with incredible disregard -- the absolute least they can do is issue you guys some modern gear.
If any administration has done more to discourage new enlistment, I'd like to hear about it.
I am glad that you got your gear, and as a taxpayer, you are welcome. Just stay safe. As far as bush is concearn, well you can obviously thank who you want, I just see it as way too late for many who could have used the proper gear a long time ago. Just my opinion though..
"I would rather be dead and cool, than alive and un-cool.."
Posts: 116 | Location: San Antonio, Tx. | Registered: May 25, 2006
Originally posted by punched: I'm also glad for the new gear & also wish it had come earlier along with the more protective armament for the vehichles.
So do I my friend. However these things do take time. When the military makes a really large purchace order many times the manufacturer has to make the item.
I was talking to another NCO in my unit, we remembered when all your issue items and personal field gear would fit in 2 duffle bags. Now its 2 duffle bags of clothing issue items and 4 duffle of field gear issue items.
*********************** "He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog. You are his life, his love, his leader. He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart. You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion." - Anonymous
