Army troop budgets

Captain_Slick said:
Etom, is it really that difficult to replace a zip? I would have thought most people in our armed forces were capable of such amazing feats of ingenuity.
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yeah because we have the spare time to start repairing all our own kit of course :). Not to mention it was ripped completely not sure it could be repaired.
 
etom said:
well they don't have enough of the kit in the stores (and it doesnt help ran by civvie idiots) to actually give you replacement ammo pouches for example. Someone broke their zip on daysack and still can't get that replaced. Not bad for a lot of things wouldn't have problem getting new boots or whatever haha, just ammo pouches / bergans / webbing in general forced to either bodge a repair or buy our own as they won't have any kit in until like july lol.
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Yeah, they've always got boots :D Keep badgering them — it's easy for them to fob you off rather than making an effort for you!

At my last unit they only gave out 1 ammo pouch and a utility pouch per person - webbing looked chippy! That said, you should have a better experience after training.
 
Captain_Slick said:
Etom, is it really that difficult to replace a zip? I would have thought most people in our armed forces were capable of such amazing feats of ingenuity.
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In etom's defence, he should have it replaced by his quartermaster's department. Training establishments, like the one etom is in, always struggle though as the kit gets thrashed. It also doesn't help that the Army are in the middle of switching to new style patterning on clothes and webbing - no more old stuff coming through and the new stuff goes to the front-line.
 
We're not talking about sewing a bit of cloth here, the material Daysacks are made from is pretty dam tough and I've no idea where you'd source the replacement zip from, in a regular unit you could maybe salvage it from the QM's but in a training unit the civvies aren't going to help you out.

I'm not surprised he's been told to make do in a training unit and I wont be surprised when he gets billed for any kit lost out of the broken daysack.
 
An old mate of mine joined the army and had a similar experience although he did get "everything" he needed. Problem was he only got 1 of everything, meaning he had to continuely buy new socks, boot straps etc due to going through them like a fat kid around free cake.
 
What kit is missing?

I would imagine it is 'better' kit that he is buying himself?

It is crap, but hey ho what do we do.
 
LOL

Love how the OP has basically started a thread on a subject he clearly knows nothing about and is now getting worked up about this topic based on some throwaway comments from his mate who was probably chatting to him down the pub when on leave.

Every military in the world, even the US, has issues with equipment when conducting operations. As far as the UK is concerned the equipment we are lacking is suitable vehicles (currently being addressed finally) and a lack of helicopters.

As far as personal kit is concerned, your mate is basically having a moan. No you won't get supplied with absolutely everything you might want but the extra stuff that people buy is down to personal preference.

I did previously serve in an infantry unit and served a tour in Iraq. The snatch land rover is unsuitable and should have been completely replaced already and I guess the ECBA (body Armour) we were issued wasn't that great compared to the stuff currently issued to troops in Afghanistan.

Most of the personal kit was absolutely fine though. In general the sort of things people tend to buy are more to replace/upgrade issued kit. i.e. replace the bergan liner with a canoe bag, replace the issued boots with either Altbergs or Lowa boots. Other things like warm kit, small torches, small knife etc... are also down to personal preference - whole variety of different stuff from climbing/outdoors shops gets purchased.

The only thing I would perhaps say regarding personal kit is that it is obvious that troops, especially ones serving in a combat role will need to buy little extras or upgrade stuff and so some form of small annual kit grant to take this into consideration might be appropriate.
 
Well i cant speak for the afgahn specific kit as i havnt been there yet nor been issued it yet, but as far as greens go, and usual 1157 kit, its all pretty top notch stuff, people moan and complain, but when it comes down to it the issued kit gets the job done and done well, yes you can have better ifyou are willing to spend a bit but there is no need to when it comes to the kit you are issued.

but one thing i have found, on All Arms i had to spend hundreds on kit, that is not issued but you are expected to have(for example loads of proper drybags, ortlieb map cases, etc), its a bit crap and was seriously grudged, but its what you have to do.
i have no problem spending money on kit if the kit you get is better or will make life easier/ more comfortable on EX but when you need kit for a course and are expected to have it, it should be issued.
but thats the way it is, and i really dont see it changing anytime soon, no matter how much we moan, when it comes down to it afghan is the priority, making sure the lads over there have the right kit and enough of it quite rightly should come first.
 
As a serving member of the RAF, logistics by trade, I do sometimes wonder what on earth the Army/RM QMs actually do. We don't have any issue kitting people for Afghan/Iraq or any other deployment/excercise and all clothing etc is procured by the Army and comes from the same place regardless of unit/service. If a given units clothing stores don't have enough of a peticular item to replace people U/S kit then it's down to the guys in the store simply not doing their job properly.

Now I've heard all sorts of stories from our green suited bretheren similar to that of the OP and on almost each and every occasion I'm gobsmaked. There is no reason whatsoever for guys to be told to sew zips etc back together or anything similar, if it's U/S you are entitlied to a replacement, it's as simple as that. I was also recently staggered to discover that Army personnel are made to sign for things as simple as a pair of trousers or role of tape. On my last tour in Afghan we actually had Army lads coming upto us begging for a roll of "black nasty" and were staggered when one of us threw them a whole box and said keep it.

It seems to me that the Army supply system has a philosopy of storing kit whereas we have the view that it's no good on the shelf and is meant to be used. This is made evident when you see the RAF Regt lads in Afhgan kitted up to the eyeballs and the Army infantry having to beg borrow and steal. IMHO while their is to a degree a general lack of equipment, the Army seem to make it far worse than it needs to be thanks to their dated supply systems and poor attitude of many in the logs community.
 
No1newts said:
As per title.

My friend is in the marines. He has essentially been told by his CO that he had a budget from the army for his gear (nowhere near enough) and the rest he has to get himself! So the rest of a British marines gear is sourced from such Stirling outlets as poundland (this is where he and his mates go) I am sorry but this is the Briish Marines, equivelant to the American Nay Seals, in theory the best in the business but they have to buy their own ******* kit :o Look at us we are so great we can hardly **** ourselves without someone to give us a great big hand. Its embarassingly moronic that countries like even America who rumour has it look up to our own special forces will be ****ing themselves at such a **** poor operation. But what else do we expect from labour? We can of course fund the terrorists and the feckless unemployed in our country before doing something dceent like protecting our own troops that we send out to battle. **** labour and **** this ******** government. **** em all.

personally it's a disgrace that our elite are left insuch a poor state and have to effectively fund themselves.

Opinions? And no I'm not guns grass my mate. He hates his circumstances but loves the job
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Well whats new? I was doing the samething back in 1990 along with everyone else, its nothing new and in a way its not bad. If he is going to poundland and its likes it will be for things like bungies, metal pegs, personal hygine items or even the set of boots that he wanted or that is all the rage. Things that get misplaced/damaged over time draining his CO budget, which could be spent on clothing, webbing and other most have items.
 
eddie182 said:
As a serving member of the RAF, logistics by trade, I do sometimes wonder what on earth the Army/RM QMs actually do. We don't have any issue kitting people for Afghan/Iraq or any other deployment/excercise and all clothing etc is procured by the Army and comes from the same place regardless of unit/service. If a given units clothing stores don't have enough of a peticular item to replace people U/S kit then it's down to the guys in the store simply not doing their job properly.

Now I've heard all sorts of stories from our green suited bretheren similar to that of the OP and on almost each and every occasion I'm gobsmaked. There is no reason whatsoever for guys to be told to sew zips etc back together or anything similar, if it's U/S you are entitlied to a replacement, it's as simple as that. I was also recently staggered to discover that Army personnel are made to sign for things as simple as a pair of trousers or role of tape. On my last tour in Afghan we actually had Army lads coming upto us begging for a roll of "black nasty" and were staggered when one of us threw them a whole box and said keep it.

It seems to me that the Army supply system has a philosopy of storing kit whereas we have the view that it's no good on the shelf and is meant to be used. This is made evident when you see the RAF Regt lads in Afhgan kitted up to the eyeballs and the Army infantry having to beg borrow and steal. IMHO while their is to a degree a general lack of equipment, the Army seem to make it far worse than it needs to be thanks to their dated supply systems and poor attitude of many in the logs community.
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stores are for storing
 
Sorry mate,

but he will not have a budget from the army for his kit . If he's in the marines his kit will be budgeted from the marines budget ( R/N ) As the Marines are navy Not Army. Also you do get some great kit (lowa boots ,Ect) also some pants kit ( Foot talc WLF? ;) ). I do get to see/use the kit in my day job with the MOD.
 
subrosa said:
Hi

I'm a serving officer in the Army. I've been to both Iraq and Afghanistan and worked in a unit as a Troop Commander, Squadron Second-in-Command and Adjutant. I've worked in a Divisional HQ on operations.

A Commanding Officer will indeed have a budget to run his unit for the financial year. However, this doesn't pay for soldier's kit - webbing, Bergens, clothing, boots etc.

I'm struggling to think of any important bit of military kit that Poundland will sell. Honestly, they sell nothing that would ordinarily be issued.

Our soldiers, especially the infantry, have a lot of equipment at their disposal on operations. This is almost definately to the detriment of the CO's budget back home but hey, let's apply some perspective here.

Perhaps your mate could elaborate on what kit he's missing?
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Why has everyone chose to ignore this post?
 
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