Posted on Aug 6, 2018
Are soldiers authorized to wear tactical equipment other than issued?
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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.
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.
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 8
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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.
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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)
- 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)
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Command discretion. I've never seen a command really care but if they truly want uniformity they can do that.
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