Troops to be reimbursed for armor
Wednesday, October 5, 2005; Posted: 6:58 p.m. EDT (22:58 GMT)

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Under pressure from Congress, the Pentagon on Wednesday issued overdue regulations for reimbursing soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan for body armor and other gear they bought to protect themselves.

The program, which is effective immediately, would allow reimbursement for combat helmets, ballistic eye protection, hydration systems, and tactical vests, including a variety of body armor inserts to protect a soldier's throat, groin, and collar.

The guidelines from the undersecretary of defense, David Chu, come nearly a year after Congress passed legislation mandating the reimbursement policy. That law required the Pentagon to issue the rules by last February 25. ( - DG)

Condemning the new program as too little, too late, Sen. Christopher J. Dodd, D-Connecticut, said the Pentagon's list is too restrictive and does not include critical safety equipment such as gunscopes, additional Humvee armor and radios.

"The Pentagon's leadership has done everything in its power to stop this measure from being implemented," said Dodd. "Why should they stop now?"

Last week, Marine Sgt. Todd Bowers, whose parents bought him a high-tech rifle scope, said the extra piece of equipment saved his life, and that a $100 pair of goggle he bought saved his eyesight, when he was shot by a sniper.

"If you need any proof that (the Pentagon) is once again coming up short, all you need to do is take a look at the list of reimbursable items," Dodd said. "It does not include the gun scope that saved Todd Bowers' life.

Pentagon officials have opposed the reimbursement idea, calling it "an unmanageable precedent that will saddle the DOD with an open-ended financial burden." - CNN.com (Bold mine - DG)
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I especially like the last sentence. I guess the Pentagon expects the troops to pay for their own armor and equipment.
I have often heard on this site that the US military is the best-equipped military in the world. I just didn't know that the troops were responsible for that honor. Since some of the military recieve food stamps, I wonder if they could pay for the armor with the stamps.

I don't know which is more shameful - the fact that the troops weren't equipped properly in the first place, or the fact that the Pentagon wants to weasel out of paying for the equipment that the troops (and their families) purchased. The Pentagon doesn't mind paying Halliburton $100 for every load of laundry it washes or paying Halliburton twice as much for gas as another supplier was charging, but wants the troops to pay for their own equipment. Yet it is the anti-war people that are accused of not supporting the troops.

I think that it is disgraceful for the troops to have to go out and equip themselves with the necessary equipment to do their job.
What in the world is going on in the Pentagon these days? The troops should be equipped to the max before being sent into a combat zone.
In the past we never had to worry about getting things ourselves,it was provided for us.

You're only saying that because you hate Bush...

Remember that Rumsfeld said that you go to war with the army you have, nopt the one you hope for. Of course, he neglected to say that if the start of the war is decided by you, you could wait until all the troops have the latest body armor instead of Vietnam era flak jackets, which is what many had. If you decide when the war starts, you might also wait until you have enough Humvees with armor so that some of your troops aren't driving around in heavy, slow Volkswagens. In fact, if you decide when the war starts, you might just go whole hog and wait until you have enough replacement parts for vehicles that will surely wear out much sooner than expected because of sand storms. (Of course, you do have to know that sand storms are common in Iraq. In 2001, I taught 7th grade science, which was basically Earth Science. We discussed sand storms in deserts. They actually happen with some regularity. Who knew? )
Sending troops into combat with less than the best equipment we have is not in any way supporting the troops, yet that is what Bush and Rumsfeld did. People died because of them, good people who were just doing their duty.

quote:

Originally posted by DorianGreyed:
- snip -

In 2001, I taught 7th grade science, which was basically Earth Science. We discussed sand storms in deserts. They actually happen with some regularity. Who knew? )

- snip -

Evidently, a 7th grade or better education is disqualifying for any decision-making role in the current administration.

Alan Moore

"You're only saying that because you hate Bush..."

Now that's funny.