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From: bxr307@csc1.anu.edu.au
Newsgroups: sci.military
Subject: Re: Infantryman's Field Kit
Message-ID: <1991Apr29.051409.5083@amd.com>
Date: 25 Apr 91 06:22:34 GMT
References: <1991Apr22.071734.24926@amd.com> <1991Apr23.053758.23784@amd.com> <1991Apr24.054658.19035@amd.com>
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From: bxr307@csc1.anu.edu.au


> From: carlson@gateway.mitre.org (Bruce Carlson)
> The Army issue is similar to USMC, but there are a few exceptions I can
> think of off-hand:
[...]
> 5. Weapons and several other items are individually assigned, but not
>    individually authorized (issue is tied to your duty position).  For 
>    example, a Captain that is in a staff position may be authorized to 
>    carry an M16 rifle, but a Captain that is a Company Commander is 
>    authorized to carry a pistol.   When the Company Commander relinquishes
>    his command and moves to be an Assistant S-3 he will give up his 
>    pistol and be authorized to carry an M16.

Here in Oz the almost reverse is true.  Most infantry officers below
Battalion CO in the infantry will attempt to carry a long arm (rifle)
rather than a short arm (pistol).  Why?  Because in Vietnam it was
found that snipers could identify officers by the absence of a rifle
and would attempt to pick them off, while it was also understood that
every extra rifle would come in handy in a firefight if the worst came
to the worst.  In Vietnam even Chaplains would quite often carry a
rifle (unloaded) so that snipers wouldn't pick on them, mistaking them
for officers.

For the much the same reason, what the US Army would call "specialists"
like signallers, weapons crew, etc, here would not normally carry a
pistol.  They would carry a rifle/SMG instead.  Either to prevent them
from being picked out by snipers (such as would be the case of
signallers) or because if they have to defend themselves a pistol is
almost always useless.  Even in what would normally be considered "rear
area" units, personel carry rifles or SMG's rather than pistols.

Speaking of snipers and so on, here in Oz if you are what is
considered  "tactical" (ie psuedo-operational) you would not salute
officers, as it would again mark them for snipers.  At the same time in
many infantry units to prevent people being identified from a distance
as being officers/NCO's badges of rank are removed.  I was wondering if
similar precautions are normally taken by the US Army?

> sleep-shirt

A what?  For use in the field?  You got to be kidding.

-- 
Brian Ross