Did you know if a soldier buys his own body armour, if he's

[napi21]

injured, pr killed, he will NOT receive the benefits that others do who use the standard issue?

I just heard Bernie Ward (on KGO radio) reading this from some Pentagon release.

What's WRONG WITH THESE PEOPLE?

[tocqueville]

1. it's not the army of the republic, but the army of the king

how do they say ?

"nothing's good enough for the boys, that's why the boys got nothing"

correct me if wrong

[napi21]

2. Can't say that I've ever hear that one, but this is the sorriest

thing I think I've ever heard from my gov't!

I know it hasn't always been like this!

Is it really all GWB?

[northzax]

6. no, it's actually a reasonable regulation

with a strong caveat: that people are provided with what they need to begin with. If you use non-standard equipment, who's to say that it is effective?

[napi21]

9. Even when the supplied equipment is ineffective?

THE MILITARY has admitted that the armour they brovoded initially wasn't able to accomplish it's desired effect.

So you're telling me if I buy my son a more effective equiment and he is injured or killed by an IED that NO equipment could have protected him from, his wife doesn't get the standard military death benefit, because I bought him better equipment?

Hmmm

[northzax]

10. did you read what I wrote?

with a strong caveat: that people are provided with what they need to begin with

The big question, of course, is who determines what is more effective?

[Cronus Protagonist]

11. You could sue the maker of the extra equipment if it didn't work

Personally, I'd take my chances with the armour and cancel the damn insurance. If they won't pay out, I don't pay in, and if it's free, one gets what one pays for...

YMMV

:)

[napi21]

13. BS! If the US commitment isn't a guarantee to you,

if they commit that they will pay a certain amount unpon your death and they don't, then the entire gov't is worthless!

Remember what you hear all the damn time aobut US commitments? "With the full faith and credit of the United States"!

Shrub is destroying that statement!!!!

[Cronus Protagonist]

14. I'd rather live, so the money seems like toilet paper against that

I'd wipe my butt with the insurance policy and be glad I'm still here to do it.

[BushOut06]

7. IMHO, it's military bureaucratic red tape at its finest

They're probably just following some archaic military regulations that haven't been updated for dozens of years. Having spent some time in the military, I can tell you that military bureaucracy is one of the most complex forms of management there is.

[napi21]

5. Well, I can sure tell you, if I, as a soldiers Mother had bought

better body armour than the military was willing to provide, and my son was hurt, but not dead as hi would have been using the inferior armour, I sure the basta*ds!!!!

I think this is all Rummy's fault, and I can't wait till thie little man resigns!

[magellan]

3. BushCo and the Repubs are despicable cretins

Nearly three years on and our soldiers STILL have to purchase their own body armor because what the gov't provides (when they provide it) is crap...and when they get wounded in gov't body armor and that body armor is damaged they're sent a bill for it...and if they wear their own and get wounded or killed they don't get the same benefits.

There aren't words for how much I hate these sick bastards and every person who voted for them.

[netrocker666]

4. The sheep being led to the slaughter

Ahhh, but his life expectancy may increase dramatically!

I feel for these men and women. I've spoken to young folks who are believers (read: drank the kool-aide) and volunteered to go over there. They're doing it because it's the "right thing".

And IT IS, according to what the administration (Bush/Cheny/et al) are saying! I truly feel bad they've been misled. I'm not sure whether to call them political pawns or sacrificial lambs in this "war" on terror. We're talking about the lives of young, innocent (for the most part), naive people that are being used to satify the nearly insatiable thirst for power exhibited by this administration and the people that support them.

[Moochy]

8. I read that they'd be able to reduce casualties by 70%

if they redesigned the body armor to include shoulder, sides and thigh sections.
The Dragon Skin armor has this characteristic and is used by some of the brass, and costs $300,000 per suit.

[file83]

12. Can someone please make a cartoon of a heard of sheep wearing body armor?

And then make a funny caption.

[zbdent]

15. Interesting though prompted by your point . . . if the soldier who was

injured and then had to reimburse the $700 for his body armor is considered as "purchasing" his body armor, then is he going to be billed for the health care and will he not be eligible for benefits?

Wouldn't surprise me . . .