Are our troops really this ill-equipped?

[jtexas]

I have a friend who works for a local TV news show who interviewed a soldier on leave from Iraq at DFW airport who said he's a door gunner on a helicopter there. He has a 9mm sidearm, but they have no bullets for it. He scrounged a clip that another soldier left on his aircraft otherwise he'd be carrying it around empty.<br /><br />My friend also showed us a video clip of an interview with a soldier's mom who got an email from her son asking for some radios - the motorola FRS radios from Radio Shack, about $60 a pair (I think). Apparently the troops aren't issued radios and have no way to communicate with each other during firefights. The mom put up some fliers in the cafe where she's a waitress, and the customers donated a couple thousand dollars over a few days - enough for radios for her son's unit plus a few treats for the troops. Since then I've noticed the blue Motorola FRS radios clipped to uniforms in some photos.<br /><br />Before we get off on a "liberal media" discussion, let me add that my friend is a staunch supporter of our troops, and that the clip I viewed contained absolutely no mention of politics - it was a positive story about this woman's experience and her son's. And the 1st interview I mentioned wasn't aired.<br /><br />I'm just curious about whether this means that we're sending our young men & women to war under-equipped, or are these just a couple of typical wartime stories & nothing to get alarmed about. Anybody with experience care to comment?<br /><br />thanks,<br />jtw

 

[kenimpzoom]

Re: Are our troops really this ill-equipped?

With the military as big as it is, there WILL be some mistakes and shortages.<br /><br />Ken

 

[gaugeguy]

Re: Are our troops really this ill-equipped?

I carried my squad radio for my LT to communicate with other squads, companies, etc. If you have never heard a firefight, there is no way you can verbally communicate, even by screaming. That is why hand signals are used. FRS radios are not secure, and I would have discouraged any of my men from using them. <br /><br />Not having bullets, beans or band-aids is a whole-nuther story. Any competent CO would (or should) be screaming at supply to properly equip his men for the mission.

 

[mattttt25]

Re: Are our troops really this ill-equipped?

gaugeguy is correct. the radios are a liability; sorry to put a damper on your story.<br /><br />it's hard to believe the bullet story, but i'm not there to confirm. operational units, especially those in hazardous zones, always get the money and supplies they need.

 

[12Footer]

Re: Are our troops really this ill-equipped?

It could not in any way, have been as bad as all that, regardless of the story, so I won't believe it. After all, we won ,didn't we?

 

[Whaler Proud]

Re: Are our troops really this ill-equipped?

As much as I appreciate the plug for RadioShack, what I have heard back from Iraq (and this comes from a co-worker's son who is with the 4th armored), is they have plenty of ammo, and whatever else they need.<br /><br />What is hard to get are every day items (and I believe this has been fixed) like shaving cream, toothpaste, etc. I believe every soldier in every war has probably experienced the same shortages.<br /><br />We did receive requests from his son to send electronics, and we believe this was for his quarters since the requests usually involved stereo equipment, laptop computers, digital cameras and the like.<br /><br />Its not easy over there, and we haven't completely won yet but we're close. And since my buddy's son reported that all of tanks they took over have been sold upon return to Fort Hood and replaced with the new generation of Abrams, I doubt if ammo and communication gear are in short supply.

 

[Link]

Re: Are our troops really this ill-equipped?

jtexas<br />Your concern is real<br />

Before we get off on a "liberal media" discussion, let me add that my friend is a staunch supporter of our troops, and that the clip I viewed contained absolutely no mention of politics - it was a positive story about this woman's experience and her son's. And the 1st interview I mentioned wasn't aired.

I don't think any of us from plywoody (left of left) to myself (right of right) would ever try to turn this into a polictial (sp) post.<br /><br />I agree with the above 5 posts.. but will take it a step farther since I live in a military town.. I have both friends in their 20-30's and family members over there right now and will just ask them and report.<br /><br />It might take a week or so but I will report back.. or <br />Sometimes E-Mails are within seconds and sometimes E-Mails takes days ...<br /><br />Link

 

[rodbolt]

Re: Are our troops really this ill-equipped?

but always remember. we fight with materials supplied by the lowest bidder. and quite often that whiz bang weapon fails to go bang. best you can do is say a prayer before you need the whizbang.<br /> good luck and keep posting

 

[ChrisMcLaughlin]

Re: Are our troops really this ill-equipped?

I can help with the ammo. How much ya need???

 

[popuptarget]

Re: Are our troops really this ill-equipped?

That sounds about right with a little twist. The 9mm ammo he wants is going out to the guys on the ground first. I am assuming that he is in the Army so he is a door gunner on a UH60. that means he has a M60 for his primary weapon. plenty of bullets for that I am sure. For the radios Gaugeguy is right. Their is no way in He** he is going to talk on that radio during a fire fight. The radio is probably so he can talk to his buddies while on the base camp. This is not a bad thing mind you. I am sure you would want one too if you had to walk a flightline all day. They are unsecure thats why alot of units will not buy them. So it really is not as bad as it sounds. Popuptarget

 

[JasonJ]

Re: Are our troops really this ill-equipped?

There is no way on earth there was an ammo issue. There is always ammo. It never failed, the ammo truck would show, but God forbid the chow truck would show. Definately would not want the radios, They are unsecured, and its sort of hard to lay suppressing fire with your fist wrapped around the radio.

 

[self taut]

Re: Are our troops really this ill-equipped?

ok here is the real deal on this issue folks.my sis inlaw is over there now. wife was going to go but mission was canceled.however will be back up for deployment in JAN.I tried to they wouldnt let me back in due to the waiver needed because wife is in.needless to say i've been on top from the begining.or to the best of my ability anyway.yes there was an issue with ammo.not due to the ammo being in short supply however.those troopes which were not considered as a combat unit i.e a logistic unit, supply, cooks, etc ( support units)were not expected to go into a fire fight. or come under heavy fire at any point.nor have they had the extensive training in combat.due to the higher ups beliefe that such a group would over react and kill any iradie they saw and the fact that they were being escorted by an armored force. it was decided that the ammo be givin primarily to those combat trained personell.not to say your friend has no ammo for his secondary weapon. they do it is simply issued in smaller amounts than we here at home think they should carry.all weapons such as M60, M2, and assult rifles were well equiped also exept for those considered non combat troops.that was during the first part of the war. now however all troops have been supplied with adequit ammo due to the large number of support units which found themselves under direct enemy fire.the issue did actually exist at the beginning but no longer does.it is no longer something we need to be concerned about.they are well supplied. the higher ups have come around.

 

[dogsdad]

Re: Are our troops really this ill-equipped?

Let's put .45s into the hands of these men. A nine is fun to shoot, but when it's time to get serious, I'd want a .45 ACP!<br /><br /><br />-dd-

 

[12Footer]

Re: Are our troops really this ill-equipped?

Yes indeed, Dogsdad! The local police force love thier glocks for wieght savings, but to knock down a varment, they probably miss thier old 1911's. Even the old police specl.38 had more "knock-down oniuns" than does the 9mm.

 

[JasonJ]

Re: Are our troops really this ill-equipped?

Yeah, that why most law enforcment has gone to Glocks that fire 40 S&W. Good compromise between compactness and knockdown. I enjoyed the 1911s in the Army and was sad when they went to the Berretta 9mm...