Since I’m scheduled to be deployed to Iraq, I have begun looking for information about the possibility of bringing my Glock 23 and Bushmaster Varminter overseas with me. When I asked the soldier directly above me in my chain of command, I was laughed at. Of course, that is to be expected. Most enlisted guard troops aren’t the eptiome of original thought or initiative. I am often surprised that the Army hasn’t published a manual outlining the approved methods for wiping one’s own ass after defecating.
Now I’m scouring the web trying to find out what the chances are that there is a legitimate process for getting official approval. I found a site that claims I may be able to bring my own pistol with me, but might then be unable to bring it back. Why would I want to throw away a $600 pistol? On the other hand, I won’t be issued a personal pistol as an non-infantry Army sergeant.
Black Five has a post with lots of anecdotal evidence that confuses me.
But the bottom line is this: I already own weapons of better quality than what would be issued me in Iraq. My Bushmaster Varminter is scoped and is built much better than the M-16A2/A3 I’m most likely to be issued. Why the government wouldn’t want to save money by having appropriately equipped troops bring their own weapons is beyond me. There is also a historical precedent for bringing my own weapons to war.
I want the best tools possible while on deployment. Does anyone have any information about a legal method for bringing my own weapons with me?
Update: Colby Buzzell of My War has e-mailed me to let me know that a pistol is mostly useless in Iraq, and gave me feedback that makes me think my idea to bring my own weapons was probably ill conceived because of the rigid bureaucracy that is the military command structure.