The Perfect Soldier: Special Operations, Commandos, and the Future of Us Warfare by James F. Dunnigan
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Dirty Little Secrets
Where Soldiers Buy Their Own Gear
by Harold C. Hutchison
December 18, 2004
Discussion Board on this DLS topic
Soldiers deploying to Iraq and Afghanistan have been acquiring their own kit to
go with the U.S. Government Issue stuff. But where do they go to get the stuff?
While outdoor stores like Galyan’s and Sports Authority are one place where they
can make these purchases, the place most of them go is to online stores – and
the shopping is done from the comfort of their home.
Online shopping, at
any place from Brigade Quartermaster, Cheaper Than Dirt, US Cavalry, and
Sportsman’s Guide, among others, will often give someone a wide selection at a
better price than a local store, and one can do comparison shopping with a few
mouse clicks (often by opening multiple browser windows). The delivery can
arrive as soon as the next business day (if the order is placed early enough)
thanks to Federal Express or UPS. Often, these commercial products have
outperformed the gear the soldiers are issued. Camelbak-type systems for
drinking water are one example (the system is now issued by the Defense
Department to troops), having outperformed the venerable canteen.
What
else is available at these online stores? Gloves, GPS units (often lighter and
more advanced than units issued by the military), elbow and knee pads, knives,
underwear suitable for hot weather, watches, sunglasses, and other necessities
for the field. These stores often will provide the best gear on the market
faster than the procurement system will, and they will be delivered right to the
soldier’s home. The commercial gear that proves most popular in the field often
will be adopted for use by the military – until it, too is outclassed by what
one can find on the web.
Sources mentioned:
Cheaper Than Dirt:
http://www.cheaper than dirt.com
U.S. Cavalry: http://us
cav.com/
Brigade Quartermaster: http://www.action
gear.com/
Sportsman’s Guide: http://www.sportsmans guide.com/
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