SapperPE said:
HOWEVER, when you are talking about property book items, that is another story altogether. Issued to me personally, I carry an M4 with Aim Point / PEQ2A / Surefire, blackhawk single point sling and 7 - 30 round mags of 5.56. I also have a bandolier for another 6 - 30 round mags that I load up when I leave the wire. In addition to the M4, I cary a standard issue M9 with 4 - 15 round mags of 9mm, and I have a four mag pouch on my IBA for more ammo when I leave the wire. I also reserve the right for a standard shotgun whenever I go on missions.
The property book, oh that just gets better. Lots and lots of very lethal items.
Glad to see you combat engineers and 29th ID VANG folks are issued the best equipment available. My experience with getting new equipment was that engineers were the low men on the totem pole. When I left active duty some 8 years ago, my unit received M-4's 12 months prior. Of course, we didn't have the mods./add-ons (no G-money grips!). But they were only issued to my M9 ACE, AVLB, and AVLM "Mic-lic" equipment operators. However, I was able to procure one for Sapper Leader Course!
I was also around for the transition of the M-60 to M-249. Kind of sad to see the "pig" go away, but "humping" around that 23 pound (weight not including the 7.62 mike-mike rounds) sucker was quite a bitch.
It would be nice if the Army would get rid of the Berretta 9mm and replace with a .45 or 40 S&W. Rather bulky for a handgun, especially it only being a 9 mil.
As for me, I currently don't own any weapons. I had a GLOCK .40 handgun twelve years ago, but had to sell it for some much needed bank at the time (regret that one). However, about a year and a half ago, I was test firing a SIG-SAUER P229 .40 S&W at an indoor range in "Fayette-Nam" just outside of Bragg and really liked it alot-I plan to get one sometime in the future.
Probably the firearm I'm most familiar with, though didn't do hardly any shooting with it is the M-14. When I was in college, we were all issued M-14's. During the academic year, we had parades on Mondays, Fridays, and sometimes Saturdays. During my 4th class (freshman) year, my classmates and I did a lot of "Rifle PT" meaning push-ups (M-14 never touching the ground, placed on top of hands), overhead presses, running in place at port-arms or arms extended with M-14, holding the bolt back until your hand goes numb, etc. The fun Cadet days!