Our troops in IRAQ need rifle scopes and binoculars! Most combat troops are well outfitted but our support troops are working with basic open sight M16s and very few binoculars - and they also frequently come under fire!! As a hunter you know the value of a good scope and a pair of binoculars! If you have a quality US manufactured riflescope with or without rings that can be fitted to an M16 or M4 or a extra pair of quality binoculars please go to:

http://anysoldier.us/WhereToSend/

and do a search on "scope" or "binoculars" to locate troops needing these items. They are also in need of bedsheets, CDs, DVD and comfort items to make the misery of war a little more bearable.

Also go to:

http://www.optruth.org/main.cfm

and click on "BLOG" for additional info on how to help our troops in IRAQ.

Help our troops win this war!!

I am presently a Major in the Army reserve. I would offer cautionary comments to anyone thinking of doing this. The last time I heard of something similar it involved donating hi cap M16 mags due to a supposed shortage.

Just to show the fallacy, Army supply system is based on the table of organization and equipment for the unit in question.Commanders also have the general authority to order any item they can justify, eg extra canteens for desert duty. I can assure you no troop will be allowed unauthorized scopes on a rifle. The optical site authorized for use is the one attached to specially modified M16 rifles and M4 carbines. The M21 sniper system and the M24 Sniper system carry their own. The current base exchange system (AAFES) has scopes on the shelf, any trooper in the degree of desperation indicated could acquire one. Binoculars are issued to troops in leadership positions, there is no current shortage of binoculars.


What is needed is comfort items as always. A box containing socks, candy, paperback books and magazines, wrapped in the hometown paper will be very welcome.

best to all,this is the most I posted in a bit.

PS The reason we do not allow unauthorized scoping is the training requirement, scope failure, and most troops have trouble enough on marksmanship without adding the error factor a scoped M16 brings to play. The modification for scoping involves removal of the carrying handle to bring the scope in line with the bore at a lower level and installation of a picatinny rail system. This is not a field capable operation.

We do not issue non command personal with binoculars because we want them listening and following instruction, not observing the countryside. Command personnel use their binoculars and direct appropriately.

With all due respect Major, I am a retired USAF MSgt and live near Fort Carson, Colorado. Thousands of US Army troops have been trained and deployed from Fort Carson to Afghanistan and Iraq in the past 20 months. While it is true that combat troops are adequately equipped for service in hostile areas, it is also true that support troops are not authorized and do not get the same weapons systems as the combat troops. Most I have talked to have a basic M16 with open sights and few, if any, binoculars.

In March of 2003, when thousands of troops were preparing to deploy to Iraq, individual (support) soldiers were buying personal rifle scopes in local gun shops and at gun shows in large quantities. The preferred scopes were 3~9X compacts with quick release handle mounts for their M16s. I was told by enlisted and officer personnel alike that the Army allowed the use of personal scopes on M16s as long as the rifle was not modified. It is also a simple matter to mount a scope on a Picatinny rail using a riser or extra high rings.

I talked with several First Sergeants and at least one Commander who claimed the scopes gave their troops more confidence and made some of them better marksmen. I also talked with some troops who had returned home on leave and were purchasing more scopes to bring back with them for their buddies.

Several people on leave told me that they had to use their scopes to spot the sources of enemy fire because there was not one pair of binoculars in their platoon.

As a retiree I use the Fort Carson PX and local USAF BXs and have yet to see a riflescope in either. The clothing sales stores do have some low power Bushnell scopes in stock.

I am 65 years old and will do everything I can to insure that these young troops win the war and come home safe and uninjured.

I urge everyone reading this to go on the websites I posted above and personally see what the troops are asking for.

They need all the support we can provide.

Each command may allow leeway as they see fit. My command does issue all necessary items to Operational Detachments. There is no more individual buying equipment when I was younger. However, our support troops do still have shortages. That's being fixed everyday. However, I still carry my personnal Steiner 8x30 and have given my son (infantry) his binos and GPS. Scopes are availible at the Ft Campbell PXtra. I've seen numberous units allowing individual purchasing of firearm equipment as long as when they return home the gun is back the way Mother Army issued it.

CD from the sandbox - Out.

This topic is amazing. Why in the world are U.S. military troops going to the field without proper equipment? What's next...a volunteer request for civilians to send more ammo? What a way to fight a war. Who the **** is in charge? :mad:

I am an Active Duty SSG who is preparing to deploy with the 42 ID (National Guard) in support of OIF. I am a support soldier and I feel I am quite qualified to comment. The support soldiers do come under fire/return fire quite a bit. We don't kick down doors and clear towns, however. Anyone who believes that binoculars are going to cause problems with the enlisted men has no concept of modern battle and must not understand that officers don't pull guard duty...'nuff said. Anyone who wishes to send me stuff, please feel free, lol.
Andy
PS I do honestly appreciate the support the American people are giving the military and wish those deployed and those with family members deployed the best of luck.

Doc:
I beleive at one time the Army said that repeating rifles would just cause waste of ammunition and so no repeating arms were issued. End results (Little Big Horn).

Lee L.

Its so many years since I was in the Army, I can't really relate, but...

In the field I like a strong monocular. They are lighter and quicker than binoculars for me. In the situation in the middle east, where combatants and noncombatants are so difficult to identify, and the battle lines are not well defined, every GI should probably have good spotting equipment, including support troops, who seem to be drawing a lot of fire, if the papers can be believed.

Oh yeah, my fondness of the monocular? I keep my left eye on the point of interest, and catch it in my right. Things look a lot different when magnified, and it works faster for me. Not to mention the lightness, 1/2 the weight of binoculars.

Slips my old Ithaca in its new nylon holster. Sheaths a Randall 14 from my days as an Infantryman. Puts on my cotton fatigues and brown leather desert boots, the new ones. Slips the Mossberg riot gun I stole from the MP detachment on and quietly plans to lead my men.

hmmm lets see;

I like Leicas please.
223 softnose
Randall knives of course
money for the black market, the Army does not pay enough
Sabot 12 gauge rounds, all I can scrounge there will be slugs and buckshot
Blackhawk tactical gear/no camelbacks we get those now
An old Jeep. The tranny on the hummer gets in my way
quickclot, Ive been there before
Nylon socks, useful in the desert
Condoms non lubed, for the barrel of the weapon
oh 45 acp 185 grain plus p hollowpoints Federal if you can


Now that I drifted to my own fantasy;

Thanks for supporting the troops. I am sure the various soldier types will greatly enjoy all the various gifts.

Oh and if anybodys got an old Browning light Machine gun with 308 barrel, just put it in a box marked binoculars.

This topic is amazing. Why in the world are U.S. military troops going to the field without proper equipment? What's next...a volunteer request for civilians to send more ammo? What a way to fight a war. Who the **** is in charge? :mad:

Problem is there are no defined front lines. The support, logistics, etc., personnel are out fighting the war too, or rather, the war comes to them.

I am presently a Major in the Army reserve. I would offer cautionary comments to anyone thinking of doing this. The last time I heard of something similar it involved donating hi cap M16 mags due to a supposed shortage.

I was an 18E Special Forces Communications Specialist in Desert Storm, Somalia, Bosnia, and various other conflicts during the 1990's. I am HALO, SCUBA, sniper, Air Assault, and Pathfinder trained. After my SF time I went to Warrant Officer School and flew helicopters. Having spent 5 nearly solid years in combat of one form or another, I am glad that you are in the Reserves, and I hope you stay in the Rear...preferably stateside. It is your type of mentality and trust in "The System" that allowed our troops to be sent to war with unarmored Hummers, inadequate water containers, and countless other deficiencies. My caution would be to instead make sure that what you are sending is actually going to troops and not bubba in Kentucky with his scam website. I have over the last year or so sent over $5000 worth of equipment and supplies to the troops in Afganistan and Iraq. On a regular basis I get kids coming home and tracking me down and giving me a big hug and thanks for sending them things that they needed that saved their lives.


Just to show the fallacy, Army supply system is based on the table of organization and equipment for the unit in question.Commanders also have the general authority to order any item they can justify, eg extra canteens for desert duty. I can assure you no troop will be allowed unauthorized scopes on a rifle. The optical site authorized for use is the one attached to specially modified M16 rifles and M4 carbines. The M21 sniper system and the M24 Sniper system carry their own. The current base exchange system (AAFES) has scopes on the shelf, any trooper in the degree of desperation indicated could acquire one. Binoculars are issued to troops in leadership positions, there is no current shortage of binoculars.

MTOE is a POS... MTOE is what a bunch of politicians have told the Generals that they are allowed to give to their troops and receive funding based on what it is assumed that their role will be in combat operations...and then there is a small fund for discretionary spending (I emphasize SMALL). Terrorist warfare is not what is intended by the MTOE..which by the way, for many support units are outdated, some all the way to the 40's, 50's, and 60's....many MTOE were based on fighting the Soviet Union, not in a desert environment, and on a battlefield rather in the middle of a city where the enemy and the friend look identical....and with no uniform to distinguish. Binos or any form of optical enhancement is something that every soldier can benefit from. Technilogical superiority tilts the outcome of an offsided battle more to the side of our good kids over there that have enough things going against them. Uncle Sam is just not going to foot the bill....there are only so many dollars in the piggie bank...a commander is going to spend more money on food, water, fuel, bullets, and first aid. Personal support items are sometimes just not able to be funded. Any commander that opposes a soldier from having a set of binos, or a reasonably enhancing weapon sighting system that does not alter the issue permanent design of the weapon, or any other combat performance multiplier/enhancement needs to be immediately relieved from command and replaced with a commander that has a proper thirst for victory and desire to protect his/her troops. I have been in command of small units of support troops that were barely supplied to do their primary job much less their secondary one as an infantryman. It is a shame when an E-6 has to go and "Requisition" items from supply or write desperate letters to friends and family at home to get simple things that can keep a kid alive and send him back home in one piece that is whole and unharmed. It is also a shame when as an E-5 I had to write letters home to a mom that her son died as a hero...when the truth was that a $35 pair of binos could have prevented his death. I hate having to lie to cover for the military.


What is needed is comfort items as always. A box containing socks, candy, paperback books and magazines, wrapped in the hometown paper will be very welcome..

Here we can finally agree. Sunscreen, 100% UV A and B sunglasses, toothbrushes and toothpaste, talcum powder, mole skin, etc....the government can only afford so much on our tax dollars. It is not unreasonable to expect that individuals who wish to support our kids send things that the kids cannot otherwise get.


PS The reason we do not allow unauthorized scoping is the training requirement, scope failure, and most troops have trouble enough on marksmanship without adding the error factor a scoped M16 brings to play. The modification for scoping involves removal of the carrying handle to bring the scope in line with the bore at a lower level and installation of a picatinny rail system. This is not a field capable operation.

Bogus...Bogus...and again Bogus. There is a country boy or girl in every unit that I have ever seen that can set-up and sight in a scope in a few minutes. In all of my years of shooting and teaching peasants around the world to shoot and fight against oppression, or kids here at home to shoot accurately for competition or sport hunting have I EVER seen anyone that shot worse with a scope than they did with iron sights. To even think that, is ridiculous. I can't believe that you said it. There is no modification....there is a knurled knob screw that fastens the scope mount to the carry handle very securely and can generally be removed and reattached without adversely affecting zero. If the soldier is too dumb to periodically add checking the tightness of the screw when they are doing the hopefully frequent cleaning of the rifle, then they should probably be cleansed out of the gene pool anyway for the safety of the other troops. (the handle is useless by the way...and I hate to see someone carrying an M-16 that way as it is not a good defensive or offensive posture but lets not get into tactics for combat survival)


We do not issue non command personal with binoculars because we want them listening and following instruction, not observing the countryside. Command personnel use their binoculars and direct appropriately.

I pray to God and all that is holy for you to change your paradigm or not lead our kids into combat. Your uninformed opinion will certainly lead to death and destruction of your troops. I would rather have 100 magnified eyes instead of 4 any day of the week. The CO and the Plt Sgt cannot be everywhere at every moment...I will not bore everyone with the scenarios that I have personally observed as I think that any person of an open mind can figure out the ridiculousness of this mentality. The one thing that sets us apart from most other militaries in the world and makes us the most dangerous fighting force in the world is the fact that an individual soldier can take the initiative and do what is necessay and reasonable to ensure victory on the battlefield. And a smart commander will listen to his troops and base his decisions with their advice in mind...The CO has the last word, but is not necessarily the most in touch with the situation at hand, unless they are able and willing to use every facet of his troops expertise and ability and trust that the individual soldier will always act in the best interest of the safety and success of the mission and his fellow soldiers. My soldiers would always do the right thing because they felt it was important to them for me to look good in the eyes or my commanders...Since I took care of them...they always took care of me. I very rarely lost a soldier...and there is a reason. That is what separates a commander from a commanding leader. There is a time and a place for both democracy and dictatorship...soldiers are capable of understanding when those times are. If a group of soldiers are totally against something...you better listen closer, because there is probably a good reason.
Please rethink your opinions...we are all encouraged to have an individual opinion...but it does not mean that it is a correct one.

I am posting this as a hope that you can learn from others advice and experience. The lives of your troops may depend on it one day. My prayers go out to you and them if you ever have to lead them into combat. Their lives are in your hands and it is your responsibility to watch over them as if they are your children...it is too late to change your paradigm while you are writing your first batch of letters home to mothers and fathers. I always treated every soldier as if they were my child...it made me make sure that I did not needlessly sacrefice a kid's life. I hope you too take that view....as a parent you would make sure that your child had every tool necessary to survive...do the same as a commander and you will have a group of soldiers that will die for you without question and have the deadliest group of soldiers on the battlefield. In field exercises I have taken clerical troops and defeated battle hardened Green Berets. The reason...because I convinced them that they could and they trusted me.

This topic is amazing. Why in the world are U.S. military troops going to the field without proper equipment? What's next...a volunteer request for civilians to send more ammo? What a way to fight a war. Who the **** is in charge? :mad:

Why is it that we expect our government to pay for everything that a soldier could ever need or want, and then turn around and whine when there is a tax increase or there is an increase in military spending?

Why is it so difficult for a person to donate something to our troops when it is ok to donate to homeless people or cancer research? There is only so much money in the ole military piggie bank. Soldiers get stuff in the order of its importance in fighting a battle....the gov't will pay for only the bare minimum of what they decide will be sufficient to win....Just to win....not to win decisively with no casualties. In many militaries in the world uniforms, equipment, and such are purchased by the families and passed down from one to another. I am ashamed of the way that many of our citizens think and believe. If people spent as much money and time as they do complaining and protesting....our kids would have much more, and would not have to write home for it, and we would have fewer funerals for fallen heros. Read my other post for more information.

Seems to me if you know someone in the sand box you could send packages to them and have a good chance of it reaching the troops. If you don't know someone there contact your national gaurd and tell them you want to send a goodie package to a troop in Iraq and I will bet it wouldn't take long to get an address. Just remember it has to go through customs so your sending "magnified reading glasses" you know, the 500 yard kind and don't send ammo or firearms that will be taken and probably result in one of our guys getting in trouble or you going to jail. PS my son wanted handcuffs and a metal slide out baton while he was there so they could detain people easier.

Scoutsniper thanks for telling it the way it is, in 18 years of combat arms I never saw binos until I made 1SG. By then the front line troops needed them more than I did. The MTOE is mostly BS.

Scoutsniper thanks for telling it the way it is, in 18 years of combat arms I never saw binos until I made 1SG. By then the front line troops needed them more than I did. The MTOE is mostly BS.


Thankyou, I agree totally. If you read our units MTOE you would laugh your butt off at what we are authorized, but don't have and what we should have but aren't authorized. It is really crazy. The whole system desperately needs to be reworked. The small amount of time we were overseas we were very under equiped. Thank God we never saw actual combat.

So where is the best place to send equipment that is sure to arive at the inrended destination in a timely matter?

So where is the best place to send equipment that is sure to arive at the inrended destination in a timely matter?


Our troops in IRAQ need rifle scopes and binoculars! Most combat troops are well outfitted but our support troops are working with basic open sight M16s and very few binoculars - and they also frequently come under fire!! As a hunter you know the value of a good scope and a pair of binoculars! If you have a quality US manufactured riflescope with or without rings that can be fitted to an M16 or M4 or a extra pair of quality binoculars please go to:

http://anysoldier.us/WhereToSend/


There are many places to find out...I would recommend going to your local Reserves or Nat. Guard Armory and get an address list from them so that you can send to your home town men and women. Makes it a little more personal then, and you are more likely to find out exactly what they are needing the most.

Why is it that we expect our government to pay for everything that a soldier could ever need or want, and then turn around and whine when there is a tax increase or there is an increase in military spending?

Why is it so difficult for a person to donate something to our troops when it is ok to donate to homeless people or cancer research? There is only so much money in the ole military piggie bank. Soldiers get stuff in the order of its importance in fighting a battle....the gov't will pay for only the bare minimum of what they decide will be sufficient to win....Just to win....not to win decisively with no casualties. In many militaries in the world uniforms, equipment, and such are purchased by the families and passed down from one to another. I am ashamed of the way that many of our citizens think and believe. If people spent as much money and time as they do complaining and protesting....our kids would have much more, and would not have to write home for it, and we would have fewer funerals for fallen heros. Read my other post for more information.

I read your post twice and I'm not sure whether you are cutting me down or venting. I'm not going to explain my military background or support of the military to you. But, I will say if America's military is not supplied with the proper equipment (from the American government) to win the war in Iraq (and elsewhere), then experienced troops like yourself need to address the situation in some kind of a public forum. We the people of the mightiest country in the world need to hear from the troops there. Not what CNN or CBS, etc. reports on television. If I'm taxed for military necessities so be it. That's better than taxes for a new stadium or fancy street lights in the suburbs. One final thing. Thank you for your service and the freedom that my family enjoys today.

I read your post twice and I'm not sure whether you are cutting me down or venting. I'm not going to explain my military background or support of the military to you. But, I will say if America's military is not supplied with the proper equipment (from the American government) to win the war in Iraq (and elsewhere), then experienced troops like yourself need to address the situation in some kind of a public forum. We the people of the mightiest country in the world need to hear from the troops there. Not what CNN or CBS, etc. reports on television. If I'm taxed for military necessities so be it. That's better than taxes for a new stadium or fancy street lights in the suburbs. One final thing. Thank you for your service and the freedom that my family enjoys today.

My apologies. I was certainly not cutting you down. I was just stating that we cannot expect our government to supply everything that a soldier could use to win with the tax dollars that our wonderful liberals have allowed for the Defense Budget. That is one of the problems with being such a technologically advanced military and having such a large liberal/antiwar population in the US. I have no problem spending money out of my pocket to help our soldiers...at least I know that it is going to a soldier and not some liberal homo-hugger at the White House on some Defense Appropriations board. I hate taxes because I don't know where it is going, and in most cases it is probably going toward things that I don't support, like gay marriage. Don't get me wrong, I am pretty open minded. People can do whatever it is they want in a closet as long as they keep the door closed and my kids don't have to see it and my tax dollars are not paying for it. Our soldiers have what they need to win. The things that we can send them are things that can make them more comfortable, and win with less risk of life...ie Binos to better Recon an area before entering it, rifle scopes to increase the effective combat range of their rifle, and to make average shooters, better shooters, GPS units to know exactly where they are, ballistic clothing and parts to armor things that are not and should be, tactical gear, games, talcum powder, toothbrushes, tooth paste, use your imagination the list goes on.

I am sure that most soldiers would like to tell you what is going on, but either they cannot or are way too busy or tired. They are not getting much time...and often times it is a couple of months before I hear back from one of them. Wives, kids, moms, and dads get first priority of what little free time they have. Whatever you do, don't get me started on my rant about the Press. I almost got Court Martialed in Somalia over them. Seems a camera man wanted to put his gigawatt spot light on me while I was coming on the beach under enemy gunfire. I can't help it if my M-16 (Wonderful rifle provided by the lowest bidder) misfired and destroyed his camera and light. Accidents happen sometimes. Murphy's Law. The Press's place should be in the Rear with the Gear, not on the battlefield.

No thanks necessary. Just be a good American and vote, help others when you can, and enjoy the simple things in life.

I read your post twice and I'm not sure whether you are cutting me down or venting. I'm not going to explain my military background or support of the military to you. But, I will say if America's military is not supplied with the proper equipment (from the American government) to win the war in Iraq (and elsewhere), then experienced troops like yourself need to address the situation in some kind of a public forum. We the people of the mightiest country in the world need to hear from the troops there. Not what CNN or CBS, etc. reports on television. If I'm taxed for military necessities so be it. That's better than taxes for a new stadium or fancy street lights in the suburbs. One final thing. Thank you for your service and the freedom that my family enjoys today.

You are not in the Press Corp are you??? It is rather interesting that you make the point that we need to hear from the troops yesterday, and today there is this article on MSN... http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6676765/ I think that the soldiers have spoken and Rumsfeld didn't have the answers. So much for MTOE and the Supply Chain.

Thought you all might be interested in this article, so enjoy.

Scoutsniper,

No I'm not a member of the press. In fact, after twenty five years as a police officer, I HATE the press. I did read that article today regarding the troop complaints to Rumsfield. Actually, we are on the same page. As a member of the local military museum, www.mottsmilitarymuseum.org I will speak to the director regarding your thoughts. His cousin (helicopter pilot) just returned from Iraq. Lets hope all the troops are home soon...real soon.

P.S. If you read my signature box, you'll know I'm anti-press.

Scoutsniper,

No I'm not a member of the press. In fact, after twenty five years as a police officer, I HATE the press. I did read that article today regarding the troop complaints to Rumsfield. Actually, we are on the same page. As a member of the local military museum, www.mottsmilitarymuseum.org I will speak to the director regarding your thoughts. His cousin (helicopter pilot) just returned from Iraq. Lets hope all the troops are home soon...real soon.

P.S. If you read my signature box, you'll know I'm anti-press.

Oooooppppsssss... Good point....I did read that actually and had forgotten to look at who I was addressing...I am blonde, so forgive my moment. It is a pretty good quote.