Why?

[Sqad]

Why do some impoverished servicemen elect to buy their own equipment?

This question must be addressed.

[Androcles]

Well, for heaven's sake, you don't expect 87,000 MOD civil servants to buy their own stationery do you?

[buildersmate]

Because they choose not to like the kit that the military provides.
This is nothing new and Mrs J is once again trying to make political capital out of it.
It's called 'personal choice'.
It isn't that the kit isn't there - but Mrs J is raising it because, by implication, the suggestion that if there might be enough helicopters there also not be enough pairs of underpants to go around.
Shear bunkum.
The sooner the Press stops giving this woman air-play the better for everyone

[Sqad]

Buildersmate

"Because they choose not to like the kit that the military provides. "

Why?

[buildersmate]

This might seem a trivial question in the context of the situation here - but it makes the same point.
Q: Do you use the ball-point pens that your employer provides? - or do you use your own 'special' pen?
People like to customise things - to make them unique to them.

[Lonnie]

Bck in 1973 during my second tour of NI, one of our officers had a laser sight on his rifle, boughtit himself, so buying your own equipment, providing its allowed, is nothing new.

[anotheoldgit]

Yes it is quite true regarding the boots, some preferred to buy the one''s issued to the US troops, I do believe they are much better now.

It was the same regarding their rifles, that persistently jambed, but could one expect the soldiers to by their own more efficient rifles?

What we should be asking is, why are the American troops better kitted out, and with better amenities etc?

[buildersmate]

Because they have a bigger budget, AOG. But you knew that really.
Why do so many folks in this world believe that every solution needs to be equal to the best.