Been ages since I've been on the bbs here, but I just have to chime in on the equipment issue.
I just spent 18 months mobilized with my Army NG (12 mth tour of Iraq included). I fully agree that the Reserve components were getting seriously screwed at the start of Operation Iraqi Freedom. We just didn't 'rate' on the scale of importance in the Pentagon. Sucks to be us, huh? But when it became clear that the Reserve and Guard units were in as much danger as the Active units, the Powers That Be knew changes had to be made.
Thankfully by the time of my ToD over there, from April '04-05, (OIF 2) the good gear was being issued to many of the Reserve and Guard units getting ready to deploy. Of course, when you consider the fact that we were mobilized at the same time that Congress was passing the bill to reimburse troops the cost of body armor, etc, it was a pretty sure thing there would be more equal treatment in that area.
All of the new high-speed gear was great stuff, IMO. And I have to report that the Army has gone to great lengths to start issuing us REMF's the 'reallly good s**t' that SF, Rangers and the combat arms units get. Nowadays, if a unit is going downrange, no matter what their primary mission is, the unit is going to get good-to-go personal gear. Up-armored vehicles are a close second and weaponry is third.
Some soldiers in my unit did opt to purchase their own body armor - they claimed it was because the civilian version was more protective than the issue gear. Whatever. And of course there are businesses out there devoted to creating neat stuff that a soldier can use that just isn't cost effective for the Army to purchase in mass amounts. I bought a small ballistic pouch to put on my body armor - I carried a pair of small binoculars in it, great for spotting IEDs up ahead in the roadway. Others got extra ammo pouches from Blackhawk or Tactical Tailor. Again all personal preference.
OK, enough of me.
Later,
Sue V