Joe,

Thanks for spreading the word on this very worthwhile cause. Regardless of what you think about the current presidential campaign, these folks are on the frontline of this war. They're putting their butts on the line to protect us from this enemy.

Many of these folks are from civilian law enforcement special ops units and were activiated for this war. The least we can do is see they have the right equipment to do their job.

BTW we are a .org

Ron Wright, Moderator
HPSIG Forums Site
www.hspig.org

Why is this happening, and why are we allowing it to happen? It is unbelievable. We're sending soldiers out to fight without the hardware to fight with.

There is no conceivable excuse for this.

Get on the horn, call your Reps, Senators, write letters, get the ball moving.

Yawn. Yet more Military Industrial Complex FUBAR.

This once, T.J. Madison is right. This situation is normal in any military.

Logistics are hard, and having all the right stuff available (assuming it was budgeted for and procured, and so exists in the fist place) is the exception not the rule. British military, Canadian military, French military, U.S. military... doesn't matter. Actually, you Yanks do comparatively well in the "shiny new kit" and "get it there" departments.

Look at this from the other side: You get in theatre, higher-ups realize a demand for snipers, they press people into service because they're needed NOW. But they aren't formal sniper teams, attached to the command as usual for such assets, and with all of the gear and pre-set requisition items and everything else. Which means sniper gear sets were not moved into theatre with them (if the brigade even has them). And the higher-ups themselves may not be all that familiar with snipers as a specialty because snipers are specialized operatives.

Special Forces had many of these same problems, BTW, until they were moved into their own command (SOCOM). Again, this situation is military-normal. Though emailing your local representative might be helpful in getting things moving faster.

Fortunately, police snipers, sniper veterans, and dedicated military snipers have come together with "Adopt-A-Sniper" to help fill the gaps until the massive Pentagon procurement and logistics machines can get in gear.

I'll pass the word into my shooting community (which put together a bunch of weapon cleaning materiel in the beginning of this adventure); I've also tried to get in touch w/Ron because some of the things they're requesting - while doubtless useful - seem kinda odd for sniper use.

Focus, folks, focus...

A.L.

You can find Brian of Adopt a Sniper via this contact page on their web site.

Ron Wright, Moderator
HSPIG Forums Site
www.hspig.org

...And A.L., if you want to find Ron of HSPIG, you can contact him via this page

They have a lot of good LEO contacts and provide a useful forum for same re: the War on Terror, so some of your buddies might be interested in them too.

Of course, anyone who doesn't support this program isn't a patriot and should be shot with the greatest possible haste.

Hmmm, my sarcasm tags didn't show up - I should have realized that it wouldn't work like it does on IRC. :(

T. J. Madison is not right. The proper acronym for this situation is SNAFU, not FUBAR.

>> The proper acronym for this situation is SNAFU, not FUBAR.

Indeed. I apologize for the error.

I was checking out the requested items list when I ran across this:

A big fluffy towel.

Enter your own Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy joke here.

I just gave a few bucks, and will in the future as finances allow.

Now I'll have a tough time deciding between my old favorite charity (www.pizzaidf.org), or these worthy guys. I guess I'll just have to take turns.

Hello perhaps we might work together?
http://adoptasoldier.bigjohnmiska.com
Thanks
bigjohn

Looking for someone to adopt me i'm a new sniper here in Iraq just finished training of a Barrett .50 cal sniper riffle and me and my partner need some equipment we need two gilli suits and i would like to have a better night sight and day sight for my barrett and a bigger and better spotting scope if anyone can help please e-mail me and let me know i'm part of the 278 RCT out of Greenville TN me and my partner are scout snipers now your help would be appreciated

Anyone involved in long distance precision shooting, whether as a sniper or in competition, will tell you that it's a pretty personal decision re: equipment. That's an issue over and above logistics.

Historially SOCOM had a fair amount of latitude to buy non-standard items. But with the increase in snipers outside of SOCOM there can be some problems matching people with stuff.

Brent, I sent you a private email.

I accidentally found this site. The more I read, the more interested I am in trying to assist the troops with proper gear to fight with. If someone reads this, write me back and let me know exactly what is going on. I will write whom ever I can to let them know how to assist you. I need the proper information so my letters are worded correctly in order to provide proper assistance. I will send care packages and emails to anyone that wants the care. I care!
Ava Darlene Lowe MT(ASCP

P.S.
My ex-husband is in the military, so I know a little about your situation. I have relatives in the military as well. I am a couple of hours from Ft. Campbell, KY. I can do the best that I can to send you what you need (there is a store across from the base that sells military supplies). I can check on kids call relatives here in the U.S. to help you guys contact them. Whatever I can do to help, please find someone and give them my email address and tell them to email me. I know how expensive it is to call. It is about $200 for 60 minutes on a pre-paid calling card! I will do the best that I can. People love to help! I have not forgotten about you guys. Please write me. I know I can help someone!
avadarlene1@yahoo.com/ 615-890-7116 (sister's phone) leave a message if I am not here. Ask for Darlene

-

I've been out of the military for over 30 years now, but I still would like to offer my wishes and support to all the warriors and personnel in Iraq and surround zones.
If any warrior would like to e-mail (ppico2000@yahoo.com) , I will either e-mail back or send snail mail(that's what we call land mail in the Post Office).
If snail mail, then a letter or effects that could make life easier wouldn't be out of the question.
A short resume of the soldier or unit would be helpful.
I consider it an honor and a privilege to converse with any warrior.

Thank you

I've been out of the military for over 30 years now, but I still would like to offer my wishes and support to all the warriors and personnel in Iraq and surround zones.
If any warrior would like to e-mail (ppico2000@yahoo.com) , I will either e-mail back or send snail mail(that's what we call land mail in the Post Office).
If snail mail, then a letter or effects that could make life easier wouldn't be out of the question.
A short resume of the soldier or unit would be helpful.
I consider it an honor and a privilege to converse with any warrior.

Thank you

Yes my name is Sgt. Deantoni Littleton, and I have just been put into a sniper section team sergent. Now the unit that I am at do not have enough supplies to provide for me and my two snipers. We are gettin ready to deploy to iraq in a few months, and I feel that not only as a sniper section sergent that we do not have the proper equipment that we will need to better concealed so that enough will not be able to see. Now I have been too Iraq twice and Afghan once. Now that I just got word that I am gonna be goin to Iraq in a few months with my new unit. I was just wondering if that u will be willing to help me and my snipers out. Because everything that we need is very expensive, and money is certainly a issue. So hopefully you will be able to help us out.

[JK: We sent this to Adopt A Sniper, and they're on it.]

hello, I am one of the few Snipers here in afghanistan, We are the only snipers on this fobb. i was wondering where i can go to get adopted. due to money expences we cannot afford to buy everything out of our own pockets, we have family's to take care among many things. But sofar we have paid for everything out of our pockets. We cant even get dope books, without buying them ourselves. and it takes awile to get out here. we have already been goin out the wire with what little equiptment we have. we need rangefinders, dopebooks, kestrels, angle compensaters, survival kits, and thats just a few things. But if you or anyone can guide me in the right direction I would gladly appreciate it.

the address is:

[ Cut out for prudence and OPSEC's sake. I am forwarding this to the folks at AmericanSniper.org and will email A***** as well. --NM ]

Thanks again for everything

Actually, i am not a sniper but i intend to become one from the day i shot a robbery suspect from a building of about 100 meters with a Nazi Rifle, so i need some one that will help me put my my ability to work and dreams to reality..

Well, that was an unusual comment. Questions abound:

• Was the rifle a paid up Nazi party member, or just a fervent sympathizer?

• How did the trial go after shooting someone who was just a suspect from 100 yards, while obviously not a member of any police unit (if he was, he would already be putting that ability to work)?

• Is there no armed forces where Mamman lives, since that is the other obvious outlet? If not, there's probably an interesting movie script in this little vignette that might have a chance at Sundance. Or maybe a South Park episode.

Maybe Mamman's bit was real, but barring further details, somehow I doubt it. We now return you to our regularly scheduled comments...