when you get issued a rifle in the service, are you allowed to customize it, i.e. add a scope, diff. handguards, light, etc.?

Quoted: when you get issued a rifle in the service, are you allowed to customize it, i.e. add a scope, diff. handguards, light, etc.?

Generally not, there are exceptions made for certain units, or under certain cercumstances.

As with all things, check with your CO before deciding on adding that Airsoft SOCOM stock to your M16....

im not in the service yet, but i was wondering because you see all the soldiers with the rails and lights and scopes, i was just wondering if they did that themselves, or if theyre issued like that. and if so, who decides on who gets what or how the rifle is set up?

I found it to be VERY case by case.  If the person is a soup sandwich, HELL NO!  If you out shoot top every time, mabey.  If you fix tops canted FSB by hitting it agenst a bed post hock.gif, sure whatever you want.  The point, prove to them you wont fuck it up like some might, and you shold be good.  I would wait, because new privates are very suspect when the first get there.

is it easier if youre a 2nd Lt.?

Quoted: is it easier if youre a 2nd Lt.?

Not if your CO & Platoon Sgt are worth a damn.

No, we don't allow allot of flexability in what the troops or platoon commanders do with their weapons. Some commanders allow little things like slings and lights.

I personally would not allow allot of variation even in the small things like lights in my unit, but that has more to do with most Marines, regardless of their rank, don't know what to get.  You will see them go to Saigon Sams and get a POS light or sling and in some cases 782 gear and expect to use something I know won't last the deployment.  If however they get something high quality than it wouldn't be an issue, but since we issue allot of expensive gear there is not much point in it today.

+1 to kc0iwx

I was promoted in Iraq to a Headquarters XO so I had to give up my Gov't issued tricked out M4 for a standard M16A2. I immeadiately begged, borrowed, traded, and scrouged to get my guys rails, lights, collapsible stocks, and Aimpoints for their M16s as well as mine. After that success I built a M4 upper with Troy rails, bells and whistles and put it on my A2 lower w/collapsible stock. The CO didn't mine and no one ever questioned me.