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8/1/2007 8:16:58 AM EDT
Ebay
This person states they are from the US Army. How does that work?
8/1/2007 9:07:40 AM EDT
[#1]
They could have fallen off the back of a truck is one.

Another is that sometimes a soldier who is getting out can't account for all his gear, so he has to pay for that which he doesn't have that he has to turn in.  Then the item(s) turn up later.  Since s/he paid for them, they are "his" or "hers".

I have no idea if this applies to body armor or not, since I wasn't in the military.  But several close friends who are/have been soldiers explained that the aforementioned process is one way that could happen.

But, as far as I understand, they don't just "give" the armor/plates to soldiers to keep when they get out.  Make of that whatever you want.

TimW
Phoenix
8/1/2007 10:33:38 AM EDT
[#2]
they probably never made it onto this persons records so they never turned them in. or they could be stolen.

thats correct they don't give you things like plates and armor and helmets to keep when you get out.  the only thing you keep is uniforms.
8/1/2007 4:28:19 PM EDT
[#3]

Quoted:
 the only thing you keep is uniforms.


and that's only since you started paying for them.  When they were issued, you turned them back in at end of service, or got a bill from the dept of defense.  
8/1/2007 9:12:36 PM EDT
[#4]

Quoted:
Another is that sometimes a soldier who is getting out can't account for all his gear, so he has to pay for that which he doesn't have that he has to turn in. Then the item(s) turn up later. Since s/he paid for them, they are "his" or "hers".


Not Correct.  Contrary to popular belief, signing a Statement of Charges does not permit you to keep the item.  If you "lost" it and paid for it, and "find" it later, it is still government property.  I don't recall there being any provision for a refund; the soldier is just SOL.  

The military will not usually make an issue out of small items like canteens or ponchos, since they can be legally purchased in the MCSS and it's therefore hard to prove their source.  ESAPI plates do not fall into that category.

My guess is they are stolen government property.


Edited for clarity
8/1/2007 10:02:07 PM EDT
[#5]
George

Thanks for clarifying that.  I mentioned I didn't know if it applied to body armor...my guess was that it didn't, but I couldn't be sure.  The guys I know who were/are in the military were talking about their deuce gear, etc., and I never asked about body armor since it was never a topic at those times.

Thanks again.

TimW
Phoenix
8/2/2007 4:49:59 AM EDT
[#6]
stay away.  far, far, away.
8/2/2007 4:52:59 AM EDT
[#7]
Stolen, do not buy. You could get a calll from CID demanding to have them back or you will be charged with possession of stolen property. I am surprised that ad is running.
8/2/2007 9:14:24 AM EDT
[#8]

Quoted:
Thanks for clarifying that. I mentioned I didn't know if it applied to body armor...my guess was that it didn't, but I couldn't be sure. The guys I know who were/are in the military were talking about their deuce gear, etc., and I never asked about body armor since it was never a topic at those times.


No problem, Tim.  I understood that you realize that armor can't be legally obtained this way.  My comments weren't directed solely at you.  I was attempting to address the common misperception that "lost" government property can be converted to personal property simply by paying for it.  I've seen others post this before.  In the Army, at least, this is not possible.  Paying for an item through Cash Collection or Statement of Charges does not mean you own it.  It remains government property and must be turned in.
8/2/2007 10:14:18 AM EDT
[#9]
They also could have been sold by DRMO as surplus, though I am not sure of the body armor demil requirements.
8/2/2007 10:25:51 AM EDT
[#10]

Quoted:
They also could have been sold by DRMO as surplus, though I am not sure of the body armor demil requirements.


I am almost sure the military destroys old body armor, it is not sold as surplus.
8/2/2007 12:15:42 PM EDT
[#11]
Unserviceable armor is supposed to be destroyed. (emphasis added).


http://www.gao.gov/htext/d06981t.html


What GAO Found:

GAO investigators posing as private citizens purchased several
sensitive military equipment items from DOD’s liquidation sales
contractor, indicating that DOD has not enforced security controls for
preventing sensitive excess military equipment from release to the
public. GAO investigators at liquidation sales purchased ceramic body
armor inserts currently used by deployed troops
....

...
Sensitive Excess Military Items Purchased at DOD Excess Property
Liquidation Sales:

Using a fictitious identity as a private citizen, our undercover
investigator applied for and received an account with DOD's liquidation
sales contractor. Our investigator was then able to purchase several
sensitive excess military items noted above that were being improperly
sold to the public
....

We observed numerous sales of additional excess sensitive military
items that were improperly advertised for sale or sold to the public,
including fire control components for weapon systems, body armor, and
weapon system components. The demilitarization codes for these items
required either key point or total destruction rather than disposal
through public sale.
 Although we placed bids to purchase some of these
items, we lost to higher bidders. We identified at least 79 buyers for
216 public liquidation sales transactions involving 2,669 sensitive
military items. On July 13, 2006, we briefed federal law enforcement
and intelligence officials on the details of our investigation. We are
referring public sales of sensitive military equipment items to the
federal law enforcement agencies for further investigation and recovery
of the sensitive military equipment.


8/2/2007 12:32:41 PM EDT
[#12]
Lets see it says that it is Government property so unless this individual is somehow authorized to sell it by the US Government than I would say that it is illegal.  
8/2/2007 5:05:09 PM EDT
[#13]
Heres our own rules for this site.

http://www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=7&f=90&t=435626

Curt
8/3/2007 4:57:06 PM EDT
[#14]
Body armor is destroyed and not sold a surplus.  There was a recent article on it on one of the major networks, never watched the story but they were complaining about a waste of money or something.

Just because it says US doesn't mean it necessarily ever made it there.  It could always be overrun.  There are quite a few contractors for armor these days.

Just because the buyer states its army issue, well it's Egay so.

Most likely though, it's "missing" or stolen.
8/3/2007 5:08:02 PM EDT
[#15]

Quoted:
Ebay
This person states they are from the US Army. How does that work?


A buddy of mine went to prison for selling body armor that had "fallen off the books" on ebay.

Leave it alone.
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