Posted: 4/12/2007 7:05:50 AM EDT
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Brothers in Arms, I need some advice. I have taken a gamble and brought some items to Iraq, and now that I am sure that I can take them home, I want to think of the best way to document or prove that they actually came here. Let me explain. I am deployed with a BlackHawk unit as a Door Gunner. I was told from the onset that I would not be getting an M4 but only an A2 and an M9.(This was later not the case) Wanting an M4 I decided to bring my own upper, stock, and even optics. I have my BM 14.5 M4 upper, KAC rails & forward pistol grip, M3 light, and ACOG NSN. I also have my own 6 pos stock. All installed on an issued M16A2 lower. I got an Aimpoint issued and since my ACOG was taking a beating in the Balckhawk, I decided to switch to the Aimpoint, but still carry the rest of my stuff. Besides just taking photos, how else can I prove that I have my own stuff here and that way be able to asseble it at home to pass own to my Son one day? Thanks for any ideas |
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We had absolutely no problems taking VFG and BUIS home through Customs. We had guys with EOtech's that didnt have problems at all either. Right before we left (Oct 31) the mailroom instituted policies that say you CANNOT bring anything weapon related home at all. They flat out would not let me send my VFG/BUIS home and the policy had been put into effect that morning. The guy said had I came in a few hours earlier, he could let me slide. So you might as well forget about sending it early through the mail. As well as I'm pretty sure you cant send the upper through the mail anyway. In Customs, they'll go through "most" of your stuff. If you talk to the person and are friendly and keep them occupied while searching, they'll skip over most stuff. I had a fairly cute girl so I was flirting with her the whole time. When I went on leave, this one woman looked through maybe 40% of my gear I took home. One way you can send it home is when your unit leaves, your Armorer/Supply Guy will send a connex home thats locked up. Get with him before you leave to put your stuff in a box and mark your name on it. This is one way I got my HK mags here. Of course, had I know they wouldnt freak out at Customs, I would have just put them in my fuckin bag. 
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customs inspectors and units are highly variable on what they will do -I lost a trijicon optic I loaned to a friend because when he went thru customs on the way home they said because it had an NSN on it and he could not prove it was his and not the army's they took it away. the two best optins are as follows: obtain a recipit showing you purchased the items commercially. If you do not have one see if a friend who has a business can make up a dummy recipit to cover the items you plan on bringing home. second have a higher ranking member of your unit sign a letter listing all the items in your possession that are weapon related indicating they are personal property. either or both of these will definitely get your stuff home |
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Most of the small stuff is no issue, just no uppers, etc. Give it to the armorer and collect it when you get back. Honestly though, you can put a lot of stuff in the platoon connex, and not have to worry about it. They are more concerned with things that go boom, or bang. If you take it in your personal gear, it will probably get snatched when you go thru customs inspection before leaving country. I put my own optic on my M4, then turned it in. The armore put the issued ACOG in with all the spares the unit had. So it was no drama. Hope this helped. PG |