Not a vet but I do have a quick question or 2. How did y’all bring personal knives/daggers into the service? Did they had to be approved or the higher ups really couldn’t care less? And is this allowed? I always wonder about this.
This is still pretty much the standard in my experienceMost units don’t care about personal knives, as long as it’s not some silly fantasy blade.
Sometimes there are restrictions on traveling where they have to be packed away with you gear and not on your person.
I remember on a few flights we carried our 16A2 but were not allowed to carry any knives on the plain.
No one cared. Don't even think it was ever discussed.Not a vet but I do have a quick question or 2. How did y’all bring personal knives/daggers into the service? Did they had to be approved or the higher ups really couldn’t care less? And is this allowed? I always wonder about this.
Not a vet but I do have a quick question or 2. How did y’all bring personal knives/daggers into the service? Did they had to be approved or the higher ups really couldn’t care less? And is this allowed? I always wonder about this.
On my last deployment (2011-2012), there was a notice posted at Camp Marmal from the RC commander (basically 1/4 of the country). Large knives were not allowed to be carried. I have also seen other BCT-level commands dictating no "large, conspicuous" knives were to be carried.No one cared. Don't even think it was ever discussed.
Now that I read this, I seem to remember something to this effect during one of my deployments. I recall some guys on the first chalk headed back to CONUS who had benchmade autos and the like getting some grief from some national guard MP unit when our stuff was being tossed prior to shipping out, and that they were determined to "confiscate" one or more of these knives. This, of course, is a weird situation if it was issued, as that means that someone signed for the knife, and is responsible- technically making it gov't property (even if the unit never had any intention of asking for it back later- to say nothing of the confrontations that were likely to ensue). I was issued one of these things, but I didn't even bring it. I assume most of the auto knives were issued, but some were probably bought out of pocket. Anyway, the COC sent out an email after for anyone on future flights who had an auto to tag it and each company would put all auto knives in their own company ammo can to be placed on the arms room pallet that had all of the heavy weapons on it, and then when we got back to CONUS, go to the company orderly room and get your knife from the ammo can. Personally, I think it was some guys who never left the FOB trying to assert some authority and get some cool knives for themselves. I hadn't thought about this whole stupid incident for years.I did not know that automatic knives had to be approved by the company commander to be brought back. I was sweating bullets. I had just bought this $300 something knife and may not be able to bring it back with me. Even though I had worked directly for the CO/XO my entire deployment, I was worried I would not have gotten his approval for my new purchase. In the end he did.
The level of ridiculous in the military has reached a new level, it seems. Justifying the "importation into the US " of a particular knife from a combat zone based on its placement (or lack thereof) into the convoluted and understood inventory of military equipment and a permission slip from a LTC shows where priorities have gone, as well as the absence of common sense.If you're deployed overseas, you can only bring an automatic knife back if (1) it has an NSN, and (2) you have a memo allowing you to bring the knife back. I believe an O5 or higher's signature is required.
I gifted my Spyderco auto to an incoming O2.
John
That was the OP's first question. Reading this thread, I get the impression that everyone's talking about knives that they carried once they were in service. From what I understand, recruits, when first reporting for basic training, are prohibited from bringing any personal weapons, including knives. I saw a documentary once in which recruits were told to drop all contraband, including guns, knives, and drugs, into a huge waste barrel, and no questions would be asked. That would be their last chance to avoid getting into trouble.How did y’all bring personal knives/daggers into the service?
as defined by OSHA
If you're deployed overseas, you can only bring an automatic knife back if (1) it has an NSN, and (2) you have a memo allowing you to bring the knife back. I believe an O5 or higher's signature is required.
I gifted my Spyderco auto to an incoming O2.
That was the OP's first question. Reading this thread, I get the impression that everyone's talking about knives that they carried once they were in service. From what I understand, recruits, when first reporting for basic training, are prohibited from bringing any personal weapons, including knives. I saw a documentary once in which recruits were told to drop all contraband, including guns, knives, and drugs, into a huge waste barrel, and no questions would be asked. That would be their last chance to avoid getting into trouble.
Oh my, I remember that orange handled switchblade survival knife and the card authorizing it. It was carried in a dedicated pocket on the flight suit. One blade was a hook like thing made just for cutting risers on your chute.