An old Soldier’s recommendations for appropriating equipment
Stealing and appropriating for military purposes are vastly different. Asking permission wastes time and is profoundly stupid. ...
Stealing and appropriating for military purposes are vastly
different.
Asking permission wastes time and is profoundly stupid. The answer will always be “no”, your veneer
of innocence stripped away. It is always
risky to include superiors before a heist.
Having them in the plan them covers your ass, but I recommend that as a
last resort.
The justifying logic works like this: Every physical thing in the Military is
government property. Examples of such
equipment includes desks, computers, bulldozers, generators, rifles, helmets,
munitions, belt buckles (you get the picture).
Government property belongs to the American people. Soldiers are American people, so in a very,
very small way all the Army’s stuff belongs to each individual Soldier. It must be taken very good care of and used only
for its intended purposes. Equipment sitting idle is a waste of precious resources.
Accountability is very important in the Military. Officers require service personnel to sign
for the equipment they will use, the socks they are issued, the tools they need
to do their jobs. Proper stewardship
means maintaining and securing government equipment. Those who do not cable their laptops to their
desks, bolt generators to concrete slabs, padlock the doors and steering wheels
of their rolling stock demonstrate an appalling lack of concern for our stuff. Liberating equipment for the greater good is
honorable. Not getting caught is better.
Always plan your defense before you commit your offense. You needed the equipment because… you had to complete your mission as assigned... The art comes from providing the shades of
grey. Did you try to find out whose
equipment it was? Y/N. Did you break
it? Y/N
The Courts Martial will convict quickly if there is any
personal gain involved in the theft/ appropriation. Remember to properly maintain the stolen
property so when you are forced to return it you can simply say, “I’m
sorry.” Asking forgiveness is always
better than asking permission. In the
military, that shows initiative. And
that’s a good thing.
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