Can soldiers bring their own sidearms with them to Iraq?

Question

I watched band of brothers (good series btw), and one of the characters brought a police .38 revolver with him that was given to him as a gift (he still carried a 1911 too). One of my questions is, can soldiers still do things like that today where they bring their own weapons to a warzone?

My second question is, is that my driver instructor that's also in the marines says that he uses a HK P2000SK pistol. I'm pretty sure that he's a Bradley crewmember. He's shipped out to Iraq now, so I can't ask him if he was issued it, or if it's his own personal weapon. What do you think on this? Do you think the marines are issuing a new pistol, or did he just get it himself? thoughts?

thanks

Answer 1

No

Answer 2

No you cannot - it is against regulations and you can be prosecuted for it.

Answer 3

My husband has been both a marine and a soldier. Back in the day you could carry and bring back weapons and other items but no longer. You are not allowed to bring back any items considered trophies of war. Because the army uses commercial airlines for over seas travel all the bags are checked and they all go through security just the same as regular passengers. Sorry I don't know what guns are issued to whom.

Answer 4

band of brothers is good but you can`t anymore only what you are assigned you used to be able to take apart your gun and put it in a locked box with no ammo and the gun couldn`t be a carry-on but now you can`t bring a gun on the plane at all

Answer 5

In "Band of Brothers" the revolver was shipped to England from the Kokomo (Indiana) Police Department for one of their home town boy going to war.  Differnt war, Differnt time.

I have heard of cheap 9mm handguns being bought up before National Guard Deployments for "Iraqi Freedom".  The idea was to either leave them behind or sell them to the next group coming in.  I know of no one accually doing this though.  

Answer 6

Personal firearms would be considered contraband.  If a soldier has able to bring their own sidearm with them on deployment, they will have it seized when they go through the customs inspection upon redeployment back to the United States.