Terminal Lance “War is a Racket”

The CIF issuing at the beginning of your Marine Corps career is one of the most ubiquitously dubious rackets that is part of the military experience. When you arrive at any new command, you have to get “kitted” out, which means the government gives you a whole ton of equipment that is standard issue.

“Give” is a tricky word though. Most of the gear is a lease, and you will have to give it back before you leave. However, some of it is “consumable,” which means they expect it to be destroyed in the normal course of Marine Corps life in the field and abroad. Of course, who expects a Lance Corporal to keep accurate track of small, losable items over the course of 3-4 years? CIF, apparently.

There is always at least one or two things that everyone either forgets or loses. After all, everyone arranges their gear differently, and you don’t always need to use everything you’re given. While you can try to just plant it at the bottom of your seabag and hope it never moves over the next few years, the daily military life of hustle and bustle, moving rooms and racks constantly, will often see certain items vanish into the aether.

Check any of the “military surplus” stores conveniently located around any major base and find an assortment of lost (stolen) CIF issued items happily for sale at a “surplus.”