[DoSomethingAboutIt]

You are right. There may be different rules for special forces, but there is no way this is applying to regular troops. Soldiers here have been told not only can they not carry their own weapons, they cannot carry any knife longer than 3 inches, or even take a non-issued baton to deal with POW's. You are searched prior to coming back for anything that was not issued to you weapon wise. I am told people were not allowed to even bring back jars of sand from the first Desert Storm. There are being told they will be court martialed if they have a weapon they weren't issued.

Like I said, special forces could very well be different and earlier wars may have been different, but as of Desert Storm I noone is bringing their own stuff.

[B4Ranch]

there is no way this is applying to regular troops.

About the only reason I can think of would be that 'just possibly' they are afraid of troops committing murder on foreign citizens. My company commander had no problem whatsoever with my Chief Special. The only thing he told me was to never wear it openly and use the sholder holster under my shirt. I did everyday of the week.