US military personnel are not allowed to carry personal firearms. Not in this day and age. (I know I wasn't.) Besides the political incorrectness of it, there are many practical reasons - logistical, training, and support - that argue against it. Also, a semi-auto AUG in the US is about $3,500.00 - when you can find one. If you're an E-5, would you risk that kind of personal cash when your Uncle will loan you an M-16A4 and some nifty optics? Me either. I do know some SF types, and they sometimes get to choose their weapon (from the SF armory) for certian missions. (Also, several chopper pilots I knew carried their own sidearm, but I don't think it was official policy)

Second - I also saw several images of a US soldier with an AUG. They were from the REUTERS website, I believe, and were taken during the clearing of Uday's palace - he was rather fond of gun collecting. One shows a trooper with the weapon up and ready, looking thru the sight, and another of a soldier with an AUG at sling arms. (he also had his M-4 in the same position). According to the captions, all of Uday's collection was truned in and "taken away" by the Army. Whatever that means. Oh, yes: the AUGs at Uday's - they were identified as "Austrian Assault Rifles" in news reports - were in crates indicating that they were originally sold to the Jordanian Army (according to the reports I saw).

Hope this helps,

.....CLIFF

P.S. Just to keep this screed on topic: a small bottle of iodine water purification tablets will fit rather nicely in the cleaning kit well in the stock of an AUG.......... <img src="images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />