Yep,
I think those spouting forth about kit problems should do a bit of research - or go on Ops. Kit nowadays is very good. You will always get the occassional supply glitch - or should I say more accurately QM glitch, where for whatever reason the kit doesn't get to where it is needed. But on the whole kit has improved massively over the last 20 years. Squaddies get into the press because they tell their parents they have to buy kit, but in fact they feel the need to buy the Gucci kit from some dodgey kit supplier. As an ex Inf trials officer I know that the kit that is being sold is sometimes seconds and usually is not compliant in terms of performance with the tech standards required for personal clothing and equipment. The guy with the Gucci kit may well stand out like the dog b*ollocks on a Taliban night sight (yes they do have them - and they will have more when they cash in their Korean dollars) because his chest webbing isn't IRR to standard - not to mention flame retardant to the required levels etc etc.
IMHO Officers should not permit individuals to wear non-issue kit for these and a multitiude of similar reasons not least of which - duty of care.