I have carried a 19" kukri in the field, but I was a mortarman in WA at the time, and I got permission from my E5 to carry the kuk instead of the SOP e-tool, and in lieu of the machete that was in inventory.
(For folks who haven't been to Washington, in many places the foliage grows very tall and thick, and mortar crews may have to cut lanes to see their aiming stakes. The kukri was about the same weight as our machete, but more compact.)
I would not have carried a kukri in Afghanistan. A modern US service member carries far too much gear for a large knife to make any sense when in an environment without dense foliage.
(For folks who haven't been to Washington, in many places the foliage grows very tall and thick, and mortar crews may have to cut lanes to see their aiming stakes. The kukri was about the same weight as our machete, but more compact.)
I would not have carried a kukri in Afghanistan. A modern US service member carries far too much gear for a large knife to make any sense when in an environment without dense foliage.