That was satire. When the US Miltiary gives something to a soldier/airman that they want back (like a rifle, tank, tent, etc.) they make you sign a hand receipt for it to prove you received it. Stuff they don't back (food, ammo, clothing) they just give you.
When I outprocessed from the USAF, they took back all of my flight gear including the Nomex underwear I wore under my flight suit. I asked if they were going to reissue it to someone else. The reply was, “No, we destroy it with scissors. But we have to account for it.” Like I was going to sell my used fire-proof undies to the Chinese?
Oh.