At what point during the Roman empire were members of the Army supplied with weapons that they themselves did not have to already own?

by GuyarV

AFAIK, in the beginning of Rome, to be in the army, one would have to already have owned equipment needed for war.

mp96

This has been answered a few times before in different ways. The short answer to your question is: during the consulship of Gaius Marius in 107 BCE. Longer versions can be found here or here, depending on what kind of answer you are looking for.