Personal Effects for non-Starfleet characters in a Starfleet game (and a Q on disruptors)

Star Trek Adventures
1

Would Personal Effects be used to equip non-Starfleet characters in a Starfleet game?

For example, a Klingon exchange officer might take a Knife/Dagger (or maybe a Blade) and Body Armor to represent traditional Klingon gear or a Cardassian might have Body Armor and…er…something else.

Also, would disruptors just be substituted for phasers on such characters since they cannot be selected with the Talent?

2

Yes, that would be good for that.
Yes, I would just give them disruptors instead. That’s what they did with Garak in the DS9 character pack.