Posted on 05/19/2010 1:53:30 PM PDT by Crush
Commanders have reportedly ordered a U.S. military unit in Afghanistan to patrol with unloaded weapons.
Some soldiers are being ordered to conduct patrols without a round chambered in their weapons, The US Report has learned from an anonymous source at a forward operating base in Afghanistan. Our source was unsure if the order came from his unit or if it affected other units.
On war correspondent Michael Yon's Facebook page, commenters stated that this is a common practice in Iraq, while others said that it is occurring in Afghanistan as well. According to military protocol, “Amber” status requires weapons to have a loaded magazine, but the safety on and no round chambered.
"The idea that any combat unit would conduct any operation, including patrolling and even manning a security post -- in which direct action may-or-may not take place -- and not having weapons loaded, borders on being criminally negligent in my opinion," says Lt. Col. W. Thomas Smith Jr., a recognized expert on terrorism and military/national defense issues. "This is nothing more than infusing politically correct restrictions into already overly restrictive rules of engagement. And this PC nonsense is going to get people killed."
According to Smith, "American soldiers are highly skilled in the use of 'loaded' weapons, and so should be trusted to operate with 'loaded' weapons. If someone overseeing decisions on ROE thinks not, then ratchet up training. But don't put a man on the street and force him to go through multiple prompts when a gunfight breaks out. Remember, the situation can go from quiet to kinetic in half the time it takes to breathe."
In an ambush situation, just how long does it take to engage a target when your weapon isn't already loaded?
(Excerpt) Read more at theusreport.com ...
To be fair, let’s have the same rules for cops in Chicago, Detroit, Oakland, San Francisco, Lansing, New Orleans and other cities Democrats run.
Me too
It also means you give yourself away ‘cuz you can’t silently chamber a round.
The enemy will know you are there, just like chambering a round in your Glock or your pump shotgun.
Chambering a round has a VERY distinctive sound.
I would consider that an unlawful order and have to decide to follow it or not.
Time to get a lawyer.
When and where you in Vietnam that you weren’t allowed to have a round in the chamber? Don’t try to tell me you were on patrol in that condition.
The troops simply say F U and do what’s got to be done.
but I do know from persoanl experience we were not allowed to keep a round in the chamber in Viet Nam.
And you ignored it, I hope.
Even after the US Embassy bombings in Africa our troops stood guard at the gates of our military bases in Germany with no ammunition in their weapons.
“In an ambush situation, just how long does it take to engage a target when your weapon isn’t already loaded?”
Ask the Marines on guard in Beirut in 1983. And the guys in the building, or rather their families.
During some hunts even releasing the safety produces enough sound for the animal to notice you. Savage rifles are good in this aspect, but Weatherby - not so much, can't just flick the lever with your thumb; Vanguard, for example, just insists on clicking unless you very slowly guide the safety catch all the way forward.
For example; in 1982 (Reagan Presidency) during the Marcos regime, US marines were sent low crawling across small Philippine islands looking for Islamic insurgency groups that intelligence had lost track of. It is true that those groups were small, but they did have RPGs and automatic weapons. The Marines were only issued 3 rounds apiece and ordered to withdraw if the insurgents were spotted.
So there is a long history of this crap.
I guess the competition is pretty hot for that “courageous restraint” medal. /sarc
Somehow, I'm guessing this rule does not apply to the tiny fraction of troops who actually have to worry about "giving themselves away." Or were you one of those ninjas who pulled all the velcro off his uniform because it wasn't "tactical?"
I sure hope you’re right. This is the same thing that happened in Lebanon with the Marines guarding the barracks in ‘82, and we all know how that ended.
I’m even more apt to believe this crap out of the Army than the Marine Corps, though that might be due to my time in the Clinton-era Army.
I was with the 173rd Airborne. Our original mission was to protect Ton Son Nhut airbase but that was soon expanded to include War Zone D, the delta and in other areas in the sothern portion of Viet Nam.
Some regulation were too stupid to obey. I had a round in my chamber but they would check, usually when they fly hot meals in, someone would be checking weapons. Easy enough to get around.
I don’t know anyone that got in trouble for having a round in the chamber so that tells me the regulation came from someone way away fromt he field.
Three words: Fort Hood massacre. PC stupidity is already getting people killed.
Yes I did.
Well I assume the guy in front of me was also ignoring the regulation as well as the guy behind me.
War is a dangerous business.
Besides being a paratrooper (which has it’s own danger) and an infantryman in a war zone, the fact I had a round in the chamber while on patrol in enemy territory seemed the least dangerous option.
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