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Some US troops in Afghanistan patrol with unloaded weapons
The US Report ^ | 19 May 2010 | Chris Carter

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 ...


TOPICS: Breaking News; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: afghanistan; bhoafghanistan; obama; roe; treason; wot
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To: rrrod

The article references Beirut. Reagan was president when that happened.


61 posted on 05/19/2010 3:11:41 PM PDT by LouAvul
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To: em2vn

I was in Viet Nam between 1965-1966. It was common to go out on 20 to 30 day patrols with about a week in between to rest, clean up and go out again.


62 posted on 05/19/2010 3:13:20 PM PDT by CIB-173RDABN
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To: Crush

“Die First, Shoot Later” Policy.


63 posted on 05/19/2010 3:14:17 PM PDT by Uncle Miltie (0bummer calls opponents "Teabaggers". So we can call Kagan "Carpet Muncher." Right?)
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To: Crush
At least the guards at Abu Ghraib, after that scandal, were issued rubber bullets.
64 posted on 05/19/2010 3:16:04 PM PDT by TomGuy
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To: fr_freak
Agreed. If this is true I think it has more to do with the Army trying to prevent its favorite hobgoblin Negligent Discharges rather than some PC conspiracy
65 posted on 05/19/2010 3:16:24 PM PDT by chargers fan
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To: Caesar Soze

Couple points:

(1) this rule supposedly/reportedly was for troops ON PATROL. So yeah, it applied to the “tiny fraction of troop who actually have to worry about “giving themselves away.””

(2) I was never a “ninja” nor a mall ninja or any other “tactical” form you might label derisively. Nor was I a REMF. Lighten up, Francis.

(3) Can you silently chamber a round? Can a solider on patrol do so? THAT was my point. What’s yours? Just askin’.


66 posted on 05/19/2010 3:17:38 PM PDT by Blueflag (Res ipsa loquitur)
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To: CIB-173RDABN

So did I.

Only a REMF would comply with something so stupid.


67 posted on 05/19/2010 3:21:19 PM PDT by unkus
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To: bamahead

You’re absolutely right - I didn’t even notice that when I was reading the article. If this description of “Amber” status is accurate, then whoever wrote it has probably never fired a rifle. Which isn’t surprising....


68 posted on 05/19/2010 3:27:34 PM PDT by The Pack Knight (Duty, Honor, Country)
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To: unkus

Another dumb things from that time. I was in Viet Nam early, before anyone really knew what was going on.

My first months on patrol I was wearing my stateside fatigues, with white name plate, gold US ARMY, white jump wings, and a color sholder sleeve insignia. I can not believe how naive we were back then.

The jungle fatigues were eventually issued to us. One each.

We wore it until “A” it fell off us, or “B” the engineers set up a shower and we got issued another one. Over time things got better.


69 posted on 05/19/2010 3:30:59 PM PDT by CIB-173RDABN
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To: CIB-173RDABN

Welcome Home, brother.


70 posted on 05/19/2010 3:44:02 PM PDT by unkus
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To: Crush

Absolutely unforgivable that they are not allowed to carry their weapons loaded in a WAR ZONE!!!

What are these leaders, INSANE or what? Frankly, it’s unbelievable to me that they would order this, and to find out it is supposedly common in both Iraq and Afghanistan is heart-breaking... I would not want one of my daughters out there without a “live” weapon to defend themselves against the crazed Taliban (and/or Al Qaeda members).

God bless and protect our brave men and women in uniform.


71 posted on 05/19/2010 3:44:50 PM PDT by LibertyRocks (http://libertyrocks.wordpress.com ~ Anti-Obama Gear: http://cafepress.com/NO_ObamaBiden08)
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To: Crush

Does this mean a full magazine but not locked and loaded? I.e. no round in the chamber. It doesn’t take much to chamber a round, but it’s a lot quicker to flip the safety.

If I was patroling in bad-guy land, I don’t care who tells me otherwise, I would be locked and loaded and the safety off. And if my finger goes to the trigger, it’s because I’m about to shoot. I hope this is the attitude and the personal SOP of the troops in Iraq and Afganistan. Damn the ROE!


72 posted on 05/19/2010 3:47:58 PM PDT by downtownconservative
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To: unkus

Tell that the USMC sentry at the Lebanon barracks circa 1984. They too were ordered to have no live rounds in their rifles. Lot good that did.

“Similarly, sentries directly facing the airport were ordered to carry their ammunition on their belts — not in their rifles — to avoid an accidental shooting.”


73 posted on 05/19/2010 3:59:47 PM PDT by WaterBoard
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To: unkus

It has been close to 50 years...where have the years gone?

When I was stationed at Fort Campbell the Patton Museum had a Sergent Major that made jumps during WWII in charge. It had only been 20 years prior, and I thought he was old. (Of course to a 17 year old, anyone past 30 was “old”) I wish I would have spent more time talking to him.

I guess I am like those WWI veterans that made up the VFW when I got out. They are all gone now, and we, the Viet Nam era veterans are on our way out.

Bummer, now I really feel old.


74 posted on 05/19/2010 4:07:00 PM PDT by CIB-173RDABN
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To: Crush

No ammo allowed???? BRING THEM HOME NOW!!


75 posted on 05/19/2010 4:14:11 PM PDT by Kimberly GG ("Path to Citizenship" Amnesty candidates will NOT get my vote!)
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To: bamahead
Correct me if I'm wrong, but you can't even engage the safety on an M-16 until the firing pin is locked in the firing position, can you? That's how my AR works.

I think you meant the hammer; the firing pin is free-floating. In order to engage the safety, just pull and release the charge handle without a mag in place.

76 posted on 05/19/2010 4:15:37 PM PDT by 50cal Smokepole (Effective gun control involves effective recoil management)
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To: Crush

Bring the troops home. TODAY.


77 posted on 05/19/2010 4:16:43 PM PDT by afnamvet (Patriots Rising)
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To: Crush
ya gotta be kiddin me...
78 posted on 05/19/2010 4:21:32 PM PDT by Chode (American Hedonist *DTOM* -ww- NO Pity for the LAZY)
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To: Nightshift

gnip


79 posted on 05/19/2010 4:22:04 PM PDT by tutstar (Baptist Ping List-freepmail me to be included or removed. <{{{><)
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To: Crush

I spent about 50 nights on Perimeter guard duty in Vietnam. The SOP was not to load the weapons until we were being hit.
First thing I would do after getting to the bunker was to load the M60 Machine Gun, then my M-16 and set up some granades where I could reach them. I was never checked.


80 posted on 05/19/2010 4:23:09 PM PDT by Ecliptic
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