Were the Americans/NATO troops armed?
Dan! You know better! You know how REMF policies are!
It was a building under the control of an upper level Air Force headquarters. There is bound to be a big bright red 55 gallon drum full of sand, half buried at an angle, at every entrance. At best, all the USAF instructors had dutifully unloaded their sidearms at the clearing barrels. At worst, the command requires them carry a weapon, but does not authorize the issue of ammunition.