A few basic background facts:
Only authorized or permitted folks can enter a base/post in general. Active/Reserve/guard on duty, retirees, veterans using facilities etc. The average non-affiliated citizen cannot just drive on to a base with impunity.
DOD Regulations, along with subordinate service regs, prohibit the carry of arms by pretty anyone not on LE duty, military or civilian. Including LEOSA qualified folks.
Current DOD policy is that all private arms ( bows and arrows and even yes, air guns) need to be registered with the base/post Provost/MA.
Personnel who reside on post/base may kept weapons in their quarters but not in transient barrack/BOQ/VOQ etc.
Mil Personnel who reside off post may register ( if they wish to bring weapons on post).
Retirees and other privileged veterans cannot bring weapons on post unless they are registered, and then only to hunt or shoot at authorized event/ranges.
Concealed or open carry by anyone other than authorized DOD/civ LE officers/agents is prohibited.
So, basically only LEOs either on duty on a base or civ LEOS with a reason to be on post/base may be armed.
Here is what I think is a reasonable response to this abstract prohibition:
Concealed carry licensed authorized personnel ought to be able to declare their status when entering and go about their authorized business/patronage on post.
Commanders ought to be encouraged to permit ( DOD 214 I believe) their officers and NCOs who OBTAIN CCW permits from a state 9any will do) and authorize them to carry privately owned arms that those personnel qualify with annually as per LEOSA rules.
The reason I suggest CCW licenses etc is because while military personnel are often decent marksman, they may be lacking in understanding of the rules of engagement regarding lawful self defense. Vetting personnel via a states CCW process is a reliable way ( it works for the states) to assure that only interested, dedicated servicemen will go the distance to be proficient not only at arms, but at the lawful application of self defense.
Here’s the problem with your proposal:
I was the Weapons Officer on a CG in Mayport, responsible for everything on the ship that went ‘boom’, from Tomahawk cruise missiles to M-60’s to 50 cals to SM-2 SAM’s to torpedoes.
The ‘Base Commander’ was not my Commanding Officer.
In order to get to my ship, I had to transit through the base.
I have a CCW permit from my State - it’s called my driver’s license. I’m from Vermont. Anybody age 16 and older can carry concealed in Vermont; if one is younger, then that person has to have a permission slip from Mom/Dad.
Even on base, a commissioned warship is sovereign territory and the Commanding Officer (or his designated representative) can prevent ANY person from boarding the ship - including base police, sheriffs, local police, etc.
I was responsible for training our ship’s security forces for deployment - but I wasn’t allowed to carry a weapon between the gate and my ship - legally. Made no sense then, and it makes no sense now. Too many ‘risk-averse’ perfumed princes all believing they’re still on track for O-7.
State CCW means nothing to the military and it shouldn’t. The UCMJ allows the military to authorize their members to carry and the civilians have no say so. Military training also dwarfs civilian carry training, so I wouldn’t rely on that being of any value either.