Oh and as an aside please tell us how (using your photo), a Mustached/Bearded/Pony tailed individual could possibly be in a combat/Military position, which tells me that, using your logic, you have no right to say what will or will not work in a field position.
It was the compliance to a requirement that we disarm the military. IMHO, the US military should remain armed on whatever operation is being conducted in a potentially hostile environment. I've participated on humanitarian Civil Affairs missions where we were armed "just in case". For the people receiving the humanitarian aid, they could care less. The ones who seem to care are the ones who seek to do us harm.
Beggars can't be choosers.... take it or leave it. That's my personal opinion on the matter.
Cheers, CC