When 20 round mags were all that was available, prior to the 30 round mags issued, 3 x 18 rounds of ball , 54 rounds total was issued to USAF Security Police AFSC 811XO.......
When 30 round mags were issued 4x30 rounds, 120 total were issued. Same AFSC 811X0.
They guarded the nukes, alert priority A resources etc....
A round of ammo cost 7 cents at that time , the bureaucracy, associated manpower, paperwork, process etc ran around 100$ per lost round to take 7 cents from the SP Ramp Rat’s pay.
USAF Security Forces today an back when they were just Security Police are / were NEVER issued just 5 rounds.
Just what I observed as a EOD Tech (AFSC 464X0) for my 26 year career in the USAF.
Stay Safe !
Transported a 155mm nuke to Nevada by helo. Two guys with .45s ten rounds between them. Nuts.
When I was on guard duty in the sandbox in 2009, we were issued M9s with 2x15 and M16s with 4x30. Every round was counted on issue and return.