I do not think this is new. It is insane - but it is not new.
The guards at our Marine barracks in Beruit in 1983 were similarly unarmed and unready to defend the building and its occupants.
My son is going into the service. I’m going to tell him he had better seek off base housing so he can be armed when on his own time. He is trained and practiced in handling all kinds of firearms - handguns (both revolver and pistol), rifles (lever, bolt, AR-style), and pump shotguns. I’d rather he rely on his own skills than the chance appearance of security forces...