Much longer than that. I think Americans have this skewed view of how firearms are stored and used on military installations. The "From Here To Eternity" days of rifle racks in open bay barracks and ammo in the supply room is long gone.
Every unit that has weapons assigned to it has an arms room that has strictly controlled access. Ammunition is drawn from an ammunition supply point located on the installation that is usually not conducive to ready access. Ammunition draws for training are planned and coordinated months in advance, for example. Small amounts of ammunition may be stored in a unit's arms room for specific missions (ie...guard duty) and is strictly controlled.
I'm not saying it is the right way to operate under the current environment, and I think some common sense changes on those procedures are long overdue, but that is the reality. It's been this way for as long as I can remember.
I suspect it will go the other way, however. Stricter control over our military via some expansion of DHS on military installations to "protect" them from themselves. Just another way to diminish the effectiveness of our military and expand the police state. Never let a good crisis go to waste.
Thx for the explanation