One of the largest concerns with firearms on a military installation is suicides. Dormitory residents, especially dormitory residents at training bases (or dorming for training classes at regular bases) have a higher incidence rate than others.
The installation commander needs latitude for rules in certain scenarios.
It's one thing at an operations base were everyone is a regular assigned to a unit versus unknown trainees, especially the first time away from home and struggling with personal issues.
Given those statistics (Which I agree with), the installation commander would be justified in restricting trainees.
For the most part that is handled by current law because CHLs and handgun possession for under 21 is pretty much a no go (I know-there are exceptions)
You’re also right in that the commander needs lattitude based on circumstances.
But, experience shows that they have no ability to use that level of abstract thought and deductive reasoning. They prefer the blanket all or nothing approach.
It has been pounded into them by institutional peer pressure that “Guns are bad” and they react like good little amoebas to that stimulus.
Secretary Hegseth needs to make smarter commanders. I think he’s on the rightpath, but its gonna take some time and “Directive Improvement”
When I was in basic, one trainee in my company attempted suicide by jumping off the second floor balcony with a thin rope around his neck. The rope broke and he was unsuccessful. He was a pudgy, out of shape blob that should never have been drafted anyway.