I went to Ft. Knox for basic in 1960, and no one had ammunition.
I served 8 year in the Md. National Guard and no one had ammunition—at least not officially.
As far as I know it has always been the policy of the military not to issue ammunition unless it’s considered needed.
This was always done to prevent accidental discharges. People back then could not conceive of soldiers just going on mass shooting sprees. Times are different now. The military should lift its restrictions on concealed carry and personal guns on base.
I know guys who served in the USAF in SAC in the 60’s, and they assure me that their weapons were loaded on base. All of them, all the time.
And anyone who tried to bully or ram their way onto a SAC base was to be shot dead, no questions or hesitation allowed. Anyone who was already on-base, in uniform, who approached the “dead line” surrounding the B-52’s and B-58’s on the flight line who was alone would probably have been shot as well. They told me they took base security very seriously, and signs were posted as to the lethality of their standing orders.
When I was on guard duty in Germany we carried 90 rounds.
That was in 1960.
BS