Posted on 04/19/2008 10:57:36 AM PDT by kiriath_jearim
Ohio State University's ROTC cadets have ended the decades-long practice of combat training with mock rifles on the main campus because of public edginess in the wake of the Virginia Tech shootings, officials said.
Since the decision was made a couple of weeks ago, tactical training with rubber replicas of an M-16 rifle has been moved indoors, or cadets have trained without rifles, said Navy Capt. Steven Noce, who heads the university's ROTC program.
The tactical training, typically conducted around the ROTC building near Ohio Stadium, has generated a few calls to police from concerned people in the past year, Noce said. A year ago this week, a gunman at Virginia Tech killed 32 people.
"We just don't want any more public concern, and we're just trying to figure out a better way to do business," Noce said, noting that OSU had not asked for the change.
Officials initially responded to concerns by changing the mock rifles -- which the ROTC calls "rubber ducks" -- from black to blue, and they might eventually be made orange, Noce said. The blue ones were still too realistic in certain light, he said.
"It scared people because they didn't quite understand what (the cadets) were doing," Noce said. "They look like a real rifle. When you see these rifles, you think they're the real deal."
Although the mock guns have been eliminated from outdoor tactical training, which simulates combat situations, the ROTC will drill with the guns on campus, officials said.
"Those kids have been drilling with those things for decades," said Charles Smith, a political-science academic adviser who heard about the decision from an ROTC student he knows. "They were making them point their fingers, and apparently one picked up a stick."
Because the ROTC students train in battle-dress uniforms, "it's real obvious who these people are," Smith said.
ROTC cadet Andrew Roush, 22, said he has seen double takes when he's carrying the rubber duck, but he doesn't think the mock guns have ever caused a panic.
"They'll give that look over their shoulder that they noticed you," said Roush, a criminology major from Urbana. "I've never seen anybody alarmed.
"They're an important tool. I think they enhance the training, but without them, the training can still go on."
A lot of the people who come onto campus aren't students and have no idea what ROTC is, said cadet Robin Tullercash, 25, of New Hampshire.
"If people feel unsafe, then we should do everything in our power to make them feel safe," said Tullercash, a language major studying Arabic who plans a career in military intelligence. "Seeing a bunch of people with weapons, I can understand that they'd be scared."
OSU Police Chief Paul Denton said none of the public concerns over the training had been brought to his attention, but those concerns didn't surprise him: Sometimes the training for his officers generates calls asking what's going on, he said.
The program will decide in the next few weeks where the on-campus, outdoor training should be held, Noce said. One option is to solely use university agricultural land west of Rt. 315 and north of Lane Avenue.
Training to defend your stupid ass, maybe? What idiots.
Maybe they need to put up warning signs that say “CAUTION-toy guns being displayed by promising young men and women who may someday lay down their lives to protect the fantasy bubble you hope to live out the rest of your meaningless, self-centered lives in.”
This same sort of politically correct silliness 40 years ago prompted me to quit Army ROTC and join the Marine Corps.
Oh, so now terrorists are going around with rubber rifles and ROTC uniforms. I guess that’ll make them stand out, make it easier to spot.
/s/off
I do believe that the police should take every single complaining ninnie down to the ROTC training grounds and SHOW THEM WHAT THE CADETS ARE DOING TO PROTECT THEIR DUMB BUTTS!!!
Sorry about the shouting but it makes me so damned mad that a few stupid people can screw it up for the rest of us.
noted: good tag.
I hear the Army plans to ban rifles from basic training as the weapons have the potential to scare recruits. All weapons training - or any mention of weapons at all is to be delayed until AIT.
The pussification of America continues apace, with “schools” leading the way, as always.
I hope the ROTC don’t use their fingers and pretend to shoot. We had a few 6 year olds get suspended for that.
You want to really shout? Princeton University won't allow the POLICE, not rent a cops, to carry guns on campus. The university feels it makes the officers too unapproachable to the students.
When I read this, I thought the entire article was a joke..
Sadly, it doesn't appear to be..
Better yet: Any student that complains about the ROTC drills has now volunteered for four years of ROTC, followed by at least one tour in a war zone! LOL
And under that, in very small letters, the following disclaimer:
"Note: There may be real bad guys carrying real guns here, but we can't and won't do anything to stop them, or allow you to defend yourself.
"We are committed to you feeling safe on our campus."
Pussification of America continues apace.
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