Posted on 05/19/2010 1:53:30 PM PDT by Crush
Commanders have reportedly ordered a U.S. military unit in Afghanistan to patrol with unloaded weapons.
Some soldiers are being ordered to conduct patrols without a round chambered in their weapons, The US Report has learned from an anonymous source at a forward operating base in Afghanistan. Our source was unsure if the order came from his unit or if it affected other units.
On war correspondent Michael Yon's Facebook page, commenters stated that this is a common practice in Iraq, while others said that it is occurring in Afghanistan as well. According to military protocol, “Amber” status requires weapons to have a loaded magazine, but the safety on and no round chambered.
"The idea that any combat unit would conduct any operation, including patrolling and even manning a security post -- in which direct action may-or-may not take place -- and not having weapons loaded, borders on being criminally negligent in my opinion," says Lt. Col. W. Thomas Smith Jr., a recognized expert on terrorism and military/national defense issues. "This is nothing more than infusing politically correct restrictions into already overly restrictive rules of engagement. And this PC nonsense is going to get people killed."
According to Smith, "American soldiers are highly skilled in the use of 'loaded' weapons, and so should be trusted to operate with 'loaded' weapons. If someone overseeing decisions on ROE thinks not, then ratchet up training. But don't put a man on the street and force him to go through multiple prompts when a gunfight breaks out. Remember, the situation can go from quiet to kinetic in half the time it takes to breathe."
In an ambush situation, just how long does it take to engage a target when your weapon isn't already loaded?
(Excerpt) Read more at theusreport.com ...
I spent three solid months in the bush on one op.
During that time, my M14 was locked and loaded, safety on, my 1911 .45 was locked and loaded, safety on.
I don't know about all of my buddies, but I suspect they did the absolute same.
Flipping the safety on an M14 was silent and the reason it was carried on safe was because of the design of it. It could be manipulated either way by wait-a-minute vines and even equipment on my TA-50.
Keeping it on safe was a mind-thing, it was something I did that I knew I had to do to fire.
I know that sounds funny, but on or off safe, my fingers touched it and operated so smoothly, I knew no other way. If you are familiar with the M-14, you will know what I mean.
As for the 1911, it was so worn that if off safe with hammer back, it only had to be breathed on to fire.
It was a noise maker, for all practical purposes, put together by the unit armorer from pieces of other .45's.
A Remington receiver (the typewriter company, not the gun maker), a Colt slide, God knows what else.
But, I digress.
Long story short:
The powers that be could not and did not even try, to dictate a standard carry method.
The only time I had a problem was in the Naval NCO Club in Danang, from some REMF that got all ballistic over the .38 Colt I had in a shoulder holster.
He simply could not believe I had rounds in the weapon and was in his club.
Never got far enough south to test the waters, so to speak, but did fly into Tan Son Nhut, once on a security mission.
We were bussed from there to Plantation, to the VIP escort helicopter company and bussed back.
Nobody said doo-doo to us, and I suspect it was because we looked like porcupines, we had so many weapons barrels sticking out from us.
I'd tell you what we were up to, except I'd have to kill you then.
Ahhh...the memories!
I pray to God that this is false. To be fair - the Secret Service men protecting the Resident, and every other government official are to work under the same ROI. Period, or the blood of our soldiers is on their hands.
Sorry, that’s RoE. Very upset mother of a sworn-in but waiting for boot camp soldier.
You’re right!
You have to understand, in todays military troops may be called upon to give their lives for any of a dozen national priorities - defending themselves may not be the most important.
The troops are disobeying this order, but it is NOT BS. This is McChrystal. The same McChrystal who tried to order them to patrol without body armor.
This has to stop right now.
>>”Sounds like Viet Nam all over again!”
Aint that the truth! One night, they got some intel that VC sappers coming to blow up some helicopters, so they had about half of the crews walking guard between the revetments. Instead of the usual M16s, (they were afraid we would shoot up the helicopters!) we were issued 12 guage pump riot guns.
They were still afraid of damage, so, although we were issued ammunition, we were not allowed to LOAD any rounds unless we saw the actual sappers. The sappers didn’t show, but I kept imagining that I could hear them laughing, in the distance.
DG
The troops are disobeying this order, but it is NOT BS. This is McChrystal. The same McChrystal who tried to order them to patrol without body armor.
The General needs to get his ass out in the field and walk “point”.
Not in this life.
But he DID go to one of these insane villages to “investigate” so-called civilian casualties and while he was there, surrounded by guys with weapons, he did strip off his own vest for a photo op. I am telling you the man is crazy and belongs in a rubber room, NOT in command of a single troop.
Agree. It might be some egghead’s policy, but reality is units cannot function without immediate weapons hot. Don’t ask don’t tell, wink wink, nudge nudge. And if it isn’t happening on a unit basis, you can bet that individuals are chambering rounds as trained. This is such ridiculous ROE.
The ONLY reason Obama keeps our troops in Afghanistan is to get them killed. Troops tend to be conservative votes.
And I bet they have a big ol’ target strapped to their backs.
And why are we reporting this? Can’t be true.
This post may be a bit off-topic, but it is related. I was at the airport several years ago (after 9/11), and the National Guardsmen were on patrol, and I noticed they were issued Beretta 92FS sidearms and they were attached to what looked like a chain, or some kind of metallic cable/cord. I thought maybe it was so that the weapon could not be stolen/grabbed from the holster, but does anyone know what exactly the cable/cord does?
I am really tired of this shit. Gotta give the enemy months of warnings before you attack his positions. Can’t carry a round in the chamber of your weapon while you are on patrol. Get a medal for showing restraint in combat (used to call that cowardice). Time to fire the commander in chief and fire some generals.
When a society doesn’t value life, put a fork in it. Is this McCrystal as opposed to Petraeus or the Pentagon? This is worse than using restraint. This is sitting duck time.
L
This is the most outrageous stuff I have ever heard.
I have a nephew in training with the Marines .. and I can’t even fathom him being asked to go on patrol w/o ammunition .. this has to be somebody’s idea of a cruel joke.
The muslim usurper wants American troops killed and the troops and America humiliated.
The Joint Chiefs are cowards.
I hear you my FRiend.
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