ya gotta be kiddin me...
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 ...
The article references Beirut. Reagan was president when that happened.
I was in Viet Nam between 1965-1966. It was common to go out on 20 to 30 day patrols with about a week in between to rest, clean up and go out again.
“Die First, Shoot Later” Policy.
Couple points:
(1) this rule supposedly/reportedly was for troops ON PATROL. So yeah, it applied to the “tiny fraction of troop who actually have to worry about “giving themselves away.””
(2) I was never a “ninja” nor a mall ninja or any other “tactical” form you might label derisively. Nor was I a REMF. Lighten up, Francis.
(3) Can you silently chamber a round? Can a solider on patrol do so? THAT was my point. What’s yours? Just askin’.
So did I.
Only a REMF would comply with something so stupid.
You’re absolutely right - I didn’t even notice that when I was reading the article. If this description of “Amber” status is accurate, then whoever wrote it has probably never fired a rifle. Which isn’t surprising....
Another dumb things from that time. I was in Viet Nam early, before anyone really knew what was going on.
My first months on patrol I was wearing my stateside fatigues, with white name plate, gold US ARMY, white jump wings, and a color sholder sleeve insignia. I can not believe how naive we were back then.
The jungle fatigues were eventually issued to us. One each.
We wore it until “A” it fell off us, or “B” the engineers set up a shower and we got issued another one. Over time things got better.
Welcome Home, brother.
Absolutely unforgivable that they are not allowed to carry their weapons loaded in a WAR ZONE!!!
What are these leaders, INSANE or what? Frankly, it’s unbelievable to me that they would order this, and to find out it is supposedly common in both Iraq and Afghanistan is heart-breaking... I would not want one of my daughters out there without a “live” weapon to defend themselves against the crazed Taliban (and/or Al Qaeda members).
God bless and protect our brave men and women in uniform.
Does this mean a full magazine but not locked and loaded? I.e. no round in the chamber. It doesn’t take much to chamber a round, but it’s a lot quicker to flip the safety.
If I was patroling in bad-guy land, I don’t care who tells me otherwise, I would be locked and loaded and the safety off. And if my finger goes to the trigger, it’s because I’m about to shoot. I hope this is the attitude and the personal SOP of the troops in Iraq and Afganistan. Damn the ROE!
Tell that the USMC sentry at the Lebanon barracks circa 1984. They too were ordered to have no live rounds in their rifles. Lot good that did.
“Similarly, sentries directly facing the airport were ordered to carry their ammunition on their belts — not in their rifles — to avoid an accidental shooting.”
It has been close to 50 years...where have the years gone?
When I was stationed at Fort Campbell the Patton Museum had a Sergent Major that made jumps during WWII in charge. It had only been 20 years prior, and I thought he was old. (Of course to a 17 year old, anyone past 30 was “old”) I wish I would have spent more time talking to him.
I guess I am like those WWI veterans that made up the VFW when I got out. They are all gone now, and we, the Viet Nam era veterans are on our way out.
Bummer, now I really feel old.
No ammo allowed???? BRING THEM HOME NOW!!
I think you meant the hammer; the firing pin is free-floating. In order to engage the safety, just pull and release the charge handle without a mag in place.
Bring the troops home. TODAY.
ya gotta be kiddin me...
gnip
I spent about 50 nights on Perimeter guard duty in Vietnam. The SOP was not to load the weapons until we were being hit.
First thing I would do after getting to the bunker was to load the M60 Machine Gun, then my M-16 and set up some granades where I could reach them. I was never checked.
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