[taxcontrol]

An old Infantryman’s technical nit picking here.

A weapon can be loaded (magazine in the well) but not locked and loaded, meaning one round already in the chamber. I have seen situations where similar requirements were made, and the troops would simply lock their bolts back and put their magazines in. This would allow them to hit the bolt release and the bolt would load a round as it slid forward. 1 sec action for a normal person, fraction of that for a trained rifleman with the adrenaline pumping.

I have seen even worse - where the issued magazines were covered in plastic and taped with some seal. To which the grunts responded by getting their own mags and ammo and would carry their own and simply turn in the issued mags.

[unkus]

The troops simply say F U and do what’s got to be done.

[Future Snake Eater]

I always thought lock and load to mean 1) lock a magazine in the magazine well, and 2) load a round into the chamber.

I have seen situations where similar requirements were made, and the troops would simply lock their bolts back and put their magazines in.

All it takes then is a good bump to release the bolt and chamber a round.

Anyway, I would have my Soldiers leave the FOB in amber status, then as soon as we were outside of eyesight, have everyone go red. On coming back, do a quick halt, everyone go back to amber, then roll back onto the FOB.

This is an order meant to get Soldiers killed. Not so much in Iraq these days, but certainly in Afghanistan.