Axes against evil: 1 base's plan to bludgeon terrorists

WorldNetDaily.Com ^ | Posted: May 23, 2003 1:00 a.m. Eastern | By Paul Sperry

[Bobby777]

HOMELAND INSECURITY

WASHINGTON -- As the Pentagon deploys more Stinger missiles around its perimeter to guard against new al-Qaida threats, an Army fort out West plans to issue axes to beef up security.

Actually, axes isn't quite accurate. Some sentries at Fort Huachuca in Arizona will only get the wooden part of the ax -- sans blade.

"No firearms for sentry duty. They get ax handles!" said a U.S. official, who finds the plan ridiculous.

Indeed, a post-wide memo, "Operations Order for Force Protection Delta Procedures," advises: "Soldiers ... will be issued a flashlight, batteries and an ax handle to be used in case of an emergency."

The March 6 memo obtained by WorldNetDaily adds: "Any detained personnel will be controlled by the mere threat of being struck by a wooden ax handle."

Another memo, distributed March 17 under the subject line, "FP Con Delta Reactive Procedures," details equipment for guards at the fort.

"Guards: Battle Dress Uniform (BDU), sleeves down, Kevlar, LBE [load-bearing equipment], weather appropriate over garment, and axe handle club," it states.

A spokesman at Fort Belvoir here, where all guards are issued firearms, chuckled at the ax-handle contingency at Fort Huachuca. "I've never heard of such a thing," Don Carr said.

A spokeswoman at Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas, also was amused, saying guards there always carry loaded weapons.

A spokesman at the Department of Army here was equally incredulous.

"I'm not aware of any policy regarding ax handles, and I have no idea why any post would have such a policy," said Army Maj. Chris Conway.

He notes that fort security is the responsibility of each fort commander. "It's not a cookie-cutter thing," Conway said.

Fort Huachuca, home to a U.S. Army Intelligence Center unit, will not issue the ax handles unless there is a major event of stateside terrorism, which would trigger the security upgrade to Delta, the highest warning level.

The U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency here, however, has raised its warning recommendation for all military facilities to Delta, after al-Qaida leaders this week issued threats against U.S. military installations.

"We have not changed our plans," said Fort Huachuca spokeswoman Tanja Linton. "We're at Bravo-plus."

In response to terror warnings, commanders can raise force-protection levels at their bases at Alpha, Bravo, Charlie or Delta.

The Pentagon is at Charlie.

[Bobby777]

Good grief ping ...

[Bobby777]

Please correct title of article. Thank you.

[dts32041]

Standard procedure, for people who haven't qualified with their weapons recently or around sensitive equipment, that maybe damage if a round is fired from an M-16.

Only units that have shotguns are MP's and Special Operations Units.

[Hugin]

Fort Huachuca in Arizona

Let me guess...afraid they may shoot some illegal aliens?

[milemark]

"No firearms for sentry duty. They get ax handles!"

Whoever came up with that one should get some quality time alone with soldiers from that base and their ax handles. As far as soldiers not having qualified with their weapons recently, can this apply to an entire base? If so, whoever is in charge of keeping a minimum number of soldiers who have qualified available for sentry duty should have to answer for this. Whatever is going on here, it seems very irresponsible, especially during a terrorism alert.

[milemark]

"No firearms for sentry duty. They get ax handles!"

Whoever came up with that one should get some quality time alone with soldiers from that base and their ax handles. As far as soldiers not having qualified with their weapons recently, can this apply to an entire base? If so, whoever is in charge of keeping a minimum number of soldiers who have qualified available for sentry duty should have to answer for this. Whatever is going on here, it seems very irresponsible, especially during a terrorism alert.

[genefromjersey]

Possible scenario :

Terrorists attack base, expecting to overcome axe-handle wielding guards; but are met with devastating, overwhelming firepower.

Base Commander smiles and says : " Yeah. We lied . "

Reporters scream: " WHY ??? "

Base Commander replies: " We got the idea from The New York Times. "

[magslinger]

We got the idea from The New York Times.

ROFLMAO

, thanks for the laugh.

[Nebr FAL owner]

Nonsense the post commander has become the laughingstock of the entire U.S.Army . Not having enough people who are trained in basic guard duty is a disgrace,the fact that the base commander has decided to issue ax handles as the weapon of choice for use in the HIGHEST level of anti-terrorist alert indicates that he hasn't got faith in the judgment in his people or he hasn't seen to it that they are trained in the use of lethal force either way he has shown himself to be an embarassment to the service his career is basicly over, hopefully before he screws up in an even more idiotic fashion.

[dts32041]

You forget this is an army of one. He isn't a laughingstock, he is following SOP which has been outlined by higher ups, seen it happen more than one once.

The powers that be are more afraid of an accidnetal discharge, these soliders don't live constantly with their weapons, they are locked up in their arms room day after day.

Our military leaders are more anti gun than the MMM, or HGCI, but that is what we pay for.

[HiJinx]

You're assuming the article is telling you the truth, or providing all the facts.

Without giving away any sensitive info, I'll tell you that it isn't.

As a matter of fact, the "We lied" comment may be closer to the truth than you think.

If you doubt me, check my profile page.

[HiJinx]

You guys want a chucle this morning?

[Travis McGee]

What a pitiful joke!

[Squantos]

Auggie doggies (augmenties) for regular security force are normally unarmed due to lack of use of force training ect ect with regards to "contact" with civilians in a LEO-MP role.

For every three troops checking vehicles armed with only an ax handle (fine piece of hickory) there is surely a few others covering them with live , loaded firearms that will function as designed.

Albeit that ax handle will be used wayyyyyy before anyone pops a cap on a suspect or some agitator with an M4 carbine or a 12 gauge riot tewl........

Just as I have seen it during my career .

Stay Safe !

[Travis McGee]

Good insights (as usual), thanks.