[longtermmemmory]

What stops a soldier from carrying an extra bullet (aquired with his own money) or two for self protection "just in case"?

[razorback-bert]

a private was reprimanded for using her gun barrel as a pry bar

Leads me to believe they are afraid to issue bayonets also.

[Boundless]

> Unfortunately, soldiers sometimes confuse the steps,
> and insert the magazine before they check the trigger...

This is what results from a populace unfamiliar with
firearms. A remarkable number of people think that
inserting a magazine in a semi-auto makes it ready to
fire (pull the trigger, get a bang). Whereas, in fact,
nothing happens until a round is chambered (moved from
the mag).

Conversely, even if the bolt/slide is operated, and a
round chambered and ready, these same people think the
weapon is safe as long as the magazine is removed - and
unless the weapon has a magazine safety, the next event
usually winds up in the newspapers.

These sorts of accidents are astonishing in the military,
but they apparently do happen, and have been happening
since 1911 or so. I recall a story that at on point during
the Vietnam war, all the M1911 .45 autos were confiscated
from the troops, because they were having way too many
"cleaning" casualties and other accidents resulting from
auto-ignorance.

[Conspiracy Guy]

My kids were safer than this when they were pre-teens. Is it we have generation of soldiers who never saw a weapon before basic training? I was hoping this post was a joke. If a soldier is issued a weapon they should be trained and drilled and trained and drilled in it's proper use. Who is running the military? Is this carry over from Clinton's cut back and slash the military for 8 years? SAD :(

[HairOfTheDog]

They have a self-fullfilling prophecy going on here. If the guns aren't loaded, they don't have to treat them like loaded guns.

[SLB]

Posted earlier here: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/864571/posts

[Mini-14]

"Only the military can be trusted with guns"

[tje]

I used to deliver guards to an 'X area' (ammo dump) when I was in the Army. These guys would get issued their M-16 and two magazines. So many of them would immediately slam in the magazine, chamber around and flip it onto full auto.

I do remember the night when one guy fell as they were piling out of the back of my duece an a half and emptied the clip. Fortunately it was straight up and no one was hurt...

[ColdSteelTalon]

This is a stupid article. Rear Echelon (i.e. troops not pulling guard or on the front line) do not normally carry bullets with them. This is standard operating procedure. They carry only their rifles and then go to the armory just before deployment to battle or to guard. When I was in the Army in 1986 the same thing was done.

[Doomonyou]

Doesnt this kind of article fall under the "LOOSE LIPS SINK SHIPS" Category?!?

[sneakypete]

Many infantry platoons carry a heavier M-60 machine gun as well.

I doubt that. Front line units should all have the MAG-58/M-240G by now.

Meanwhile, U.S. troops at Udairi on Wednesday received an unwelcome order: They must now wear "full battle rattle," minus the Kevlar flak vests, whenever they leave the tents.

Sounds like Ft.Bragg.The brass in the 82nd Airborne like playing soldier so much,they insist their soldiers and soldierettes run around wearing their steel pot with the chin strap buckled. I guess the brass thinks this makes them look macho,but it only makes them look silly.