Panetta has marines disarmed

[WiseOwl]

http://offgridsurvival.com/marinesforcedtodisarm/

This guy is a joke. I hope and pray that this regime is outttta here ( in my best umpire voice)

[610Alpha]

what a disgrace and luck of trust in our military.

[Rmplstlskn]

Yes, it is beyond disgusting! Words lack me...

[Matt In Oklahoma]

if i'm not mistaken he is taking over another agency

[Hidden Agenda]

Disgraceful and offensive to all who have ever served or serve today. Just disgusting.

[JUSTIFIED]

Don't know how some of the military guys/gals put up with some of these yoyos!

[antishot]

You don't think it has anything to do with the fact he said they take there orders from the UN and nit Congress, do ya.

[rice paddy daddy]

A historical note - in Vietnam in 1970, my unit, the 1st Infantry Brigade, 5th Infantry Division (Mechanized) had as SOP (Standard Operating Procedure) that when in base camp no magazines were to be inserted into rifles except when on guard duty or if needed for immediate defense. Likewise, all grenades, explosives, claymore mines, etc were secured.
I would be interested to know if this is SOP in Afganistan/Iraq.
Anybody know?

[JUSTIFIED]

I sure don't know rice but find it incredible you'd be incountry and not be armed at all times! Did it bother you or was it just accepted as normal?

[qrprat77]

It's my understanding that the change from no mags to mags with (but not inserted) is a recent (OIF) thing, and is a direct result of having natives go bad guy on our guys in base.
My brother tells me of having to "clear" his M4 in a clearing barrel before going into the mess hall.

[Rmplstlskn]

Panetta was a sleazeball mandarin all the way back to Clinton... My only peace is watching them get older and closer to their JUDGE, the eternal one, the one that can condemn the soul...

[Matt In Oklahoma]

That is a hard one to answer because it can vary from place to place and depending on the timing. As time goes on they seem to be leaning more towards clearing, unloading etc as it was back in the day but then loosen up and remain loaded as things heat up again. I'm glad to see them actually issuing ammo like they should.
There was a time in the peacetime military where the liberals took over and were scared of everyone and everything and refused to even issue ammo or would even go as far to limit it to 1 round. They seemed to have quickly retired, changed or just withered away however once hostilities started just as they do in life once a fight starts and warriors are once again in demand. A combat zone is no place for nonsensical rules that they make feeble attempts to emplace for fear of the lack of proper training they have allowed over the years because of politics and correctness rather than realism.
Certain sad time periods ran rampant with these deweaponizing gentlemen politicians, NCOs and officers who believe in a civil type of soldier not to be feared but looked upon as a well dressed, portly, groomed, educated and mannered subject rather than the trained, disciplined, hardened warriors called for in battle. Had they all had their ways we would have been sipping tea with our pinckies sticking out and rubber band braclets with words of wisdom and extra dress uniform medals instead of dastardly black weapondry and needed gear to dispense what the world calls for.

[Grand58742]

A historical note - in Vietnam in 1970, my unit, the 1st Infantry Brigade, 5th Infantry Division (Mechanized) had as SOP (Standard Operating Procedure) that when in base camp no magazines were to be inserted into rifles except when on guard duty or if needed for immediate defense. Likewise, all grenades, explosives, claymore mines, etc were secured.
I would be interested to know if this is SOP in Afganistan/Iraq.
Anybody know?

There are three arming levels in A-Stan and Iraq at almost all locations. Green, Amber and Red. Some may call it something different, but this is pretty much standard across the board.

Green: Weapon unloaded and on safe, but self defense load carried with weapon (typically 30 rounds 9mm or one M4 mag). Machine guns were unloaded and cleared. The remainder of the combat load is either stored or issued as needed (I carried mine the entire time, but never wore it unless I was in an Amber area). More often than not this applies while on base and behind the wire. Or in secured areas like Kuwait.

Amber: Weapon loaded, but no round in chamber. Weapon on safe. Machine guns at a "half load" configuration. Typically this would be guard posts within the confines of the base. Selected other areas on base depending on the threat level.

Red: Weapon loaded, round chambered and on safe/fire as needed. Machine guns at a "full load" configuration. Typically this would apply outside the wire or at areas where contact can be sudden, i.e. base entry points

As for the clearing into the chow hall thing. Yes, that's pretty much standard policy at every place downrange. Not a big deal to shove your muzzle into a clearing barrel, rack the slide and sling/holster your weapon. You still have ammo readily available since you are in "Green" status. It's not a big deal and something that "is" downrange.

[rice paddy daddy]

Thank you, Grand.
And thank you for serving our country.
Welcome Home.

[JUSTIFIED]

Thanks for that explanation Grand and thank you for your service.