The latest story from Afghanistan is how the current Rules Of Engagment are greatly reducing our troops ability to defend themselves.
I wonder if something about this was the breaking point that led to Michael Yon threatening a lawsuit against General McChrystal?
Typical of the military to "colorize" a small arm status. Back in the day this status was known as Condition 3 and was used generally for small arms, although originally designed for the Colt M1911 pistol.
ReplyDeleteIn most instances it is a manageable status, given the magazine in the weapon. Not for clearing streets, allies, or buildings, however.
Worst case scenario is "Condition 4" or worse yet, where you only have a small number of cartridges in one pouched magazine. I have been in that position....5 rounds. We cheated. (bandoleers under our fatigue blouses, one magazine load limited in pouch, all others fully loaded)
You can survive an Article 15 or a Summary Court, but you might not survive an ambush.
"You can survive an Article 15 or a Summary Court, but you might not survive an ambush."
ReplyDeleteOr as many law enforcement officers will tell you, "Better to be tried by twelve than carried by six."
I'm a fly-by right now, but I had to say something about Michael Yon...
ReplyDeleteI was one of his biggest fans, but I don't follow him anymore. I'm not going to go into all the reasons why - I think Uncle Jimbo at B5 laid things out pretty well.
The reporter is supposed to give the story, not be the story. And Yon made himself the story and continued to try and insert himself into the story.
He has real issues. REAL issues. And his bitching about McChrystal should be judged in that light (which doesn't say McC is wonderful or terrible, just that Yon pitched a bitch fit).
And the moment he threw a fit and said that people weren't fit to judge him because they hadn't spent over a year in the war zone I stopped listening to him. My husband has spent longer than that - Yon can kiss my ass.
AFW #3....re: Yon. I've noticed the self insertion lately as well. Too bad, really.
ReplyDeleteI know a young physically very small bright & beautiful female engineer who spent 2 years almost straight in Afghanistan and another in Iraq, IIRC. As a DA civilian she was not allowed to carry a weapon, but had to wear the uniform just the same.
I'd say her opinions have value. Great value. Part of her story is defeating a life threatening disease before venturing overseas, which I learned about when I gave her a free weight set I wasn't using after getting my machine. Then, during an interlude between Afghan tours, she had all of her long beautiful hair cut off to donate to a cancer wig group. While in Afghanistan she volunteered at local Afghan affairs.
Once when I asked her about wearing hijab she said once in a while she did off duty, but found more native amusement at her bald head than anger when she didn't.
I've lost track of her now, in retirement, but wish I hadn't. A remarkable young lady and great example of an "American."
Surroundings should dictate the "condition" state. Condition 3 is suitable for route marching and movement in a combat zone, but not for close quarters urban, jungle, or mountainous terrain.
ReplyDeleteIt should be a unit decision, battalion or company level at the highest, not some senior officer back in a office or at Angels 25 in their helicopter...or worse, some Dept of State attaches' influencing Corps level decisions. These guys are not on the ground, not in the surroundings, or even aware fluently of the changing conditions thereon...and definitely not impacted by the status of their side arms.
Company commanders and battalion commanders are accountable to their senior officers, they should be the ones making these decisions.
In a Stand-Down environment Condition 4 is appropriate, so long as the perimeter guards and gate sentries are all in Condition 2. Where I was, at various times, there were old sawed off howitzer shell tubes stuck in the ground to dry fire in to after removing your magazine from your weapon and verifying Condition 4....similar to piss tubes on a fire base, in fact :-))
The disaster in Lebanon could have been prevented if the duty guards had been in Condition 2...and equipped with tactically located firepower capable of stopping a truck (.50 caliber)....or at least concussion grenades.