Accidental discharges

I was watching soldiers clear, and not clear, their weapons, and saw another soldier shoot a hole in the sandbag in the clearing barrel. This time the kid killed the sandbag with his 9mm pistol. Like the others, he looked sick after it happened. He and his supervisor are both in trouble now.

Apparently there have been a few deaths and several injuries from ADs, theatre wide, so it is a serious problem. I don't know the circumstances of those incidents, but I think our requirement to clear the weapon each time we enter the chow hall is counterproductive. Most of the time when we clear the weapon before entering the DFAC, the weapon is already clear, and will have been cleared any number of times since it last had bullets. So, the soldiers think that clearing is just pro forma, an exercise that makes no sense but that they have to just do. They get in the habit of nonchalanting the clearing procedure, even when it matters.

To ensure that no soldier gets shot if an AD occurs, a rule was announced from on high that weapons must be carried in the Ready Position at all times. Instead of having the rifle slung behind your back, it must be in front. The idea is that, in front, you know where the muzzle is pointing and you will avoid pointing it at anyone. On your back, you don't know where it's pointing.

A sensible rule, but underexplained. Soldiers didn't hear the part about muzzle control; they just saw posters spring up all over showing the right and wrong way to carry the weapon. They assumed the weapon is to be carried in the Ready Position in order to be ready. But why, they asked, if we're supposed to be so ready to use the rifle, don't we have the magazine in? Since there has been no reported instances of Iraqis coming over the wire, why do we have to be so ready? If we have to be so ready for attack, where is my assigned part of the perimeter? What happens if I'm on the other side of the FOB?

Of course, such questions tend to breed contempt for the rule, and for rules in general. Carrying the weapon in front can be uncomfortable, and it gets in the way. Some soldiers ended up dropping their food trays in the chow hall because of the weapon. I'm seeing fair compliance now, but I bet it fades over time.