Pistols in Baghdad

01 May 07

Comments on personal weapons management, from a pilot who is one of our students, currently stationed in Baghdad:

"I couldn't help but to respond regarding this subject, as I am currently dealing with the same nonsense. I am here in the Green Zone as part of an aviation unit.

Base commanders have decreed that there are three condition for personal firearms (rifles and pistols), Green, Amber, and Red.

While in the Green Zone, personal weapons must be 'Green.' We would call it 'storage-mode,' no magazine inserted, empty chamber. One may carry rifles and pistols and have a charged magazine or two with him, but they may never be inserted into magazine wells.

'Amber' we would call 'transport-mode.' Charged magazine inserted, but no round chambered. The only ones authorized to carry in Amber are Security Forces, and only when they are actually working as such. At all other times, they are expendable peons like the rest of us.

'Red' is what we would call 'carry-mode,' but it is only theoretical, as no one may have a weapon in that condition. Weapons are NEVER actually carried in 'Red.'

At the chow hall, Ugandan security guards (who don't speak English) check to ensure holstered pistols (which are all in storage-mode anyway) have the decocker (the call it a 'safety') down. There is a clearing barrel beside the entrance, but one is no longer mandated to 'clear' weapons upon entering. Such 'clearing' used to be a requirement, but there were somany NDs, the more-or-less continuous noise disturbed diners! In addition, since such NDs automatically give rise to Article 15 sanctions, too many troopers, after experiencing an ND, would simply drop their pistol and run away. Embarrassing!

Since my unit regularly flies over hostile territory, I make it a habit to go 'Red' with my M9 pistol prior to each flight. Unfortunately, I'm the only one who does! Other pilots laugh, saying, "I'll just load it when I need it! " However, there has never been any training with regard to going from Amber to Red, so such empty bravado is all theoretical, since they have only talked about it. None have ever actually done it!

Well, I recently had to have a chat with my desk-bound Battalion Commander with regard to this very subject. He stated that the threat level did not ' justify' having a loaded gun in the cockpit! He made it clear thatnone of us were authorized to "go Red" until we're shot down. He added, 'All you have to do is just pull that thing, the "slide, right?, back, right?' I concluded that no further discussion was necessary. I continue to, now surreptitiously, 'go Red' prior to each flight. As the Great Philosopher said, 'There is nothing to be gained by arguing with idiots!'

It is truly a sad state of affairs that I'm an officer, wear the uniform, have an issued pistol, ammunition, magazines, but '... Oh, don't load that gun. That would be unsafe!'

Back in the States (where I don't draw combat pay) I carry, concealed, a fully-loaded pistol, just as you taught me, every waking hour, only to arrive in a "Combat Zone,' draw 'combat pay,' and have to deal with this insanity!"

Comment: Desk-bound managers (masquerading as "leaders'), who, because they've never been exposed to competent small-arms training, don't know what they don't know, but unforgivably, don't want to know what they don't know are smothering real warriors who want to enlighten others and advance the Art. With "leaders" like these, we don't need enemies!

"In this business, you find the enemy, then go after and destroy him. Everything else is rubbish!"

Eddie Rickenbacker, WWI Flying Ace

/John