It would appear (if your story is true and I have little doubt of it) that shortcomings in leadership development and training are coming to the forefront in the operational aspects of warfare. If a soldier, regardless of occupation or position, is more afraid to 'accidentally or through negligence' discharge his/her weapon to remove the actuator of the ignition system, we no longer have soldiers, we have under paid security guards.Think of a time in any of your military careers that would allow you as an operatonal commander to inflict more fear from a soldier to cause him to 'deactivate' his weapon than to instill the respect and reason to learn the weapon to the extent that he will treat it with the respect it deserves.
More range time, live fire training, examination of enemy dead/wounded, preparation for operational deployment with live/loaded weapons. Courtesy and respect to the soldier, not fear and mistrust.
In each occupation, no matter how benign, there is an element of risk. The soldier may come to task at some time in his future to place his weapon between tyranny and freedom. Why is the soldier of which this is demanded not trusted to have a loaded weapon in an operational area?
Just some thoughts from an old soldier.
Dileas Gu Brath
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posted 25 August 2021 08:59
