US Soldiers Becoming Targets at Home

[Zombie]

I don't think this is an elitist view. He was wondering if he faced a greater threat due to the war. There is some validity to that view based on Ft. Hood and Ft. Dix. But I think the greater threat is on base where the enemy knows he is disarmed.

 

[Mags]

Yes he has a valid point, I just don't know what makes him so special over the 100s of thousands of other American troops.
It isn't like he hasn't been briefed during the Threat Assesment Briefing, they tell you how to handle the situations as they arise and like I said just use ORM. As a matter of fact to come on a gun forum asking advice is extremely unproffesional he should just consult his supervisor and First Seargeant.

 

[U.S.SFC_RET]

+1 to post #20

Adjusting to civilian life is very, very difficult.
There is more of a threat of danger outside of an Army base than inside it. The reason being is that most of the U.S. Army bases have been established in areas where the neighborhoods are now run down and ridden with crime.
The chain of command is aware and briefs soldiers on a regular basis where to stay away from. That being said if you go looking for trouble it will go looking for you.
Make good friends and keep the away from bad influence. In the service you are developing the necessary people skills that will serve you very well far along in life. Going in as a private not knowing people vs spending years and people savvy is a good thing.

 

[KBintheSLC]

OP,
I agree that there is some growing animosity towards the federal government that is sadly being diverted towards regular guys like you. Heck, just a few weeks ago I was standing in my front yard wearing an old army field jacket (Nam era), and some ****** bag drives by and yells "federal allegiance murderers!!!" as if he was straight out of some 1969 rabid hippie farm in Berkley.

Don't worry too much about it though... soldiers have dealt with this crap since Korea. Most of these haters are also cowards, and their lack of intestinal fortitude prevents them from being much of a real threat. Most of us here are grateful to you for your service. I think you needn't worry any more than the rest of us.

I have to admit, I am dumbfounded that our soldiers are disarmed on base here at home. How can you have a legitimate military base when none of the soldiers are armed? Heck, it took a local cop to come to the rescue at Ft. Hood when Hassan could have easily been dispatched by his colleagues.

More mindless federal gun bans hard at work.

 

[ClayInTX]

I don’t believe Sgt. Schrader is unprofessional to seek opinions from civilians on a gun forum. First, we on these forums are a bit more mature and American-like (if I do say so) than the average citizen out there on the street.

By seeking information here he is getting a different feel for the public opinion than available to him in Afghanistan. It’s always best to get information from as many different sources as you can.

He has been shown something which concerns him, and rightfully so. He is seeking to learn if this is truly the case.

As far as I can determine there is no especial hazard for returning troops.

Sgt. Schrader,
I cannot guarantee your safety but can damn well assure you that no one around here had better insult you or denigrate you for what you are doing. We have a lighted display out by the main highway supporting our troops and everyone I know is behind having it there and proud that we have it.

Sergeant, you might not be an officer but I still salute you for what you’re doing.

Clay

Our Heavenly Father, please protect him and bring him back to us safe and unharmed. Amen.

 

[psyopspec]

I, as a Soldier, believe that even if open or concealed carry is not allowed in a state that at least the Police and Military personel should be able to carry.

Why?

 

[JoeSlomo]

As a matter of fact to come on a gun forum asking advice is extremely unproffesional he should just consult his supervisor and First Seargeant.

Perhaps this young Specialist may not possess the same judgement levels as a more seasoned individual, however, that was not a very high road response.

 

[Shadow Man]

The transition from an active combat zone to an active civilian zone can be intense and difficult, especially in the first few weeks. Some of the habits you pick up while deployed never leave you; for example, I used to be a very heavy sleeper, often sleeping through my alarm. Not anymore, now the slightest disturbance (such as headlights in my window) will bring me out of a sound sleep into the "go" mindset in an instant. When driving on the highway, a car ahead of me erratically changing into my lane will cause my heartbeat to increase signifigantly, and I will drop speed, and attempt to position my vehicle as far away from that car as possible. I rarely take the same route to a familiar destination twice in a row, when possible. But that's just me.

One thing you should remember, Specalist, is that Situational Awareness is not simply reserved for the battlefield. It will be one of your most useful tools here at home as well. Also, if you do not identify yourself as military when in civilian dress, it should be pretty hard for most people to figure it out. Yes, your dress, bearing, and mannerisms are dead giveaways to anyone who is or has served, but unless you actively announce your military service, you should be safe from those intent upon doing military members harm. Keep yourself in the OODA loop, maintain your SA, and you should be just fine. Your brain is the most lethal weapon in your arsenal, don't forget that.

 

[essayons21]

In addition to the Ft. Hood and Little Rock shootings, lets not forget the foiled Ft. Dix and Ft. Bragg plots. Lets also not forget the case of the Muslim soldier fragging his superiors earlier in the GWOT.

Are you safer in Afghanistan than in the States? Statistically yes, unless you live in DC or Chicago.

Should you be able to defend yourself once you get home? Yes, but this is a right for all citizens, with no special connection to military service.

 

[ChaoSS]

Absolutely not. It is unconscionable to me that someone who has sworn to defend the constitution would want to support laws which would put people in certain occupations in a special class with special rights.

People who are in the military either support the war (ie, they believe that the people that they are killing, or the people that they are assisting others in killing, deserve to die), or, they are psychopaths. It is that simple. I do not support the war, thus, I would have to be some sort of psychopath to join the military. It is the worst idea possible to suggest that I should have to do that in order to gain my full rights, to not be a second class citizen.

 

[mljdeckard]

^^You're welcome, by the way.

 

[Zombie]

Are you safer in Afghanistan than in the States? Statistically yes, unless you live in DC or Chicago.

Actually no, unless you are black. If you are black you are odds of being murdered in the US are more than double that of being killed in combat in Iraq/ Afghanistan. So if the OP is black he does have a higher level of risk in the US. If you are white you are eight times less likely to be murdered than if you are black in the US, so his odds would be better here than over there (assuming he is white).

 

[ChaoSS]

^^You're welcome, by the way.

I assume that was directed at me.

I do not delve into my reasoning for not supporting this war, as this is not the appropriate place for that. I have alot of things that I could say, that I don't. Please try to refrain from this sort of sarcasm, directed at someone who is keeping his opinion of the soldiers and the war in check.

 

[Mags]

that was not a very high road response.

High Road or not it is what he should do being on Active Duty.

As a matter of fact to come on a gun forum asking advice is extremely unproffesional he should just consult his supervisor and First Seargeant.

 

[U.S.SFC_RET]

Actually no, unless you are black. If you are black you are odds of being murdered in the US are more than double that of being killed in combat in Iraq/ Afghanistan. So if the OP is black he does have a higher level of risk in the US. If you are white you are eight times less likely to be murdered than if you are black in the US, so his odds would be better here than over there (assuming he is white).

It's largely what you are caught up in and what you are doing. If you join the service to get out of the vicious circle of crime you were in I applaud you for keeping out of it when you return to civilian life.
If you are wrapped in the drug culture, lure of easy money and the crime that goes along with it those are the choices you make. Black or otherwise.
I have known many of any color who broke those bonds by joining the military and sticking with it. The military offers by far more advantages than negative to include being worried about being shot at.

 

[rogertc1]

Schrader.. this part of your life you will never forget. The good events will stay and you will forget the bad.

 

[mljdeckard]

Yes, it was directed at you, and I wasn't being sarcastic. I work to defend all in this nation, even those who think that all soldiers are warmongers or psychopaths. I could not possibly care less why you would think this.

 

[Shadow Man]

I love being thought of as a warmongerer or a psychopath because I am willing to put my life on the line to defend my country from those who want nothing more than to kill as many Americans as they can.

 

[hso]

The topic for THR is -

I, as a Soldier, believe that even if open or concealed carry is not allowed in a state that at least the Police and Military personel should be able to carry.

The answer is, No. There are no "special" classes that should get a pass on the law as it applies to any other citizen.

There's also no statistical basis for considering military personnel as being an especially at risk group that would justify it. Ft. Hood is a freak incident. Soldiers getting jumped some times has more to do with the overall relationship of the military community to the particular civilian community (Young friends in uniform usually knew which establishments didn't welcome them and others went in groups for that reason) than some general hostility from the American public.

 

[Zombie]

It is unconscionable to me that someone who has sworn to defend the constitution would want to support laws which would put people in certain occupations in a special class with special rights.

Why would this be so? Security guards carry openly on the job to protect things, this is not a right allowed in every state. But they are in a higher risk job. Certainly the state could recognize that military members are in a higher risk situation and allow carry of weapons. You seem jealous for some reason. But there is no reason for the state to do so.

It is the worst idea possible to suggest that I should have to do that in order to gain my full rights, to not be a second class citizen.

Again this is I think your lack of understanding about the question. The way I understand it service members are on duty all the time, and since they are on military bases even when off duty they could be attacked at any time. But I don't think they have their weapons all the time.

 

[JoeSlomo]

Absolutely not. It is unconscionable to me that someone who has sworn to defend the constitution would want to support laws which would put people in certain occupations in a special class with special rights.

I agree with this, as does our young poster now.

People who are in the military either support the war (ie, they believe that the people that they are killing, or the people that they are assisting others in killing, deserve to die), or, they are psychopaths. It is that simple. I do not support the war, thus, I would have to be some sort of psychopath to join the military. It is the worst idea possible to suggest that I should have to do that in order to gain my full rights, to not be a second class citizen.

So our fine medics, who have made it a career to learn how to save lives, are warmongers or psychopaths?

Did you know that MAYBE 20% of ALL of our armed forces hold duties of an OFFENSIVE nature? The VAST majority of our armed forces act in non-combative supporting roles. Are all of these folks psychopaths or war mongerers?

Sir, I don't believe you have been given a good understanding of our armed forces, or of the citizens that serve in them.

You are entitled to your opinion, though I fully believe you would have a different opinion through further research and or education.

 

[Mags]

Again this is I think your lack of understanding about the question. The way I understand it service members are on duty all the time, and since they are on military bases even when off duty they could be attacked at any time. But I don't think they have their weapons all the time.

I think you lack the understanding, when I am off duty I am as far away from base as allowed. Why should I have a weapon all the time? ( I do when I am off base) No one knows I am military when I am out of uniform, I do not have any DoD identifiers on my home or car. (briefed during the threat assesment briefing) Over 75 percent of the perssonel on base are not issued weapons in the performance of their duties. Base Police are 24/7 and they have guns for those on shift.

And as I said before.

As a member of the Active Duty Military you should be ashamed of yourself for such an elitist view no one occupation over the other should have more of a right to defend themselves than the other. You took an oath to the Constitution as have I. You are not being paranoid only what makes you think you are more special than the 100s of thousands of other military members on American soil and then what makes you think the .Gov should have more rights than the civilians we are sworn to protect

 

[ChaoSS]

Yes, it was directed at you, and I wasn't being sarcastic. I work to defend all in this nation, even those who think that all soldiers are warmongers or psychopaths. I could not possibly care less why you would think this.

I didn't say that all soldiers are warmongers or psychopaths. I think many, perhaps almost all of them, are misguided. However, I, for reasons that I will not discuss here, on a forum not dedicated to this type of discussion, do not feel gratitude for people who put their lives on the line for a cause that I do not feel helps our country. Thus, your "your welcome" is either sarcastic, or some supreme form of arrogance, thinking that I must feel gratitude.

Why would this be so? Security guards carry openly on the job to protect things, this is not a right allowed in every state. But they are in a higher risk job. Certainly the state could recognize that military members are in a higher risk situation and allow carry of weapons. You seem jealous for some reason. But there is no reason for the state to do so.

If we are going to start giving people a blanket right to carry concealed based on profession, we should start with other professions. I used to be a pizza delivery guy. That job, along with jobs like cab drivers, are statistically much more dangerous than even being a cop. It seems to me that perhaps the state should give them more latitude in carrying weapons that off duty police officers, and certainly military members. If we are really talking about the safety of the individual, rather than an elitism that comes from thinking that you are saving the world, and thus above everyone else, you would agree.

Mags seems to have the right idea. I disagree with his chosen profession, but he isn't carrying the attitude that he is somehow morally superior to me, thus, his point of view holds much more weight.

So our fine medics, who have made it a career to learn how to save lives, are warmongers or psychopaths?

Did you know that MAYBE 20% of ALL of our armed forces hold duties of an OFFENSIVE nature? The VAST majority of our armed forces act in non-combative supporting roles. Are all of these folks psychopaths or war mongerers?

Again, I never said that all soldiers are psychopaths or war mongers. What I said applies to all wars. Those who participate in them either believe in their cause, or they are psychopaths. This applies to everything, be it the fight against the nazis, the communists, or certain middle eastern countries. Many, probably most, soldiers believe that they are doing the right thing. Those who don't can only be seen as psychopaths.

Medics, cooks, mechanics, logistical support, all these people contribute so that the guys with guns can kill more people. Thus, again, they must either believe in the justness of the war, or they are psychopaths.

Sir, I don't believe you have been given a good understanding of our armed forces, or of the citizens that serve in them.

You are entitled to your opinion, though I fully believe you would have a different opinion through further research and or education.

I know exactly what I am talking about. My statement has nothing to do with my lack of support for this war, it is a simple fact of life. I don't appreciate being talked to as though I should appreciate the service put in by people that are fighting a war that I don't support, to the point that I should support the idea that they should have special privileges that make them a superior class of citizen.

 

[Zombie]

I think you lack the understanding, when I am off duty I am as far away from base as allowed.

I thought some people lived on the military base. Maybe I am mistaken.

If we are going to start giving people a blanket right to carry concealed based on profession, we should start with other professions.

I don't disagree with that.

 

[Mags]

They do just not all of us. And if you live in Base housing you can have a gun in your house, heck multiple guns if you want.