Some troops patrolling Afghanistan with unloaded weapons?

[The Village Idiot]

http://www.theusreport.com/the-us-report/some-us-troops-in-afghanistan-patrol-with-unloaded-weapons.html

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Commanders have reportedly ordered a U.S. military unit in Afghanistan to patrol with unloaded weapons.

Some soldiers are being ordered to conduct patrols without a round chambered in their weapons, The US Report has learned from an anonymous source at a forward operating base in Afghanistan.  Our source was unsure if the order came from his unit or if it affected other units.

On war correspondent Michael Yon's Facebook page, commenters stated that this is a common practice in Iraq, while others said that it is occurring in Afghanistan as well. According to military protocol, “Amber” status requires weapons to have a loaded magazine, but the safety on and no round chambered



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[DumbAss Tanker]

It's a lot more complicated than it sounds, FGL.  It may make sense or it may be stupid, but it depends on a lot more information than "AMBER?!?  " to tell.

[docstew]

hell, some bases are at amber 24/7.  it depends on the threat level and the posture you want to project.  it's not like a round can't be chambered in under a second, and it is the second step in the escalation of force procedure.

[Thor]

it probably goes back to the old "enlisted people are swine" mentality and what has probably happened is that some MORON had a negligent discharge of their weapon. Now, some inane rule was put into play. I could comprehend this measure while on "base", but out in the field, this seems ridiculous.

[Airwolf]

When I was in Korea doing our patrols inside the DMZ we were not allowed to have a round chambered untill we entered the DMZ but we had a magazine in the weapon before going in and we had a full combat load.