A notable thing about the war zone is that everyone carries around a loaded weapon; everything from 9mm pistols to big SAWs (squad automatic weapons). Most places that aren't under some sort of imminent threat (real or imagined) keep people in "green" status, which means that they carry an unloaded weapon and have a magazine elsewhere (back in their room or on their person, just not in the weapon).
Here at our FOB we are in "amber" status, which means that we carry weapons with a loaded magazine inserted into the magazine well, fire selector on safe, without having a round chambered. Loading and charging a weapon is the two step process that is widely known as the "lock and load", the result of which is a weapon that is ready to fire.
Whenever people venture outside of the wire on ground transportation you always lock and load, but keep your weapons on safe (which means if you pull the trigger, nothing happens). If you are locked and loaded, all you need to do to fire the weapon is to move the selector from safe to fire.
When you venture back into the wire you are supposed to go through the process of clearing the weapon; that is you drop the magazine, clear the round from the chamber and ensure your selector is on safe, not fire.
You can probably tell where I'm going with this...
People forget stuff.
Since I've been here there have been two incidents known as "negligent discharges". One was an Afghan guy who let off several rounds from his AK-47 into the ground BETWEEN THE LEGS of one of his buddies. Another was by a medic who somehow squeezed off a round from her M-4, also going into the ground. That both of these incidents did not cause harm illustrates the importance of what is known as "muzzle discipline", or always keeping your weapon pointed at the ground unless you intend to shoot something. If the rules about keeping your weapon on safe and keeping your finger away from the trigger don't work, hopefully you abide by the third rule and keep the thing pointed in a safe direction.
Now the really crazy story... There was a medic who was treating a leg injury for someone and was joking around, saying something like "I know what will fix that leg" while taking out his pistol to pretend to shoot the guy's leg. But instead of pretending, he somehow actually shot the guy in the leg.
It gets better...
He is still in Afghanistan working as a medic.
Ya gotta love the Army. They are so forgiving and tolerant... quite the liberal organization. Shoot someone? That's okay. Beat your wife? That's okay too. Problems with cocaine? Get your ass to Iraq Soldier!
Now if you're gay...
Cheers from lovely Paktia Province!
TLC
