Military feeling ammo shortage too.

[Harleynut]

I was just talking to a friend that used to hang out and shoot with us over the at Bob's range. He was home on leave after 6 months in Iraq. We were teasing him on why you didn't bring us all home some ammo. He went on to say that they are supposed to test fire their guns once a month. He carries an m16 and 9mm. When he asked about shooting to make sure still sited in they said that there was not enough ammunition available to waste it on that. So in 6 months there he has never fired either of his guns. Whats up with that bullshit we send them over and they are risking their lives for us and we can't even supply practice/ test fire ammo. I'm sorry but that really sucks.

Garry

 

[Jay6]

I was just talking to a friend that used to hang out and shoot with us over the at Bob's range. He was home on leave after 6 months in Iraq. We were teasing him on why you didn't bring us all home some ammo. He went on to say that they are supposed to test fire their guns once a month. He carries an m16 and 9mm. When he asked about shooting to make sure still sited in they said that there was not enough ammunition available to waste it on that. So in 6 months there he has never fired either of his guns. Whats up with that bullshit we send them over and they are risking their lives for us and we can't even supply practice/ test fire ammo. I'm sorry but that really sucks.

Garry

WOW. I know I do not make policy but that is unecceptable IMHO

 

[Kid Presentable]

wow that's nuts. hopefully someone somewhere will hear of this and send our troops some test ammo

 

[Bill Nance]

That's just awful. I wonder if I can ship a few hundred rounds to Iraq/Afghanistan via the USO? It would seem more useful than the Itunes cards I usually donate.

 

[WILDCATT]

ammo

some one said, and then some one else said,so the next guy said.
no wonder we are in trouble.

 

[goofycj7]

IF there is a shortage of ammo in the military it is only because they are trying to save money or bad logistics.
Any military supplier has a notice on their orders that the goverment can come in and shut down all other production in order to get their supplies if there is a need.

 

[Bill Nance]

IF there is a shortage of ammo in the military it is only because they are being incompetent in the procurement process. trying to save money or bad logistics.
Any military supplier has a notice on their orders that the goverment can come in and shut down all other production in order to get their supplies if there is a need.

Here I fixed that for you.

 

[Twigg]

Yikes, even during the Carter administration, there was ammo for qualifications and live fire training.

 

[Blitz1]

Maybe they should try air soft.

This shit make me angry.

 

[wolf223]

fall all we know, the guy is a supply specialist with a direct support company.

just saying - he may NOT exactly be "on the line"....

i call BS - mind ya'll, I've been there / done that & have friends there now. I have NOT heard such stories about "lack of ammo".... PCI's / PCC's - test fire is part of the routine

 

[Harleynut]

fall all we know, the guy is a supply specialist with a direct support company.

just saying - he may NOT exactly be "on the line"....

i call BS - mind ya'll, I've been there / done that & have friends there now. I have NOT heard such stories about "lack of ammo".... PCI's / PCC's - test fire is part of the routine

I am not sure what his job is there. I do know he was issued those two weapons. I would think that if they gave them to him someone must have had a reason to think they may need it.

 

[GSG]

That's just awful. I wonder if I can ship a few hundred rounds to Iraq/Afghanistan via the USO? It would seem more useful than the Itunes cards I usually donate.

The care package instructions say quite plainly no weapons, ammo, explosives, etc.

 

[jpattersonnh]

All the Marines in both sand boxes have ammo that I know, he must be a mud pounder in a reserve unit.

 

[goofycj7]

I have not heard anything about a shortage from the three friends I know who have done tours in Iraq and Afganistan.
But all three were in the front line, tanks/blackhawk pilot, artillery and rangers. They might easily have gotten ammo designated for other units due to the need vs nice to have.

 

[wolf223]

I am not sure what his job is there. I do know he was issued those two weapons. I would think that if they gave them to him someone must have had a reason to think they may need it.

if you can find out his job (MOS) and unit, that would put an end to this thread...

from operational experience, there is NO such thing as an ammo shortage down range.

-trust me

speculation on my part: based on your post, he's on a "security" team, hence, he so-called has an M9 and an M4... but can't test-fire his weapons?

it does NOT add up.

 

[Bill Nance]

if you can find out his job (MOS) and unit, that would put an end to this thread...

from operational experience, there is NO such thing as an ammo shortage down range.

-trust me

speculation on my part: based on your post, he's on a "security" team, hence, he so-called has an M9 and an M4... but can't test-fire his weapons?

it does NOT add up.

I think you're very likely correct. But still, this isn't an acceptable situation.

If you're in theatre and have been issued a weapon. to not have the ammo to zero it is inexcusable.

I was in the AF in the early 80s and we had similar issues for the first year I was in theatre, sitting on probably the number three site in Europe for a spetznaz attack. Eventually we got some upgraded equipment and ammo, but for that 1st year we were all sitting there wonder WTF we would do if the balloon actually went up, since we didn't have the equipment or training to deal with the specifically predicted threat.

This just sounds like more 5-sided-puzzle-palace f***ups to me. Then again it could be one more case of grunt bitching that everyone who's ever been in the service hs come to know, love, and ignore

 

[RichM]

Having BTDT recently too, I'm sure that the Soldier in question was a fobbit (never leaves the FOB).

Our unit was a hospital (and yes, we were fobbits!)... after we left our mobilization station here in the US (where EVERYONE zeroed and qualified with their assigned weapons), NO ONE in my unit ever even chambered a round, except for immediately after arriving in theater, where EVERYONE had to test fire their weapons with 1 full magazine.

Once in theater, everyone was issued a full combat load of ammunition, which they carried around with them for a year, then turned it back in.

There was no opportunity for those living on the FOBs to fire their weapons; however, EVERYONE who went outside the wire had the ammunition they needed, and test-fired their automatic weapons each time they left the FOB.


The only time the fobbits got to fire was here:

(Sorry, Air Force... this was the best picture I could find! I should have taken some pictures of clearing barrels with holes in them!)

How many times did you guys see holes in clearing barrels?

 

[FalArAk]

Probably a REMF.

 

[P2A]

I was just talking to a friend that used to hang out and shoot with us over the at Bob's range. He was home on leave after 6 months in Iraq. We were teasing him on why you didn't bring us all home some ammo. He went on to say that they are supposed to test fire their guns once a month. He carries an m16 and 9mm. When he asked about shooting to make sure still sited in they said that there was not enough ammunition available to waste it on that. So in 6 months there he has never fired either of his guns. Whats up with that bullshit we send them over and they are risking their lives for us and we can't even supply practice/ test fire ammo. I'm sorry but that really sucks.

Garry

There is no shortage of ammo in theater. Having just been there not too long ago, I was able to shoot thousands of rounds a week with my team. I'm going to agree with what the others have said that hes a fobbit. No one is using M16s in combat arms units. Its a failure of his leadership not to get the ammo, or training; not the Army. No one should leave the wire with out test-fireing their crew served weapons, so going back to the root cause of this thread its a failure of the leadership there. There is no ammo shortage. Period.

 

[Hiltonizer]

I call BS on this...

I've been scouting for ammo regularly since it seems to be impossible to find .45, and getting rough on my x39.

There is absolutely no shortage of .223/5.5, 308, or 9m... I would only believe a shortage in .45 or other military calibers with which I'm not familiar. Certainly not 9mm or 5.56, or 308

Prices outrageous, even compared to a few months ago? yes. Unavailable, hell no.

 

[jcetto0351]

I was just talking to a friend that used to hang out and shoot with us over the at Bob's range. He was home on leave after 6 months in Iraq. We were teasing him on why you didn't bring us all home some ammo. He went on to say that they are supposed to test fire their guns once a month. He carries an m16 and 9mm. When he asked about shooting to make sure still sited in they said that there was not enough ammunition available to waste it on that. So in 6 months there he has never fired either of his guns. Whats up with that bullshit we send them over and they are risking their lives for us and we can't even supply practice/ test fire ammo. I'm sorry but that really sucks.

Garry

Same thing happened to me... it doesn't have to do with the amount of ammo available... trust me, there is plently in supply! It has to do more with the lack of need for ammo in Iraq right now... there is such a significant drop in enemy attacks that they don't distribute more than a combat load of ammo to the troops. It is even worse for higher power stuff... My squad was never given LAWs or AT-4's and we all only had 1 frag... that was in mid 2007... squad leaders were told that that kind of weaponry is just "unnecessary" right now.

 

[GSG]

There is absolutely no shortage of .223/5.5, 308, or 9m... I would only believe a shortage in .45 or other military calibers with which I'm not familiar. Certainly not 9mm or 5.56, or 308

Prices outrageous, even compared to a few months ago? yes. Unavailable, hell no.

Where's this 9mm you speak of? In the past 3 months I think I've seen 6 boxes of 9mm in all my travels.

If you've got a source though, help a brother out.

 

[Harleynut]

Same thing happened to me... it doesn't have to do with the amount of ammo available... trust me, there is plently in supply! It has to do more with the lack of need for ammo in Iraq right now... there is such a significant drop in enemy attacks that they don't distribute more than a combat load of ammo to the troops. It is even worse for higher power stuff... My squad was never given LAWs or AT-4's and we all only had 1 frag... that was in mid 2007... squad leaders were told that that kind of weaponry is just "unnecessary" right now.

Well I am glad you posted that. I have never been in the military myself and just posted what I did after talking to him. I have never caught this guy in a lie ever and have no reason to doubt what he said. It just struck me as wrong to issue guns to someone and then not supply ammo for practice/test firing. I have had cops tell me storys about other cops that when they try to shoot find their guns not working because it sat in the holster for the last year.

 

[P2A]

Same thing happened to me... it doesn't have to do with the amount of ammo available... trust me, there is plently in supply! It has to do more with the lack of need for ammo in Iraq right now... there is such a significant drop in enemy attacks that they don't distribute more than a combat load of ammo to the troops. It is even worse for higher power stuff... My squad was never given LAWs or AT-4's and we all only had 1 frag... that was in mid 2007... squad leaders were told that that kind of weaponry is just "unnecessary" right now.

Thats a board generalization. It depends on the unit not theater. Its still a failure of the leadership to to properly equip guys with that they need. I was pretty lucky and didnt have to deal with allot of BS. We had 12mags per guy, frags, flashbangs, all the demo I needed, AT4s etc. Plus our own ammo supply point to pull training ammo from daily. Making the statement that it is unnecessary and not needed puts soldiers/ marines at risk. You never know when your going to kinetic and need to frag a room, hit a house with an AT4, or be in a prolonged firefight. Yeah things are calmer now, but that shouldnt equate to complacency. People are still being shot and blown up there. Thankfully your good to go now. Its too bad your highers made that decision.

 

[Hiltonizer]

Where's this 9mm you speak of? In the past 3 months I think I've seen 6 boxes of 9mm in all my travels.

If you've got a source though, help a brother out.

Collector's in Stoneham had some when I stopped in Thursday, and four seasons had a ton the week before that.

Roach's in Cambridge had a dozen boxes or so, but I think it was $22/box or something ridicules.

 

[jcetto0351]

Thats a board generalization. It depends on the unit not theater. Its still a failure of the leadership to to properly equip guys with that they need. I was pretty lucky and didnt have to deal with allot of BS. We had 12mags per guy, frags, flashbangs, all the demo I needed, AT4s etc. Plus our own ammo supply point to pull training ammo from daily. Making the statement that it is unnecessary and not needed puts soldiers/ marines at risk. You never know when your going to kinetic and need to frag a room, hit a house with an AT4, or be in a prolonged firefight. Yeah things are calmer now, but that shouldnt equate to complacency. People are still being shot and blown up there. Thankfully your good to go now. Its too bad your highers made that decision.

couldn't agree more... I'm just telling you how it was with 2/5... a lot of the O's didn't want us screwing up the anbar awakening by raiding the wrong house so they simply didn't let us... it is a broad statement and not every unit had that happen to them but with us all we got as much 5.56 as we could carry, 1 frag, 4 40mm HE, all the 40mm pop-ups, all the smoke grenades we wanted, and a S*** load of pop-ups in case a VBIED came screaming at us! This phenomenon didn't happen to scout snipers and other sneaky squirrel type personnel but after March 2007, I am inclined to believe that most units got the "don't rock the boat" treatment so that there was no political outlash from the iraqi leaders in the case of collateral damage. I didn't make the call but we suffered no KIA for the first time in the 60+ years of 2ndBn 5thMar so luckily my highers don't have anybody's family to answer to for their politics