U.S. Soldiers Surrender Weapons at Border
The American Military News is reporting that U.S. soldiers surrendered their weapons in an incident at the border.
The Department of Defense will be evaluating its rules on military engagement after two U.S. soldiers allowed themselves to be disarmed by Mexican soldiers who crossed into the U.S.
A senior defense official told the Washington Examiner on Monday that a review of the incident “will help us modify any instructions that we’re giving the troops” in regards to confrontations with the Mexican military near the border.
“This is the first incident that we’re aware of that the two militaries came together,” the official added.
They can have it when they pry it from my cold, dead… here you go.
Seriously, this could be a result of not establishing clear rules of engagement, or having RoEs that are not favorable to the troops.
Category: Big Pentagon, Media
https://valorguardians.com/blog/?p=86444
Thanks. Darn, I’m doing that way too often.
I’ve read a *lot* of opinions about this on the Intratubes.
Bottom line, IMHO, yes they turned over their weapons but walked away alive, deescalated a situation that could have been ugly for all involved.
Live to fight another day and all that.
Also, how does everyone know they were legit Mexican Military? Not Paid off federalies? Cartel guys disguised?
Next time, make sure you have:
LOTS of guys in the area
LOTS of firepower
ROE that lets us kill everything in sight when threatened
Air Cover (*SEE ROE*)
Someone would have been shot if I were there.
There is NO situation where a member of the US military is to surrender an issued weapon unless ordered by a superior officer or NCO.
Surrender is not something we should ever do!
That is my opinion.
As noted in yesterday’s article. What was the two soldiers’ mission? Apparently they were not pulling guard or they would have been armed with something more than one 9mm between them. As was reported (yesterday also) they did not notice the Mexican Soldiers prior to them surrounding them. So surrendering your sidearm (or allowing it to be removed from you while under cover by four full auto weapons) would be the better part of valor than to have your weapon missing after you were shot and killed.
I disagree. Like I said, if I was there … someone would have been shot.
I would never surrender my weapon under such circumstances unless order by proper higher authority.
Sure thing cowboy……
” Like I said, if I was there … someone would have been shot. ”
More than likely it would have been you.
J.R. Johnson:
Agree with what you wrote:
“So surrendering your sidearm (or allowing it to be removed from you while under cover by four full auto weapons) would be the better part of valor…”
Our Army Chain of Command taught us “Don’t be a Hero” during the early part of OEF and later into OIF.
Am betting that if one of those Soldiers tried to shoot their weapon, a 15-6 (investigation) would had been initiated…
Also am betting that they were most likely briefed and told not to use their weapon in situations such as this.
It’s not worth it, especially when it comes to lives or creating an international incident.
They did the right thing.
Does anybody think this could have gone the way of the tree cutting incident of 1976?
For those who may not get the context.
https://ns.clementspapers.org/briefing-books/korea-tree-incident
I would have authorized cutting down the surroundings trees and a northern forest while bombing the barracks … my Korean War Vet Old Man would have approved as well. He often spoke of this incident.
The Soldiers never should have been in that position. Military assistance to CBP can be a good thing. Local CBP has them working surveillance systems, and working on the fence line upgrades WITH PROPER SECURITY MEASURES! Some of the military assistance actually degrades CBP’s mission because they’re pulling assets off the line to train and supervise Soldiers. It briefs well, looks great on TV, but ain’t always a success.
I wanted to say something smart and witty about this clusterfuck on the border, but I am too busy playing Civilization VI.
This thing is amazinnnngggg.
Are you 100% sure that Civilization VI is not playing YOU?
I stopped at Civilization II. That game had it all…
Pong had everything I needed in a video game.
It’s not a cut and dry incident…
I repeat….Build and Garrison the wall. We are being invaded just as surely as Poland was overrun from both sides. And while we’re at it, round up and send back to where ever they came from, every person that is here illegally. The savings from all the social services cost will pay for the rounding up and sending back.
It is difficult to factor in just how many will self-deport when it is no longer lucrative for those who enter illegally to remain here illegally. Remove the financial incentive to be here illegally and some/many/most will stop coming in illegally. Whatever the number, it’s far fewer to deal with than continuing to make it worthwhile to try.
The financial incentive will remain as long as there are Home Depot parking lots for day laborers to congregate in.
Take then to just over the border, dump them, and let Mexico sort them out.
Why are these repeated confrontations always occurring between elements of the Mexican Army and the American Army?
I haven’t heard of any Mexican soldiers or Mexican drug cartels ever confronting the independent armed militias which patrol along the Border.
“FBI Arrests Leader of Militia Seen Detaining Migrants On Gun Charge”:
https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/439878-fbi-arrests-one-member-of-militia-seen-detaining-migrants-on-gun-charge
“A man who reportedly leads a right-wing militia group that was seen on a viral video this week detaining migrants in New Mexico while heavily armed has been arrested for illegal possession of a firearm following a previous felony conviction.”
“The FBI’s field office in Albuquerque, New Mexico, released a statement Saturday confirming the arrest of Larry Mitchell Hopkins, 69, of Flora Vista, N.M. on a charge of being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition.”
“This is a dangerous felon who should not have weapons around children and families,” Balderas said in a statement.”
“Today’s arrest by the FBI indicates clearly that the rule of law should be in the hands of trained law enforcement officials, not armed vigilantes.”
An interesting article about the Utah State Guard/Defense Force:
https://www.deseretnews.com/article/138734/UTAH-STATE-DEFENSE-FORCE-READY-TO-OFFER-ITS-LIMITED-RESOURCES-IN-A–TIME-OF-WAR.html
“Indeed, Matthews and others would just as soon the militia stay away from guns and aggressive missions following a purge of gung-ho “wackos” three years ago from what was then known as the Utah State Guard.”
“During that time, the guard became a state-sanctioned-and-funded playground for a group of would-be commandos itching to play war.”
“But the force was poorly commanded, and some members twisted its docile custodial mission into one involving aggressive – and at times – bizarre training of young, inexperienced and sometimes questionable recruits.”
“During 1984-86, its membership ballooned to more than 400 members, most without any prior military background.”
“Its members included white supremacists with ties to the Aryan Nations Church in Hayden Lake, Idaho, convicted felons and some people with histories of mental illness.”
“The guard, without proper mission statement, was attracting some individuals – wackos, quite frankly – who tend to gravitate to certain kinds of missions, combat missions, law enforcement missions,” Matthews said in a 1987 interview.”
“These types of people are `wannabe’ soldiers, `wannabe’ cops,” Matthews said in a 1987 interview. “They want to go out and play Rambo.”
It was disbanded in 2001 by legislative action.
Yes.
JRM has stated several times on TAH posts that he was a member of the Utah State Guard from 1984-1986.
While I agree that they took a ham-fisted approach…
If US foreign/domestic policy is failing, what options are left? Wait a few years til the politicians are more inclined to protect your children?
The leaders of these organizations may be half-wit poseurs, but they’re at least willing to act. Perfection remains the enemy of good. Without supporting what these men are doing, I can understand why they’re doing it.
Honestly, I agree with you on this. The way I see it, sometimes when you see a problem that no one else is even trying to fix or are flat out unwilling to (especially elected leaders and in our case I believe they silently are supporting it though they are doing a very poor job at trying to hide it which makes it even worse in my eyes) you have to act yourself to spur others into acting, both leaders and fellow citizens. Martin Luther King Jr. was all too familiar with this philosophy. Now that being said, there should be standards to uphold. I do like the idea of Trump saying that if sanctuary cities want to be just that, then he will bus illegals to them.