"are we vulnerable?" Topic

Looks like Hegseth's next job:

link

"While there is no doubt that the Iranian's collective butt is being handed to them, we can't let that obscure what has been a major revealed weakness of the U.S. military. We've fought wars with secure rear areas for so long that we seem to have lost the concept of how to defend critical installations from relatively low-tech threats.

There is evidence that the threat has been recognized."

With the losses at the Saudi base, and tbe drone disruptions at Barksdale AFB, I assume people in the Pentagon are in high alarm. They'd better be.

A real issue isn't that these incidents are possible; it's that they're repeatable. Once something like this works, it stops being an anomaly and becomes a template.

I've said this before. With the advent of a new widespread use of a new weapon system. E.g. in WWI, the airplane, MG and even the Tank. Were introduced to the battlefield.

With the evolution of technology tactics has to advance along with it. But as we see for every new weapon there was a weapon developed to combat it. e.g. the Anti-Aircraft gun, Anti-Tank gun. And even tactics to minimize losses to automatic weapons i.e. Machine Guns. Which was a new combined arms team … Tanks working with Infantry, supported by FA and aircraft.

I'm sure the US as well as other nations are developing anti-drone tech and tactics. I don't think the Pentagon is panicking, per se. However, whatever evolving tech there is available and make sure many are made and added to unit TO&Es. And the tech and tactics will continue to evolve. Only to become more effective …

There has been rumors and reports for years about "right wing militias" practicing to take down the power grids, for when The Revolution comes. 🙄
Supposedly this shows how vulnerable we are.
If they're half true, and if the reports of jihadis slipping across the borders are true, we may live in interesting times.

Gee, do you think the "militias" will defend us? 🙄

rumors and reports

Do you hear the Nuremberg Rally under your bed at night?

Base security:

The current DoD policy (as of 2026) remains highly restrictive: U.S. military personnel are generally prohibited from carrying firearms—personal or issued—while on military bases or other DoD installations, except for those in official security/law enforcement roles (e.g., military police or security forces).
This has been the default stance for decades and was not fundamentally altered after the 2015 Chattanooga attacks (where a gunman killed five service members at the USMC Reserve Center and a Navy-Marine Corps recruiting office nearby, with victims unable to return fire because they were unarmed per policy).
Key Elements of the Policy

DoD Directive 5210.56 ("Arming and the Use of Force"), originally updated in 2016 in direct response to incidents like Chattanooga and still in effect (with minor updates around 2020), is the governing document. It allows installation commanders (typically O-5 level or higher) to approve requests from qualified personnel to carry privately owned firearms (POFs) for personal protection. Approval is discretionary, not automatic, and requires:
The individual to be at least 21, have a clean criminal/background record, complete specific training/qualification, and pass a screening (including DD Form 2760 for domestic violence convictions under the Lautenberg Amendment).
A written justification tied to threat/risk.
Strict limits (e.g., concealed carry only, no open carry in most cases, and prohibitions inside facilities like offices, barracks, or public gatherings).
In practice, this authority is used sparingly or not at all on many installations—most bases do not have a broad "concealed carry on base" program for regular troops.
Default rules for POFs (personal firearms):
Possession/storage is allowed only in designated locations (e.g., government armories, approved on-base housing with secure storage like a gun safe, or locked in a privately owned vehicle for authorized transit).
Carrying on person (concealed or open) is prohibited except under the commander-approved exceptions above or for official duties (ranges, hunting in designated areas, training, etc., where weapons are typically issued and controlled).
Transport through the base (e.g., commuting) is often permitted if the firearm is unloaded, cased, and out of reach—but you cannot remove it from the vehicle or carry it into buildings.

Service weapons (government-issued): These are strictly controlled and issued only for duty, training, or authorized operations. They are not carried loaded for personal protection by non-security personnel.
Exceptions:
On-duty law enforcement/security personnel (military police, etc.) are routinely armed.
Qualified DoD law enforcement officers (including some off-duty military police) may carry under the Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act (LEOSA) provisions referenced in the 2016 directive, subject to base rules.
Federal, state, or local law enforcement on official business.
Certain contractors in specific roles (per separate guidance).

Post-Chattanooga Context
The 2015 attacks prompted intense debate, congressional bills (some seeking to mandate arming or repeal restrictions), and reviews. DoD explicitly rejected arming all personnel, citing risks of accidental discharges, training costs, liability, and good order/discipline. Instead, it issued the 2016 directive giving commanders more flexibility for selective arming where threats warranted it (including some off-base recruiting/reserve facilities). Some states temporarily authorized National Guard personnel to carry at recruiting centers, but federal active-duty policy stayed restrictive. No blanket change occurred, and recent incidents (e.g., the 2025 Fort Stewart shooting) still occurred under the same "no personal weapons without senior commander permission" framework.
Recruiting Stations and Reserve Centers
These are often treated like other DoD facilities (even if not on a main base). The same DoDD 5210.56 rules apply, with commanders able to authorize carry if justified—but in practice, recruiting commands and reserve centers remain among the most restrictive.
Recent Legislative Efforts
Bills like the Safe Bases Act of 2025 (H.R. 454) have been introduced to give service members statutory authority for concealed carry on bases with a standardized DoD permit process, but as of now it has not passed into law.
Bottom line: The policy was debated after Chattanooga and tweaked for commander discretion, but it was not changed to routinely allow armed military personnel on bases. The default is still "unarmed except for security forces or specific approved exceptions." Policies can vary slightly by service or installation (always check your local base's instruction or security forces), but the overarching DoD stance has held steady. If you're affiliated with a specific base or command, the best source is your installation's security forces or legal office for the exact local implementation.

CFeicht, did you just call me a Nazi?

"Do you hear the Nuremberg Rally under your bed at night?"

We will let Bill decide. I don't put up with that.

@doc mcb

I did not. If you read carefully, I was speaking to John and inferring a state of paranoia on his part.

The paranoia is not from me. It's what I saw in the "News reports" on the incidents. Someone shooting at a transformer was assumed to be "militia" in training for The Day.
The Media are always paranoid about terrorism coming from conservative Christians etc.
Look at the latest popular movies. How many are paranoid wet dreams about armed militia bothering good liberals?
One scene was in all the highlights showed Jesse Plemmons in camo and tinted sunglasses asking "Yeah, but what kind of American?"

I consider such "reports" . The Left is paranoid about conservatives owning guns. The Right thinks that Jihadis are smuggling drones across the border. Let's not forget the Chinese buying farmland! 😱