Every Marine, except recruiters, is a rifleman.
Marine officials have ruled out arming recruiters following this summer’s deadly shooting rampage in Tennessee that killed five service members, but other security measures to better protect troops are in the works, the head of Marine Corps Recruiting Command told Marine Corps Times.
When a lone gunman opened fire on a Chattanooga Armed Forces recruiting office and a Navy Reserve center on July 16, some politicians were quick to call for military recruiters to be armed. But none of the military services are interested in arming recruiters, said Lt. Gen. Mark Brilakis, MCRC’s commanding general, during a Tuesday interview here.
“The arming piece is one of those things on the recruiting side that myself and [Commandant Gen. Joseph Dunford] still have great concerns over,” he said. “All the services … said they don’t want to arm their folks.”
The Marine Corps has worked hard to build strong relationships with members of the communities in which they recruit, Brilakis said. That isn’t something leaders want to jeopardize.
“Whichever way you stand on the Second Amendment, recruiters showing up armed is not going to make either educators or parents comfortable.”
Instead, the service will implement security measures that will allow Marines to take cover or evacuate in the event of an attack, he said. Changes being considered include more security cameras, remote-locking doors, and better ballistic protection, such as movable shields or desk partitions that could protect troops from bullets.
Marines will also continue conducting security training, Brilakis said, which proved vital to those involved in the attack on the Chattanooga facility. Anything that puts space between Marines and an attacker allows them to execute their immediate action drills.
HT: TPcat78