Weapon accountability free essay sample

The date was September 14, 2012. At around 10 p. m. Camp Leatherneck was attacked by 15 insurgents. These attackers, organized into three teams, began an assault on the airfield of Bastion. While wearing U. S. Army uniforms, the attackers toted automatic rifles, rocket-propelled grenade launchers and suicide vests. While aboard Camp Leatherneck/Camp Bastion, they inflicted incredible damage to the air-wing. Destroying six AV-8B Harrier jets and damaging two others, along with six aircraft hangers suffering damage, and six refueling stations were destroyed. While trying to fight the attackers off, two U.  S. Marines were shot and killed, along with injuring several others. Along with threats like base security, there is also, â€Å"Insider Threats†. This is an attack by an Afghan National Army (ANA) member, Afghan Police Department (APD), or an Afghan National working on base. These attacks come out of nowhere and usually occur because the Taliban has threatened their family or someone disrespected the attacking person at some point and wants retaliation. We will write a custom essay sample on Weapon accountability or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page In these cases it is extremely important to have you weapon, whether it be an M16A2, M16A4, M4, or a 9MM pistol. You should have it on you for protection at all times and be ready for anything that comes your way. Weather it is an attack on base or an Insider Attack from an Afghan counterpart. This is why a condition 3 weapon (magazine inserted, no round in chamber, bolt forward, ejection port cover close, and weapon on safe) is implemented on Camp Leatherneck and Camp Bastion. You never know when the enemy will attack and should be ready with your weapon at all times. Leaving a weapon unattended can also lead to the enemy acquiring your weapon and using it against yourself, fellow Marines and U. S. Forces, and coalition forces that you work with. Preventing the enemy in every way of attacking us is our main mission and to protect those around us. The enemy is always looking for a way to attack, and any weapon unattended can be the way for them to do so. My weapon should be an extension of my body and mind; I should be able to automatically pick it up without thinking. If my weapon had been picked up by someone from someone else in the military on the Camp Leatherneck, then they would have turned it into their higher chain of command, in which would have been turned over to the military police. At that point, I would then be breaking UCMJ and most likely lose rank and pay. It could also lead to a higher punishment and being discharged from the Marine Corps. If my weapon had been picked up by someone outside of the military, it could have been sold to be used to harm other military members or used by an insurgent to hurt men, women, and children. Camp Leatherneck could be locked down and searched until the weapon was found. In which, for the convoys outside of the Forward Operating Base (FOB), would not be able to enter. This could leave them open to attack and could lead to cost of lives and money to the government. Losing a weapon could cost your unit and could cost a lot of people valuable time, which is precious in Afghanistan. What is accountability; the definition is simply liable to account for one’s actions, â€Å"A is accountable to B when A is obliged to inform B about A’s (past or future) actions and decisions, to justify them, and to suffer punishment in the case of eventual misconduct. Accountability is a concept in ethics with several meanings. It is often used synonymously with such concepts as answerability, enforcement, responsibility, blameworthiness, liability, and other terms associated with the expectation of account-giving. Article 108 (Destruction of Government Property) under the UCMJ states, â€Å"any person subject to this chapter who, without proper authority- (1) sells or otherwise disposes of, (2) willfully or through neglect, damaged, destroys, or loses his/her weapon, (3) willfully or through neglect suffers to be lost, damaged, destroyed, sold, or wrongfully disposed of, and military property of the United States, shall be punished as a court-martial may direct. † The maximum punishment for â€Å"through neglect, damaging, destroying, or losing, or through neglect suffering to be lost, damaged, destroyed, sold, or wrongfully disposed of, military property. † â€Å"A value or damage of more than $500, bad-conduct discharge, forfeiture of all pay and allowances, and confinement for 1 year. † This could lead to problems outside of the military with getting a job, the employer could deem you as not responsible and not accountable for equipment or persons.