What is an effective and creative corrective action for a soldier left a weapon unattended?

Just don't use the punishment that the Republic of Korea officer's used while I was in the ROK in 1982. I was informed by my ROK Army liason (a ROK Major) that a ROK unit had had trouble with rifles being lost on field exercises and the commander authorized summary execution after an M-16 was lost while on a training exercise.

Even though I had left my M-16 in a locked room to which only I had the key, the Article 15 I received cured me of such oversights! The fact it was in that locked room mitigated my punishment to some degree I assume.

I know a guy that left his rifle hanging off of his rack. His squad leader disassembled it and gave each piece to a different NCO in the company. The individual had to go on a scavenger hunt to get all of the pieces back.

I would let them go and try to find the weapon even if I have it. I truly believe the fear and panic that comes with not only losing a weapon, but being unable to find it, alone is a great lesson. I'd let them panic and look, and then let them know I have it. Only once did I almost lose mine, and the panic alone made me never have an almost, again.

If they are an ARNG company commander and a CPT, apparently the answer is send him to BDE HQ and promote him to MAJ.....

Go to hobby lobby and get a pretty ribbon. Tie on end to his weapon and secure the other end to his person.

Take it! Give him or her the time to think of their screw up. Give the weapon to their Platoon or Furst Sergeant.

better make amends with whatever god you serve...

Depending upon the SMs rank, have him stand at the front door of the DFAC at Parade Rest (under arms, of course) and everytime someone comes to the door to go inside, have him go to Position of Attention at Port Arms and either give your Units motto/ saying or better than that, you have the SM announce that meals menu to EVERYONE entering the DFAC. If it is an Officer or Cadet, the SM has to go to Present Arms instead of Port.

...or you can just do what we did to a Butter Bar LT who left his rifle at the water buffalo...first, he had to find it. After the panic wore off and he figured out someone had it, he had to figure out which supply SGT actually had it...from which Company. After giving him the official run around for about an hour, he had to dummy chord it to himself...not his gear...but himself for 1 week. He never lost it again!

I received an article 15 during basic training. I appreciate that now.

Tie a boot string to his weapon and the other end to their body. A loose weapon is something usually seen in basic training... minor punishment maximum training. In a real environment, with or without danger, look for another branch.

We had a trainee do that in basic. The drill sergeants made him low crawl for an entire day with all his gear.

Dig a two man fighting position. Emphasizing on how he must keep his weapon handy at all times as he does not have cover yet

We had a guy do this in Afghanistan and our LTC had him carry around the 249 for a week

Make him carry his weapon at all times during duty hours for a week. If you can't sign out a real weapon for the week the give him a "rubber duck".

Savanna I have been thinking about this and thinking about this, understand I am retired now so take it for what its worth. I am assuming this is a salvageable soldier, if not beat him to death with a bat, then pitch him in the dumpster at the gas station.

If salvageable, beat him with a bat, not till dead and not till broken forever, but pretty damn mangled. Then do all the other stuff suggested. Explain that you spared his life for the simple reason you thought he was salvageable. However, if you had to readdress this issue the outcome would be different.

Savanna understand I am not being serious, I understand we cant kill or maim our people. Maybe sit on this one just incase some day we can. Kidding just kidding

Make him tie it to his leg...we had this one shitbag named Hall who we did this to, the idiot actually walked off and started dragging the thing with him...they call us crayon eaters for a reason

Have him conduct a sensitive items check every four hours of all of the platoon's sensitive items for 72 hours.

The sensitive items checks are conducted in full gear, minus ruck.

And his weapon (or rubber duck) is dummy corded to him the entire 72 hours.

If he misses one item on the sensitive items check, the 72 hours starts over from zero.

duct tape to his hand, have him sit down with an MP and do a detailed report of how he lost it, and what the charges could amount to, the time he may have served if it was believed to be intentional. If you have a contact in legal have him sit down with a prosecutor so he can get a feel for what would be heading his way.

...Sorry Savanna another story one of my trips to Afghanistan was working with the Dutch SF guys. They had a brand new compound real close to the airfield. My team house was right on the airfield. I remember coming out of the shower/latrine one morning with my shaving bag and towel wrapped around me and the outside of the latrine was an M16 leaning on the building. I stopped and looked around saw nobody. Some young guy walked out I ask him if it was his, he said nope but may know who's it is. I told him he could get one of the unit's NCO to come get it now our I would take it with me. In a minute about 3 guys came running up and gave all the information and collected the weapon. Hey accidents happen, but you have got to learn.


Good luck CPL Savanna Sansone