National Guard Bureau, Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
National Guard Bureau, Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
Posted on Feb 13, 2019
What should happen if a leader points a weapon at a soldier? What punishments are available?
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Greetings everyone. A fellow NCO (if it fits in here) pointed his rifle to a soldier. The soldier was on a detail doing some work for a FTX we held during drill weekend and, without any reason, this NCO pointed his weapon right to the chest of a soldier. This is a second incident. The first one, we had live ammunition and we were during an state mob and he did the same. This NCO lack of every ounce of leadership and control over his soldiers. The NCOIC nor the unit permanent party punished this actions. They just gave an counseling but I'm pretty sure this actions has worse consequences. This second event was with blanks. I need guidance in what can I do and what is supposed to happen. What punishments are available?
Posted in these groups: 
Army Regulations
NGB
Army Regulations NGB
Posted 5 y ago
Responses: 20
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Immediately, using your general military authority vested in your rank, to take corrective action on the spot. Everyone is a safety officer. Stop the unsafe act. Report it to the range NCOIC and OIC for further corrective action.
Leaders should never allow a known unsafe act to continue. Period.
Leaders should never allow a known unsafe act to continue. Period.
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SGT (Join to see)
Commander: ‘SGT, why did you attack SSG Xyz? He’ll have bones in his stool for a week.”
SGT: ‘Sir. SSG Xyz pointed his loaded weapon, with live ammunition, directly at me. I let it go the first time. Couldn’t let it slide twice. Feared for my life’
Commander: ‘um..wai...wait. What?!
SGT: ‘Sir. Twice. If you point a weapon at someone, you’re prepared to use it. I couldn’t allow that. I asked nicely, and he refused to stop. I had to protect myself and joes around me.
Commander: ‘Carry on’
Really, that type of horsesh*t can’t be allowed. And if it’s handled in a manner similar to above, how will a commander address it? The job is dangerous enough as is, without idiots ‘playing Army’ with their boom sticks. It should have zero tolerance.
SGT: ‘Sir. SSG Xyz pointed his loaded weapon, with live ammunition, directly at me. I let it go the first time. Couldn’t let it slide twice. Feared for my life’
Commander: ‘um..wai...wait. What?!
SGT: ‘Sir. Twice. If you point a weapon at someone, you’re prepared to use it. I couldn’t allow that. I asked nicely, and he refused to stop. I had to protect myself and joes around me.
Commander: ‘Carry on’
Really, that type of horsesh*t can’t be allowed. And if it’s handled in a manner similar to above, how will a commander address it? The job is dangerous enough as is, without idiots ‘playing Army’ with their boom sticks. It should have zero tolerance.
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I'm sure this isn't the "right" answer, but it's a goddam boot to the chest or butt stroke to the face.
Pointing a weapon, especially a loaded one, isn't a joke. Plenty of people in the Army have been killed by a negligent discharge when someone pointed a weapon at them.
Pointing a weapon, especially a loaded one, isn't a joke. Plenty of people in the Army have been killed by a negligent discharge when someone pointed a weapon at them.
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SFC (Join to see)
SSG James J. Palmer IV aka "JP4" I had a buddy in the Marine Corps who almost got shot buy a negligent discharge. They had just finished a live fire, and the saw Gunner rowed the bolt forward and discharge the weapon and the rounds straight up between his legs did almost shot him in the groin. He stood up, walk over, and kicked the guy in the face. I would say that's completely Fair. I've known a few people in the Army who have been shot by negligent discharge. It's too serious to mess around with
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SSG Eddie Helmling
I have had this type of thing happen to me. Sgt Time training "challenge and pass ward" we all know you point your weapon at the person you are challenging. So we are on a brake fellow solder points his weapon at me, I ask him to knock it off. He does it again told him " I would take it (his weapon) and shove it up his a$$" . Our sgt hear this and ask what was going on, I told him. The Sgt then pointed his weapon at me and ask what I would do. Yes I told him the same thing. Yes he threatened articular 15. At that point I told him training is one thing but that this I take as a threat to my personal safety that I would and could defend myself as needed. That ended that kind of horse play.(one thing all weapons were unloaded no brass no ammo) ..... IF YOU SEE AN UNSAFE ACT YOU HAVE FULL AUTHORITY TO STOP IT BY WARD OR DEED... no one should ever need to die on a training mission
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Seriously. I cannot picture this how nobody around lost there shit on this NCO for pointing a rifle at someone else let alone put it to another soldiers chest. Right then and there I would of lost my shit regardless of rank... If the COC hasn't at least Art 15 this soldier there is absolutely something wrong in this situation. If there are multiple witness that you can get statements from I would, I would bring it up my COC, if they do not do absolutely anything I would have that soldier file a report ASAP.
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