The Army Times explains that “homeland tours” for US Army Brigade Combat Teams (BCT) started October 1st:
The 1st BCT’s soldiers also will learn how to use “the first ever nonlethal package that the Army has fielded,” 1st BCT commander Col. Roger Cloutier said, referring to crowd and traffic control equipment and nonlethal weapons designed to subdue unruly or dangerous individuals without killing them.
The package is for use only in war-zone operations, not for any domestic purpose.
I confess I am getting very confused by these stories of Army soldiers who are trained “only” for war-zone operations with nonlethal packages as they start a domestic tour. Sounds like a giant contradiction, or at least a loophole in logic.
“It’s a new modular package of nonlethal capabilities that they’re fielding. They’ve been using pieces of it in Iraq, but this is the first time that these modules were consolidated and this package fielded, and because of this mission we’re undertaking we were the first to get it.”
The package includes equipment to stand up a hasty road block; spike strips for slowing, stopping or controlling traffic; shields and batons; and, beanbag bullets.
Maybe you see what I mean. Nonlethal devices being developed for the Army, who already are doing police work in other countries, and given to them first because they are now on a domestic tour. Traffic control? Surely someone could develop a more resilient, mobile and independent traffic control system that does not require the US Army to intervene, no? That sounds like a far better investment than Tazers that can be fired from shotguns.
The brigade will not change its name, but the force will be known for the next year as a CBRNE Consequence Management Response Force, or CCMRF (pronounced “sea-smurf”).
“I can’t think of a more noble mission than this,” said Cloutier, who took command in July. “We’ve been all over the world during this time of conflict, but now our mission is to take care of citizens at home … and depending on where an event occurred, you’re going home to take care of your home town, your loved ones.”
Uh, that doesn’t sound right to me. Are we supposed to wave our hands and welcome the US Army to a “noble mission” on domestic soil — taking care of citizens at home, while packing a new modular package of nonlethal capabilities? Will they be dressed like smurfs too?