Protecting the Protectors

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Marine Corps Gazette | James V. Marshall | July 10, 2006

In spite of intensive training, accidental discharge of small weapons continues to be a problem within the Marine Corps, as well as throughout the U.S. military. Gaining a better understanding of these unfortunate and often tragic occurrences is critical to the process of their elimination. During the course of my training as a rifle and pistol coach, while serving in the Marine Corps from 1985 to 1993, I first began to observe and analyze the characteristics of accidental discharges of small weapons. Since 1996 I have served as a licensed firearms instructor for Tennessee law enforcement and over this time have gained an even greater appreciation and understanding of the nature of accidental discharges.

Early on in my military training I dismissed these accidental discharges as merely the end result of carelessness and/or negligence, along with inadequate training. However, I soon realized that my initial assessment was not accurate in most cases. Seasoned and highly trained soldiers could also fall prey to accidental discharges. In 2001 there were five deaths in special weapons and tactics training exercises in this country as cited by the National Tactical Officers Association. Were these the result of inadequate training? When accidental discharges happen among highly skilled and trained law enforcement and military personnel, given the intensity of their training, it is counterintuitive to merely dismiss these events as being the result of inadequate training. What then is the root cause of this problem?

Human Error
The vast majority of accidental discharges occur as a result of human error. This insidious quality of mankind cannot be avoided. You can certainly reduce the incidence of human error by extensive training and awareness, but human error will always exist and cannot be totally eliminated by training alone. It has been said that familiarity breeds complacency, which is yet another opportunity for human error. Furthermore, the factors of fatigue and stress can greatly increase the probability of human error. Few if any other professions can compare to the level of stress and fatigue experienced within the U.S. military.

When the consequences of human error can lead to life-threatening outcomes, it becomes essential to adopt critical countermeasures to reduce the likelihood of human error. This concept is the very foundation of the field of loss prevention. The losses as a result of the accidental discharges within the U.S. military are substantial and deserve our attention. In keeping with these principles, Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld issued a challenge to the U.S. military to reduce the accident rate by 50 percent by the end of 2005.

Obviously, we cannot eliminate stress, and we cannot train away human error, so how can we expect to reduce the inevitable bad outcomes like accidental discharges that occur when these elements converge? One answer to this dilemma lies in first identifying the common denominator of all accidental discharges. By analyzing the common features of accidental discharges, there is one critical element that emerges as the common denominator—namely a chambered live round.

The Solution
The solution then for eliminating accidental discharges must lie in preventing the chambering of live ammunition, except of course when engaged in live ammunition training or combat. There are many ways to block the firing chamber of weapons, but unfortunately, most of these disable the weapon. Clearly, preservation of accessibility and functionality of a weapon is essential for military and law enforcement purposes.

In the course of my law enforcement training, I utilized one device called the Saf-T-Round, an ejectable visible load indicator that meets all of the above demands. This device, constructed of an international orange or black polymer, blocks the firing chamber of weapons and also has attached to it a flag or indicator that gives visual and tactile proof of a chamber clear status. However, unlike other load indicators and, most importantly, a totally unique feature of this remarkably simple but effective device is that it has a brass back, identical to live ammunition, that is engaged by the weapon extractor. As a result, the simple maneuver of charging the weapon instantly extracts and then ejects the Saf-T-Round, while chambering a live round (provided a loaded magazine is in place). Consequently, the Saf-T-Round when in place provides visible safety from accidental discharge, but preserves instantaneous availability and functionality of the weapon. The recently developed retention system for the Saf-T-Round is a hook and loop strap that attaches to the weapon barrel and, by retractable lanyard, attaches to the Saf-T-Round tab so that once ejected the Saf-T-Round is always available for reuse. This is a valuable combination of features that has numerous applications within law enforcement.

The Benefits
As I recall from my Marine Corps experiences, I can see a multitude of important applications for the Saf-T-Round that, in my opinion, would greatly reduce the accidental discharge rate. At the recruit depots this device would assist drill instructors and primary marksmanship instructors by ensuring a recruit's weapon is safe, without requiring a lengthy detailed physical inspection, thus eliminating the long lines of Marines waiting to get their weapons inspected. Time reduction would be a key benefit in this example as the Saf-T-Round would allow junior and senior Marines to get along to the next step or task to be carried out without getting bogged down.

Regarding advanced training schools, the Saf-T-Round would help at any military occupational specialty training schools by providing safety during extensive weapons handling and live fire exercises.

During live fire exercises the Saf-T-Round would provide visual security to all Marines involved. Firing line noncommissioned officers would not have to worry as the Marines step up to the line with the Saf-T-Round visible. This device would assure them that the weapon is clearly safe, allowing for a calmer and safer environment for both the Marine who is shooting and the Marine in charge of the line.

Transportation of weapons and Marines can produce a very stressful situation. The Saf-T-Round would provide a visual security of all weapons during the transfer. This visual security would apply to weapons in transit via shipping or physical transportation by Marines on post to various locations. From a platoon in the back of a 7-ton truck to packaged weapons being transported from the manufacturers to the actual buyers, the Saf-T-Round would offer a more definitive, secure transportation.

Use of this additional safety measure would also ensure that the crew chief and the rest of the crew on helicopters, tracked vehicles, and light armored vehicles know that weapons on board are completely safe. As well, the current requirement for the breakdown of weapons being transported on commercial airlines could be obviated totally with use of the Saf-T-Round. Additionally, checking weapons in and out of the armory could be expedited with the presence of the Saf-T-Round, all the while reassuring the armorer that the weapons are safe.

When standing on post in nonhostile countries, the Saf-T-Round offers Marines an additional safe way to secure their weapons. Live ammunition may be authorized for posts in and outside of the United States, but it is not authorized to be loaded in chamber without a viable threat to the Marine or government property in some given situations. The existence of the Saf-T-Round in such a situation would be better than just having a magazine inserted into the weapon without any outward reassurance of a safe weapon. Once again the Saf-T-Round would assure the inspecting officer that the weapon is clearly safe by visual inspection without extensive physical inspection. For situations when one does not want to draw attention to the weapon, the Saf-T-Round is available in black.

Firearms training within the Marine Corps has evolved over the years into a highly developed process. Standing operating procedures are in place for very good reasons. The Saf-T-Round is designed as an additional standard control measure to enhance these rules and heighten safety awareness. The Saf-T-Round is not intended to short circuit basic firearms safety. In other words the Saf-T-Round is an adjunct, not a replacement, to intensive firearms training just as the airbag, shoulder harness, and lap belt are designed to supplement and not replace intensive driver safety instruction.

In summary, we cannot entirely eliminate human error or the precipitating forces of stress and fatigue. Nor can we hope to ever completely eradicate accidental discharge by rote methods of training, because in the final analysis accidental discharge always involves two elements—the weapon and the individual handling the weapon. Even our most intense training methods still leave us vulnerable to accidental discharge. However, by adopting truly effective loss prevention methods like functional load indicators (e.g., the Saf-T-Round), we can neutralize the forces that leave the door open for accidental discharge. By so doing I believe the employment of the Saf-T-Round would greatly contribute to the reduction of accidental discharge and as a result reduce the tremendous costs resulting from accidental discharges, such as acute and chronic medical care, short- and long-term disability, death gratuities, retraining, investigations, etc. Finally many readers may not be aware that the Saf-T-Round is now available through the Department of Defense supply system.

[Covertness]

I use something similiar to this in my weapons. The case is an opaque red plastic with a spring in it that goes to the base of the dummy round. This enables one to practice dry firing without dropping the firing pin on an empty chamber. It is similarly extracted simply by charging the weapon.