Proof of P.J.

Some general apparently thought it would be a good idea to order all military personnel in Bagram to carry a weapon at all times. As it was explained to me, “Even though this is considered a garrison-like environment, we’re all soldiers first.”

I can dig that, but because of the rule, everybody brings machine guns to dinner, the gym, even the bathroom. It’s funny when you’re sitting in the mess hall and there’s an M-4 with a grenade launcher attachment lying across your dinning companion’s lap. It’s even funnier in the Pat Tillman Memorial USO lounge (which I’m currently sitting in) when guys (and gals) try to lean their weapons against the wall in such a way that they won’t fall over.

The good news as that these soldiers don’t keep rounds chambered, so if the gun falls over (which they sometimes do,) no one gets hurt.

Accidents do happen, however.

There was this memo posted outside my barracks this morning saying essentially that a soldier was killed because he and comrade were “engaged in horseplay with a loaded weapon.” I don’t even know what it means but the memo went on to use the phrase “horse play” like nine-times.

Quit horsing around with those guns!