The announcement followed a memo sent by Defense Secretary Ash Carter to military leaders earlier this week outlining his plan that would protect now serving transgender troops from being discharged and for each service to incorporate them into the ranks.
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Pentagon spokesman Capt. Jeff Davis said the memo is focused on facilities outside of military bases, such as recruiting stations and ROTC offices.
Armed citizen vigilante groups in a half dozen states started standing guard outside recruiting centers and other public military sites after the July 17 shooting rampage in Chattanooga. Born in Kuwait before moving with his family to Tennessee, he’d made several visits to Jordan in recent years, ostensibly to see relatives.
Carter had cited the Chattanooga shooting on July 16 as evidence of the “continuing threat to DOD personnel”. “It’s going to be a chance for the secretary to meet with all the leadership from the co-coms (combatant commands) and the services and talk about some of the choices that we’re facing on the budget”, Defense Undersecretary Frank Kendall told reporters at an industry conference.
Carter said in a memorandum released Thursday that the service secretaries should develop plans that include the option of armed personnel.
Attempting to balance competing needs of self-defense and safety, the policy adds: “Evaluation of the necessity to arm DOD personnel shall be made with the consideration of the possible consequences of accidental or indiscriminate use of those arms”.
Additionally, it allows military police to be armed if there is “immediate need to protect DoD assets and lives”.
Four U.S. Marines and a sailor have been killed two weeks in the past in Chattanooga when a gunman opened hearth on… Military personnel are generally prohibited from carrying firearms at recruitment centers and bases. Timothy White – the commanding officer for the Navy Operational Support Center – likely fired his personal weapon at Muhammad Youssef Abdulazeez.
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Maj. Gen. Paul W. Brier, commanding general of the 4th Marine Division, said 20 Marines and two Navy corpsman were inspecting the joint facility when the attack happened. “Our service members have the right to defend themselves”.
