Our rifles are being taken.

[Condukt]

Our unit has de-militarized M1 Garands that the armed drill team and color guard use, and we've had them with no issues for almost 7 years now (the unit itself stands at about 9 years of existence).

Recently we've received news from the higher ups that, due to safety issues, the rifles are going to be taken and replaced with replicas. Although we may get lucky and be able to hang on to them until the end of the next school year.

I am not sure if this applies to all AFJROTC/AFROTC units that use de-militarized weapons, there doesn't seem to be any buzz here at all about this issue from what I have looked through.

I also do not understand what motive they would have to take the rifles all of a sudden. 'Safety issues', 'because the Air Force doesn't want us to have them', and 'there's no money' are recurring answers I get from my drill team commander and my instructors, so there's not much help circulating.

This whole thing has everyone confused within the corps, and losing my rifle would be like losing a part of me.

[03_SHOOTER]

Our unit has de-militarized M1 Garands that the armed drill team and color guard use, and we've had them with no issues for almost 7 years now (the unit itself stands at about 9 years of existence).

Recently we've received news from the higher ups that, due to safety issues, the rifles are going to be taken and replaced with replicas. Although we may get lucky and be able to hang on to them until the end of the next school year.

I am not sure if this applies to all AFJROTC/AFROTC units that use de-militarized weapons, there doesn't seem to be any buzz here at all about this issue from what I have looked through.

I also do not understand what motive they would have to take the rifles all of a sudden. 'Safety issues', 'because the Air Force doesn't want us to have them', and 'there's no money' are recurring answers I get from my drill team commander and my instructors, so there's not much help circulating.

This whole thing has everyone confused within the corps, and losing my rifle would be like losing a part of me.

It sounds more like your unit is the victim of the "WE HATE GUNS" groups.

If the weapons are de-milled, then what is the "safety issue"?
What money is necessary to maintain de-milled weapons?
The only reason the AF wouldn't want you to have them is if they're bowing to pressure from the "WE HATE GUNS" crowd.

This is what happens when we allow a bunch of metrosexual freaks run the military!

[TruBlu]

Before this goes any further, allow me to attain a copy of the exact memo that was sent to all Air Force cadet units and pull the facts from that. I should have it by the end of business today.

[Stryfe]

Our unit lost our M-1s last year and got them replaced with Daisys. To be honest, I like 03's more then M-1's and was fine with the change. Plus, if you're really a die-hard M-1 fan then you can always spare the $200-250 and see if you can find one on OWS-Ammo.com

[Drill for life]

Trublu my unit also received a memo but it was only for replacing Springfield rifle's with replicas. Cadet Command sent my SAI a letter that said all Springfield's will be replaced with Daisy Springfield replica's by the year he retire's(2012). I will post it even if I have to type the whole memo by hand.

[Stryfe]

I have not read the memo myself, but I can only assume that thebsecision was made because Daisys can take some extreame punishment and thats obviously a viable choice when a first time spinner is using them.

I think the only thing you could do if you dont like Daisys is to buy your own Demil like I did.

[Buffa1oso1di3r]

My AJROTC unit got the memo last year; we replaced our demilled M1 Garands with Replica M1903s. I don't know WHY there's a safety issue, save for the fact that some MAG (Mother Against Guns, like my mom) might call the police to inform them of a gang of rifle wielding High Schoolers.

[Sickllama]

I am also apart of the same Drill Team as Condukt and I found really hard to believe that the AF would take our De Milled Rifles away :dontgetit:

[JohnP]

I have not read the memo myself, but I can only assume that thebsecision was made because Daisys can take some extreame punishment and thats obviously a viable choice when a first time spinner is using them.

I think the only thing you could do if you dont like Daisys is to buy your own Demil like I did.

Thebssecision – decision

Extreame – extreme

Thats – that’s

Dont – don’t


Please use a spell check before you post.:mad: We pride ourselves on using English in its proper form on this forum. Even Drill’s spelling is getting better.

[Billyd]

People, we deal in facts that come from official sources not assumptions on what someone said, I don't care who that someone is.

TruBlu, contact me when you have the memo in hand to unlock this thread. The speculation is getting a bit out of hand.

Locked until TruBlu contacts me.

[Billyd]

Now that TruBlu has contacted me letting me know that he has the memos in hand, this thread is now re-opened. Please hold all comments until he has a chance to post.

[TruBlu]

OK, I’ve got two recent memos that pertain to inert weapons and replica weapons from AETC (Air University). The first of the two pertains to demilitarized weapon storage and is dated 13 March 2009; the second pertains to CIMS (Cadet Information Management System) inventories. I've uploaded them to my Photobucket account, and they are embedded below. Read them carefully, every detail is to the point. There is no mention of a scheduled USAF recall of inert M-1 rifles, only what will happen if the USAF does issue one. This is not a concern of safety (for us), but of security of these weapons, which has been breached by numerous units across the years. It is also a safety for these weapons, which are not impervious to the damage done by exhibition drill (my team has had two stocks break clean this year, and the drill done by those spinning them is far from extensive).

Once you've read it and feel like you understand it, read it again. And a quick note: Ignore the scratch writing in the right margin of each, my ASI was doing some math for our cabling on our inert M-1 rifles.

http://i461.photobucket.com/albums/qq332/fjlearyiv/Picture.jpg

http://i461.photobucket.com/albums/qq332/fjlearyiv/Picture001.jpg