The Efficacy of Recycled Magazines: Do Soldiers Keep Them for Refilling?
Do soldiers have to keep their empty mags to be refilled? This is a common question in the context of modern combat tactics and equipment management. As a former military servicemember, I'll delve into the practices and reasoning behind how soldiers handle and manage their ammunition and magazines.
Magazines as Reusable Tools
Understanding the Role of Magazines: Magazines are not one-use items. They are designed to be refilled, although in combat, soldiers often allow empty magazines to drop rather than pick them up. However, when the situation permits, they are encouraged to collect and refill these magazines.
Standard combat ammunition is distributed in green metal tins. For magazine-fed weapons, ammo can come in different forms—either through stripper clips holding the rounds by their rim or as loose rounds if they have not been previously issued. Machine gun ammo comes in various forms, often held together by metal links or in plastic boxes that clip onto the weapon. Units typically have spare magazines in supply sections, but they rarely have enough to constantly replace them.
Standard Combat Load and Magazine Handling
The Evolution of Combat Load: Traditionally, the standard combat load for a soldier was 210 rounds of ammunition, distributed as one magazine in the rifle and six on the soldier's gear. However, this has evolved, with many soldiers carrying between 12 to 21 magazines these days. This shift is due to the increasing availability and practice of carrying more ammo.
When fighting ceases, soldiers typically reload the magazines they've collected. This practice ensures that there is always a full set of ammunition available without the need for constant resupply during battle. With difficulty, soldiers manage their ammo and magazines carefully, aiming to have at least ten magazines for their combat load plus an additional ten for backup.
Deployments and Magazine Management
Deployment Practices: During deployments, soldiers often load up all available magazines and store any extras in an ammo can for quick access. In Iraq, for example, a soldier named [Insert Name] carried around fifteen magazines during heavily fought engagements in Sadr City in 2008. Units also pack ready-to-use magazines and ammunition in their Humvees and on large bases, making it easy to find and utilize extra magazines.
The Importance of Efficiency and Safety
Loading Your Own Magazines: While not all magazines need to be refilled, it is essential for soldiers to do so when possible. This not only saves time but also ensures that each soldier knows their equipment inside out. Except for special circumstances like range qualification days, soldiers typically load their own magazines for safety and efficiency. A LULA speed loader, which supports NATO STANAG patterns like the M16, can greatly assist in this process without causing significant wear on the hands.
Conclusion
While magazines are fundamentally reusable items, soldiers are required to manage them effectively. The importance of refilling magazines cannot be overstated, as it contributes to efficient and safe operations. Understanding and adhering to these practices can significantly enhance military readiness and success on the battlefield.