The Ethics and Practicality of Using Enemy Weapons in Combat (2024)

FAQs

Are soldiers allowed to keep enemy weapons? ›

The only weapons that may be retained are those in categories to be agreed upon jointly by the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of the Treasury. Before a weapon is turned over to a member, the weapon shall be rendered unserviceable.

Further, service members will not possess, transport, or use privately owned firearms during a military exercise of deployment, unless authorized, in writing, by the Commanding General.

Offensive arms harm the enemy, while defensive weapons ward off offensive blows. Transportation technology moves soldiers and weaponry; communications coordinate the movements of armed forces; and sensors detect forces and guide weaponry.

Personal owned weapons (POWs) are not allowed near a training or operational environment. You cannot take them to combat. You cannot take them to work. You cannot leave it in the car while you're at work.

A conscientious objector is a person who refuses to bear arms or serve in the military based on a matter of conscience; rather, on moral, ethical, or religious grounds. In the United States, conscientious objections were raised in response to military conscription (the “draft”).

Soldiers who are on duty or in uniform are prohibited from: Participating in any interview or discussion as an advocate for or against a party, candidate or cause. Participating in partisan political activity.

Some weapons, such as blinding lasers, incapacitating anti-personnel mines (under the Ottawa treaty) and riot control agents, have already been prohibited under the law of armed conflict.

Commanders may authorize the carrying of a privately-owned, knife with a blade over 3 inches to field duty. The provost marshal may authorize the carrying of a privately-owned, sheathed, lock blade knife on military and DOD police officers' pistol belts.

The atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima, Japan, killed 70,000 people initially, with tens of thousands more succumbing to radiation sickness over subsequent months and years.

The single deadliest firearm in history is speculated to be the AK-47 for similar reasons as to why the gladius was so deadly. It has been in production since 1947 and is the most common gun in the world. If militaries around the world continue to wield and proliferate the AK-47, it too could overtake the gladius.

What does the U.S. military do with old weapons? ›

If by “old” you mean obsolete but still usable, these weapons are stored until needed or sold/gifted to allied militaries or their own nation's police. Sometimes some of these weapons are sold on the open market, sometimes they are demilitarized (DEMIL) and sold for scrap or as decorations.

Soldiers who do not serve in a direct combat role are often issued a pistol (such as officers, artillery crews, and other rear-echelon personnel), but conventional riflemen are not generally issued a pistol as part of their standard kit.

No civilian (to include Veterans) is authorize the use or possession of military service weapons in the US. You don't even get to take your service weapon home with you while you're serving. You only keep your service weapon while you're on duty (in a billet that requires it) or while you are in a combat zone.

No, you cannot choose what weapon you use. You will be assigned a role and the weapon(s) that go along with that role. In the U.S. Army the most basic roles would be rifleman, grenadier, automatic rifleman, or part of a machine gun crew (gunner, assistant gunner, ammo bearer). No, you cannot choose what weapon you use.

Not all uses of enemy uniforms are prohibited therefore; only “improper” uses. For example, wearing enemy uniforms in order to flee the fighting or escape capture does not run afoul of the law (U.S. Department of Defense Law of War Manual § 5.23. 1.4).

ROE always recognize a Soldier's inherent right of self-defense. These rules vary between operations and may change during an operation. Adherence to them ensures Soldiers act consistently with international law, national policy, and military regulations.

Every combatant has a duty to disobey a manifestly unlawful order.