Seriously? Company grade and above are usually assigned pistols and many an enlisted MOS entails that soldiers carry pistols, e.g., MPs, medics and Seal Team 6.
Originally Posted by I B Hankering
I'm sure you are right, but those MOS's make up a very small percentage of the military. Seal Team? Seal Team members might not even exist on most bases. I doubt medics would be allowed to carry handguns on a stateside base. MPs yes, but only while on duty.
As I said, the only on-duty officers I remember carrying handguns were Officers of the Day. Others might have had the authority to carry handguns but it was not SOP for them to carry while on duty.
If you were in the service, how many soldiers do you remember seeing carrying handguns?