www.safetycenter.navy.mil/media/groundwarrior/issues/winter02/Gore-Tex.htm






Gore-tex Over Weapons - NO GO!






What started out as a security mission turned into an unfortunate, mishap after a young Marine shot himself. This Sergeant was a battalion ammo tech assigned to secure weapons and ammunition during a field exercise. He was issued security rounds for an M9 pistol and an M16A2 rifle to be used to secure the ASP.
After returning from the training site, the Sergeant helped unload one of the vehicles used to transport equipment to and from the training area. After unloading the vehicle, he decided to go turn in his weapons and stop by the head to shave before going to a staff meeting.
The Sergeant grabbed his shaving kit and proceeded to the armory. When he arrived, the armory was crowded with Marines who were cleaning and turning in their weapons. Since he didn't have time to wait in line, he decided to go shave first, and then turn in his two security weapons.
He went to the head facility inside the armory and an armorer told him to give up his M16A2 before entering the head. The Sergeant agreed and handed over his condition four M16-A2.
The armorer took the M16 and started to walk away to help with turn-in. "Wait! I have a pistol too!" The Sergeant quickly zipped open his Gore-Tex parka, then his cold weather "buffalo jacket". He reached inside, and fumbled to draw his pistol from its leather shoulder holster.
Unknown to the armorer, the ammo tech was carrying his M9 pistol in condition 1 status (round chambered, magazine inserted). The ammo tech grasped the pistol grip and attempted to draw the pistol, but the weapon snagged. He apparently had also grabbed part of his parka.
According to the armorer, the ammo tech then made a second, more forceful attempt to extract the weapon. The weapon discharged and one round fired into the Sergeant's chest two inches left of his sternum. The bullet passed through his chest, exited his back and went through a wall behind him.
The ammo tech slumped against the wall, and his legs buckled beneath him as he collapsed onto the floor. The armorer grabbed the injured Sergeant and dragged him away from the head doorway. He yelled called for a corpsman and for someone to dial 911.
Within seconds three Marines came to assist the injured Sergeant, two were civilian trained EMT's and the third was a paramedic. They administered CPR until the ambulance arrived. The young Sergeant was transported to a local hospital and pronounced dead.
Three specific unsafe actions contributed to this mishap:
The Sergeant violated all four safety rules. He wasn't treating the pistol as if it were loaded. He pointed it at something he didn't intend to shoot. He failed to keep his finger straight and off the trigger. He failed to keep the weapon on safe.
Additional considerations are that this Marine wore his shoulder holster under layers of restrictive outer garments. This reduced clear access to the weapon, and witnesses felt it impeded the Sergeants first attempt to draw his pistol.
The M-7 leather shoulder holster is not intended for use as a concealed-carry holster. The Marine Corps is developing one but it is for limited use by law enforcement personnel and has not yet been issued.
The M7 as well as the M12 (green nylon hip holster) should be worn over outer garments at all times. Additionally, if you are armed and tasked to stand a post requiring security rounds and a condition one weapon, how effective are you if you bury your weapon beneath multiple layers of clothing?
To find out more, reenactments were staged using Marines with M7 holsters worn underneath similar clothing. These reenactments demonstrated this was dangerous as Marines showed a tendency to angle the weapon in toward their chest. This results from the holster's tendency to snag unless it is tied down. The holster has a tie down strap, which should be snapped around the trouser web belt. If this is done, it will hold the holsterin place as a pistol is being drawn. Sounds simple but Marines wear blouses over their trousers, which covers up the web belt; in the 'old corps' blouses were tucked in and the web belt was readily accessible.
If a pistol is drawn when the tie down isn't used, the holster stays with the pistol until it binds on the shoulder harness--this causes the holster to bind and kicks the muzzle in toward the body.
To wear this holster properly, it must be adjusted to fit over outer garments and the tie down strap must be attached to the utility belt or similarly located strap from your deuce gear.
It was further noted during reenactments that an M9 may inadvertently be placed to fire as the pistol is grasped or during the draw if the safety lever is brushed against the holster or body. While this can occur with any holster, the pistol still doesn't fire unless you pull the trigger and the bullet doesn't kill you, unless you direct it toward yourself.
The unit weapons handling instruction did not provide guidance regarding the wearing of outer garments over a shoulder holstered weapon. This sounds silly but it is correct. The M7 is not the standard issue holster of the Marine Corps. The green nylon M12 is the "official" holster (when worn on the hip) and units who must have something better or different are required to develop their own specific training.
The M7 holster was initially designed during World War II for the .45 ACP 1911-A1 pistol. After the 1957 color change, this holster switched from brown to black. No changes have been made to the design since.
The fact that this holster was built for the .45 is not an issue. K-bars and rifle slings haven't changed much since World War II either. The issue is that since the M7 holster is not standard (Marine Corps does not develop training for it), it is up to the using unit to develop training.
Is the M7 "authorized"? Yes. However, units desiring to use holster other than the M12 must develop unit-level, specific training. The M7 is one of many holsters in this category. If units wish to continue using it, classes should be constructed and guidelines included in the unit SOP.
This holster is but one of many non-standard types and is arguably more appropriate for tank crewman, and machine gunners, TOW missile-men and aviators. Marine security guards, policeman, reconnaissance units, and FAST platoons all use non-standard holsters to satisfy their differing requirements and fixed wing aviators use taco-shell looking holsters built by parachute riggers from scraps of nylon. Regardless of the holster used, make sure it works and that Marines know how to wear, adjust and use it properly.