S.C. National Guard soldiers armed to fight terror attacks

Some South Carolina Army National Guard soldiers can now carry concealed sidearms at local armories to protect themselves and others from terrorist attacks.

Guard commanders, with the approval of Gov. Nikki Haley, have initiated a program that allows authorized soldiers to carry concealed sidearms in all of the state’s 65 armories. Previously, Guard soldiers were not allowed to carry weapons while at work, even if they had state permits.

The action stems from the 2015 terrorist shootings at a recruiting center and Naval Reserve center in Chattanooga, Tenn., that killed four Marines and a sailor.

“We felt we were lacking the ability to immediately defend ourselves,” said Brig Gen. Roy McCarty, South Carolina deputy adjutant general. “We would certainly much rather not have to be facing this situation. But it was a necessary level of protection until regular authorities get on the scene.”

Some civilians might think soldiers and other service members carry weapons regularly. The opposite is true, unless they are deployed in a combat zone or participating in training or other missions where weapons are authorized.

Most soldiers in the course of their daily duties – whether it’s a drill sergeant at Fort Jackson, a helicopter pilot at McEntire Joint National Guard Base near Eastover or a human resources specialist at the Guard headquarters in Columbia – don’t carry weapons.

Live weapons are considered incompatible with training and work, unless specified, because of the possibility of accidents.

The soldiers authorized to carry weapons have been trained by the State Law Enforcement Division and participate in joint training exercises with local law enforcement. They carry 10mm Glock 40 pistols, the same type used by many police forces.

From two to seven soldiers are authorized to carry the concealed weapons in each armory, depending on the number of personnel assigned to the post. An armory that supports a brigade-sized unit, like Anderson, will have more armed soldiers than a small armory like Allendale, which hosts a detachment, said S.C. Guard spokeswoman Lt. Col. Cindi King.

The soldiers carry weapons underneath their camouflage tops, so even their co-workers won’t know who’s authorized.

The weapons are carried secretly “so they won’t be identified as the initial target,” McCarty said. “It’s as low profile as we can make it.”

The program began last year. The Guard has kept the program generally quiet until inquiries were made by The State. About 90 percent of the state’s 65 armories have armed soldiers, with the rest joining soon, McCarty said.

“As much as we would like people to be aware of this program ... we don’t want the public to feel like the National Guard is armed among them everyday,” he said.

Haley said last year she authorized soldiers to carry weapons because “there exists a threat of violence to National Guard members and facilities” in general. However, to date no specific or imminent threats have been identified, said Haley spokeswoman Chaney Adams. Haley’s husband, Michael, is a captain in the National Guard.

The aim of the program is for those specially trained soldiers to protect themselves and other soldiers from a shooter until local law enforcement arrives. The program also institutes other measures like identifying safe rooms.

“Law enforcement could get there in a matter of minutes,” Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott said. “But in a situation like that, it’s not minutes but seconds that count.”

Richland County is arguably more heavily impacted by threats of attacks against the military than any other county in the state. It is home to Fort Jackson — the nation’s largest basic training base; McCrady National Guard Training Center; McEntire Joint National Guard Base; S.C. National Guard headquarters; and several national guard armories, Lott said.

The sheriff said the department holds joint training with at least one installation about every month.

“We understand that the police and the military are being attacked just because they wear a uniform,” he said. “We would be derelict in our duty if we didn’t defend against this.”

Maj. Gen. Robert E. Livingston Jr., South Carolina’s adjutant general, said arming soldiers is one step to protect installations and personnel, and others may be considered.

“This is a continuing evolution in our ability to protect those who protect our citizens,” he said.

This story was originally published July 25, 2016 at 7:02 PM.