UPDATE: Soldiers refuse to drive convoy in Iraq

[TexasDevilDog]

http://reuters.myway.com/article/20041206/2004-12-06T122159Z_01_MAC636369_RTRIDST_0_NEWS-IRAQ-CONVOY-DC.html

The U.S. military in Iraq has disciplined 18 soldiers who refused to go out on a transport convoy they thought was too dangerous, but the reservists will not face court-martial, a military spokesman said Monday.
.....
Article 15 gives commanders discretion to order brief detention of up to a month, loss of up to a month's pay, extra duties and loss of rank.

[WhtEdge]

Doh! Here we go again...

[JimD]

Hell i don't blame them, i wouldn't want to be in anything un-armored in that shithole.

[Denny]

Hell i don't blame them, i wouldn't want to be in anything un-armored in that shithole.

;)

[TexasDevilDog]

Hell i don't blame them, i wouldn't want to be in anything un-armored in that shithole.

That just means you are scared. Not everything is armored in the military. That is just the way it is.

After the group refused to go, another group that was off duty, stepped up and drove the convoy. They had no problems. Shit like that cause bad morale, when someone has to take extra risks because someone is scare to do it.

[TAMUz06]

I'll stick with my comments I made before - there is absolutely no reason whatsoever to have a soft-skinned vehicle here, if you have one, make some damn field-expedient armor and put it on that vehicle. We use sandbags, acetylene torch the fuck outta some steel sheeting, old kevlar body armor vests duct taped to the doors (yes, it's true...)

Doing all that may look a lot worse, but it will actually protect you MORE than our "up-armored" vehicles...be surprised what 18" of sand will stop.

[Denny]

I line mine with vest plates as well... if it gets to the point where I'm too scared (ya right), I'll just go home and do everyone else over here a favor.