Follow the rules to win the war

My soldiers like being in Tarin Kowt, in no small part because there aren't quite as many rules. In Kandahar, for example, we have to carry combat gauze in our right leg pocket, a reflective belt around our waist under our overshirt (even during the day), and a tourniquet in our right shoulder pocket.

It's that tourniquet rule that really blows my mind, though. The rationale, at first blush, is reasonable. Most battlefield injuries are to the lower extremities, so it makes more sense to carry a tourniquet on a part of the body that's less exposed to a blast.

But let's think about this.

First, most people don't wear the overshirt outside the wire -- more often they wear the "Army combat shirt" (ACS). Those things have zipper pockets on the shoulder that open from the side. It's not very convenient.

Second, it you step on a mine, I'd be amazed if you had the presence of mind to put your tourniquet on yourself. More than likely, it's going to be a buddy who puts it on you.

Third, this is a rule that gets enforced on-base more than anything. I'd like nothing better than to have a sergeant major cite the last time we had someone step on a mine or IED *within the perimeter*.

It really is ridiculous. Unfortunately, with missions being small unit affairs, the sergeants major really don't have much else to do than come up with and enforce rules.