The nominee for next commandant of the Marine Corps won't rule out arming Marine recruiters in the wake of the deadly attacks in Tennessee, Chattanooga shootings, but said such a step would be an "extreme measure" to keep them safe.
Lt. Gen. Robert Neller told a Senate panel Thursday morning that a plan to improve security after the tragedy in Chattanooga "could include arming individuals," but added that Defense Department officials needed to weigh the consequences that step might entail.
Neller, head of Marine Corps Forces Command in Norfolk, Virginia, appeared before the Senate Armed Services Committee for his confirmation hearing to become commandant. He began the hearing with a brief salute to the four Marines and sailor killed July 16 when a lone gunman opened fire on two military facilities, including a recruiting office.
"You will not be forgotten," he promised.
Pressed by Sens. Jim Inhofe, R-Okla., and Joe Manchin, D-W.V., on the question of arming Marines on bases at recruiting offices or Marine recruiters, Neller declined to lay out a definite plan of action, but said several measures were being considered under investigation. In the meantime, he said, physical stopgap solutions such as stronger or less transparent glass at recruiting stations were being implemented.
Arming recruiters, he said, could endanger their ability to connect with young potential recruits in civilian settings.
"There are recruiters out there," he said. "They need to recruit — they need to stay connected to the American people, so whatever we do, we need to ensure that we can continue to go to schools [to recruit]," he said.
Since the shootings, multiple lawmakers have advocated arming troops who work at recruiting stations and allowing all service members on military installations to carry firearms. Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Calif., and Rep. Scott DesJarlais, R-Tenn., introduced separate bills this week that would provide for both of those measures, respectively.
During a his confirmation hearing Tuesday confirmation hearing for , the Army's nominee for chief of staff, Gen. Mark Milley said the Army should "seriously consider" arming its recruiters under certain conditions. The Marines' current commandant, Gen. Joseph Dunford, has not made a public statement on the matter.
Two of the service members at the Navy Operational Support Center in Chattanooga were believed to be armed, It's not clear how many of the troops were armed, in spite of regulations. Military sources say a Navy officer and a Marine shot fired back at the shooter with sidearms during the rampage, but FBI officials said Wednesday that only one of the troops' weapons had been fired.
Neller said whatever solution came out of ongoing military investigations, it would have to be consistent across the services military. Arming recruiters is While he did not discuss alternatives to arming recruiters for their security, he said it was only one option under consideration, he said.
"I have some concerns about second and third-order effects of that on recruiting and their access," he said. But "I'm not going to discount it. I think that's probably, in the end, the most extreme measure we could take to do what we need to do."
Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., asked Neller what might have happened if Marines at the Chattanooga recruiting station had been permitted to carry weapons.
"If recruiters had been armed, do you think things would have been different?" he said.
"Senator, I don't know," Neller replied.
Pressed further on the matter by Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman committee chairman Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., Neller gave a more definite answer.
"Yes, they should have been able to defend themselves, senator," he said.
