A surprising lapse occurred when an Army unit accidentally left a K-2 rifle inside a rental car after returning it, and didn’t realize the weapon was missing for three days until a civilian alerted local authorities.
On Tuesday, Army officials confirmed that the firearm was recovered from the rental vehicle on Sunday, following a tip-off from a member of the public.
According to military sources, a non-commissioned officer from an Army unit in the Daegu and North Gyeongsang provinces was assigned to escort a recruit, fresh out of basic training, back to their unit on Thursday via rental car.
During the trip, the recruit accidentally left their newly issued K-2 rifle inside the vehicle. The escorting NCO did not perform a thorough check of the vehicle before returning the rental car, missing the fact that the weapon was still inside.
The unit did not realize the rifle was missing until June 8, when a civilian reported the firearm’s presence in the rental car to the police. Upon receiving the report, military personnel were dispatched immediately to recover the rifle.
Military Discipline Under Review Following Weapon Accountability Lapse
While no injuries or property damage resulted from the incident, it has highlighted significant weaknesses in the military’s weapons accountability and management procedures. The fact that the rifle could have gone unnoticed for days without a civilian report has raised serious concerns.
Army officials stated that a thorough investigation is currently underway by military investigative agencies, with a promise to take appropriate action based on the findings. The incident is expected to prompt a comprehensive review of the military’s weapons management systems and inspection protocols moving forward.
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