Two soldiers detained over missing Fort Bragg ammunition

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WILMINGTON, N.C | Sat Sep 10, 2011 4:44pm EDT

WILMINGTON, N.C (Reuters) - Two male soldiers have been taken into custody at Fort Bragg, North Carolina in connection with the disappearance of roughly 14,000 rounds of ammunition reported missing at the Army base on Wednesday morning, officials said on Saturday.

Military police would not release the names or ranks of the soldiers in custody.

The missing 5.56 millimeter ammunition is valued at about $3,600 and "can be purchased at any Wal-Mart," according to an official familiar with the investigation who spoke to Reuters only on condition of anonymity.

Ammunition handlers from the 82nd Airborne Division's 1st Brigade Combat Team reported the missing rounds, said division spokesman Staff Sergeant Joshua Ford.

The combat team uses the ammunition in the M4 carbine and M16 assault rifle, Ford said.

The 1st Brigade Combat Team was placed on lock-down for a few hours Wednesday night while officials searched for the ammunition, Ford said.

The investigation into the missing ammunition is ongoing, Ford said on Saturday, declining to elaborate.

(Reporting by Jim Brumm; Writing by Eric Johnson; Editing by Greg McCune)
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Comments (3)
dewittdale wrote:
$3,600 in what terms? Wholesale of retail? Please indicate.

Sep 10, 2011 4:53pm EDT  --  Report as abuse
reallyibewaitin wrote:
$3,600 in terms of jail time, general discharge under dishonorable conditions, and knowing there are contractors out there who have lifted Billions from Uncle Sugar.

Sep 11, 2011 1:37am EDT  --  Report as abuse
Incitatus1 wrote:
probably what uncle sam pays for it, you would have a hard time finding m855 ball ammo for 26cents a round.
more like 35-40 cents a round on the open market.

unlce sam owns lake city (ammo plant that makes our military small arms ammo) but hires a contactor to run it, so its much cheaper for them.

Sep 11, 2011 6:46am EDT  --  Report as abuse
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