FORT MOORE, GA— The U.S. Army is offering a $15,000 reward for information about 31 missing M17 pistols and other military gear that vanished from Fort Moore, Georgia, earlier this year. The stolen items include two sets of Enhanced Night Vision Goggles (ENVGs) and an AN/PAS 13D Thermal Optic, raising serious concerns about security at one of the Army’s major facilities.
The weapons and equipment were first reported missing on May 16 but may have disappeared as early as March. The stolen gear was housed in the Crescenz Consolidated Equipment Pool, an armory managed by civilian contractors from Vectrus, also known as V2X. The Army Criminal Investigation Division (CID) described the disappearance as theft, likely orchestrated for profit, rather than a simple mistake.
The M17 pistol, a Sig Sauer model chambered in 9mm, replaced the M9 as the Army’s standard sidearm in 2017. With its modular design, optics compatibility, and 17-round magazine, the M17 is a reliable tool for soldiers. Its civilian counterpart retails for around $650, making it a valuable item on the black market. The ENVGs and thermal optic are cutting-edge devices designed to enhance soldier capabilities in low-visibility and combat scenarios.
Security Failures & Tightened Measures
After the thefts, Fort Moore officials reviewed security protocols, reduced access to the facility, and announced plans to install additional surveillance systems. However, no employees or contractors have been publicly disciplined, and it’s unclear if any arrests have been made in connection with the theft.
This is not the first time military weapons have gone missing. A 2021 Associated Press investigation revealed that over 1,900 firearms disappeared from U.S. military inventories between 2010 and 2020, with some later tied to crimes.
Live Inventory Price Checker
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Crimson Trace Laserguard Green Laser Sight for Sig Sauer P320 (M17, M18) pistols - LG420G | Palmetto State Armory | $ 319.95 |
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Crimson Trace Laserguard Red Laser Sight for Sig Sauer P320 (M17, M18) pistols - LG420 | Palmetto State Armory | $ 239.95 |
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SureFire XVL2 Pistol Remote Switch for Sig Sauer Full-Size/Compact P320/M17/M18/X-Carry/X5 Full-Size/X-VTAC/P226R RSP-03 | EuroOptic.com | $ 79.00 $ 71.00 |
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Trijicon RMR Mount w/Integrated Bright & Tough BLK Outline Front/Rear Night Sight Set for Sig Sauer M17/M18 Commercial Variant 601124 | EuroOptic.com | $ 259.00 $ 193.55 |
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Public Appeal for Information
The CID has encouraged anyone with information to come forward, offering anonymity to tipsters. Military and federal employees are eligible for the reward if their information leads to a conviction. Investigators are determined to recover the stolen items and hold those responsible accountable.
For Fort Moore, formerly known as Fort Benning and home to key Army training programs like Ranger School, these thefts highlight ongoing challenges in safeguarding sensitive equipment. As one of the Army’s premier training bases, maintaining secure storage of weapons and gear is critical to both national security and the safety of American citizens.
If you have any information about this case, contact the Army CID at 706-917-9115.
[CID, Fort Moore] $5,000 Reward for information leading to the return of 31 missing M17 Pistols.
byu/Kinmuan inarmy
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I remember when they said we the military weren’t trustworthy enough to do weapons maintenance and that civilians(retired military) took it from us back in the Klinton days. They forced us to count cardboard boxes from the ammunition inside the ammo cans to ensure that nothing fell into the hands of evil civilian para military groups. They took all armory stuff from us so we couldn’t even fix our weapons when they went down because we couldn’t be trusted with a detent pin. Sounds like they were counting storage boxes rather than the item when they did inventory.
Gee…who has access to the armory?
Inside job. DOD cops or contractor…..that’s where you look. But they will cover for each other so adios taxpayer property.
wow, a SIG is valuable. ?
I learned something today that is not true.
The Army should be happy someone made-off with those pieces of plastic shit…
The US Army doesn’t even run it’s own armory’s? It has “contractors” doing it?
That’s a sign things are really screwed up, when a military can’t even run its own armory.
Now when those guns get used in a crime, Uncle Sam will blame us.