Military personnel can apply to carry their personal firearms for their own protection on Department of Defense property under a new department directive.

Certain military personnel already carry weapons as part of their jobs. But under the new directive, approved personnel will be able to carry concealed handguns "for a personal protection purpose not related to the performance of official duties."

The directive, effective Nov. 18, comes a little more than a year after Defense Secretary Ash Carter outlined efforts to improve the security of military personnel following the attacks on a recruiting center in Chattanooga, Tenn., that killed four Marines and one Navy sailor.

In the memo, Carter directed the service secretaries to arm qualified individuals at "off-installation facilities," and said the Chattanooga attacks underlined the "challenging security environment in which we operate," including threats posed by domestic terrorism.

No changes have been made yet at the Naval Submarine Base in Groton.

Base spokesman Chris Zendan said by email last week that officials there are awaiting "possible additional guidance" from the commander of Navy Installations "in the near future."

"Other than authorized Security and watch-standing personnel, individuals aboard the base may not conceal, or carry upon their person, any dangerous weapon, instrument or device, or any highly explosive article or compound," Zendan said.

Personnel who live on base can store their personal weapons with the Security Department, if space allows, he said.

Under the new directive, military personnel must request permission to carry their privately owned firearms on Department of Defense property. Permission will be granted in writing and will be effective for 90 days "or as long as the DoD Component deems appropriate."

The directive leaves the decision of identifying "arming authorities," officials who can grant concealed or open carry requests, to the individual military branches. The officials must have obtained at least the rank of lieutenant colonel or commander, or the civilian equivalent.

Those applying must be 21 years old, meet applicable local, state and federal laws, and not face or be convicted of violating the Uniform Code of Military Justice "for any offense that calls into question the individual's fitness to carry a firearm." Applicants must also not face or be convicted of civilian criminal charges.

The directive does not allow personal firearms to be carried within federal buildings unless an "appropriate exception" is made, and it does not apply to state National Guard personnel or service members in war zones.

Steve Kennedy, 30, of Fairfield, an Army Iraq War veteran, said he isn't sure if the new directive will make much of a difference.

"I think it's kind of a wash," said Kennedy, who served in the infantry and was stationed at Fort Bragg in North Carolina.

"Some will argue that on military bases people are trained so it's safer. ... I don't know that that's necessarily the case. The vast majority are in supporting roles and learn to shoot weapons," he said. While they qualify with the weapon, or weapons, they are going to be carrying, they don't necessarily go through extensive training on how to distinguish an active shooter, he added.

The directive requires applicants to demonstrate their competency to carry a personal firearm by completing an approved safety or training course.

j.bergman@theday.com