Posted on Aug 16, 2021
CPL(P) Team Leader
10.5K
21
12
3
3
0
My unit attended a rifle qualification range, and the popup targets weren't registering hits properly. I was not the only Soldier affected by it. I train a lot in my off-time, participate in shooting competitions, and train with others thousands of rounds on the AR platform every year. I would consider myself to be quite proficient at everything the M4/AR platform.

In my previous 5 years of the Army, I have never qualified with anything but a 39 or 40/40. This last time I went, I grouped and zeroed just fine, same as every other time. We went to do the qualification, which I shot 4 iterations of, never qualifying higher than a 27/40. One time I qualified 17/40!

My training room just updated my range score from a 39/40 to a 27/40.
I just dropped from 511 points to 421, basically blowing my chance of getting promoted to SGT out of the water in my particular MOS (25S, which is quite competitive).

So this stands to question, how do I go about contesting the range score? They can look at empirical data (my, and others previous range qualification cards) to see that we have never shot this poorly before, but what other way can I further enhance my argument?

I was told by one of the Sergeants in my unit that the range control told our acting 1SG that the range was messed up, but we shot and used the scores anyways. Not sure if that would help at all since I did not hear the conversation take place, but stands to reason it did if everyone shot so poorly.
Avatar feed
Responses: 7
Votes
  • Newest
  • Oldest
  • Votes
CSM William Everroad
4
4
0
CPL(P) (Join to see) The time to "contest" the score was at the range with the range NCOIC/OIC as suggested by SGM Bill Frazer. After the fact, there is almost no way to fix the issue [change the score] other than for the Commander to invalidate the qualification. Talk to your 1SG for that one, but my guess is they won't be swayed by your arguments if the drop in scores was intermittent regardless of how many E4 mafia you get to sign on.

If you are that concerned with your sequence number, boost your points as LTC John Mohor suggested. Retake the PT test, find another unit to go qualify with, max your education.

It is not the situation in which we find ourselves that dictates character, its what we do to move forward. I am not suggesting doing nothing about the bad qualification, but dedicating all of your resources to fighting a bad qualification score seems like you have all your eggs in one basket.
(4)
Comment
(0)
LTC John Mohor
LTC John Mohor
4 y
CPL Rohloff great feedback from CSM William Everroad and the rest. Now do your best Soldier!
(1)
Reply
(0)
Avatar small
SGM Bill Frazer
4
4
0
If you were going to contest it, should have 1st been done on the Range to the OIC/NCOIC- after the fact, its going to be hard.
(4)
Comment
(0)
CPL(P) Team Leader
CPL(P) (Join to see)
4 y
SGM, I brought it up to the training NCO on the day of, but apparently that was not enough on my part.
(1)
Reply
(0)
SGM Bill Frazer
SGM Bill Frazer
4 y
CPL(P) (Join to see) - Ouch Bro, maybe stuck now
(1)
Reply
(0)
Avatar small
CPT Lawrence Cable
2
2
0
I have been on Ranges where we shut down a lane because it it became obvious that it wasn't scoring correctly, and we re shot the soldiers that were on it. Never tried or heard of contesting the entire range.
Was it just the lane you were shooting? If that is the case, it should be obvious from the score cards that there was a screw up.
(2)
Comment
(0)
CPL(P) Team Leader
CPL(P) (Join to see)
4 y
It was multiple lanes, if not all of them. We ran the range for 2 days and the highest score was a 31 for approximately 50 soldiers.
(1)
Reply
(0)
Avatar small
Avatar feed
Can you contest an Army popup range qualification score?
CPT Staff Officer
2
2
0
The bigger concern I’m betting is the overall unit qualification ratio tanked.

So your best chance is commanders are motivated to run a costly and giant time suck qual event again.
(2)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small
LTC John Mohor
2
2
0
With all due respect at all avenues I’d bring it up to the chain of command thru your immediate supervisor as well as the chain of concern. There’s open door policies for various issues too. Informally you could try to volunteer in the training room with your training NCO/ Officer and while there request to review unit marksmanship qualification scores and make a comparison of last years score vs this years. It might show a major drop across the command ?? Of course do it professionally and respectfully. The time to really fix it was at the range but now that’s past. For your immediate needs how much college and correspondence courses do you have completed? Max your points in every area you can. If it’s a temporary setback remember time passes weather changes and stuff happens. No one was killed right? No one suffered an injury on the range right? I failed stuff in my life I dusted myself off and took it over again until I passed it. It’s aggravating grow from it Soldier! Best of luck to you and thanks for serving CPL Rolhof!
(2)
Comment
(0)
CPL(P) Team Leader
CPL(P) (Join to see)
4 y
I brought it up to my 1st line supervisor, and he brought it up to my platoon SGT, who said it was a battle he didn't want to fight. But I am not leaving it at that. This is screwing over my career as well as several other corporals that attended with me. I informed my 1st line that I would like to utilized the commander's open door policy, and he said he would support me and set up a time. I just want to ensure that I go in using as much persuasion as possible. Using a trend report as you suggested might do the trick.

As far as civilian education is concerned, I am almost maxed, I have 124 points (62 credit hours), the max is 135. I am currently in classes so that's about all I can do for that. Correspondence courses are maxed, I've got well over the max amount of hours. I don't have many awards as my (signal) unit hates giving soldiers awards for "simply doing their job on the operations floor". Truly stinks compared to many other units in the army (as I have been told by many NCO's that have PCS'd from other places). I've got a few "military education" classes (CLS, CBRN, combatives, etc). Just taking a 90 point hit because of a bogus range really kills the vibe, further enhancing my desire to leave the military. But alas, no one died, so it was an ok day.

Thanks LTC Mohor!
(0)
Reply
(0)
Avatar small
CSM Darieus ZaGara
0
0
0
If your entire unit qualified poorly it would be simple to bring your argument to the next level, the Battalion CSM. On the other hand, range control and the range misters shut down ranges that are not working properly. Also, why would a Company COC knowingly qualify on a range that is not working properly, as they are rated on things like unit qualification.

Before you accuse a unit COC of knowingly discounting a non functioning range have your information together. If the entire units scored dropped as significantly as yours it should be easy to prove. If it was just you and your buddy, that is a different story.
(0)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small
SPC Paul Valnes
0
0
0
not really
(0)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small

Join nearly 2 million former and current members of the US military, just like you.