If you can qualify in bad weather, how would you handle Soldiers using that as an excuse?

SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 23 Apr 2015 01:17:43 -0400

I already know the answer to this. So, I don't really need an answer. Let's put it like this.

I'm currently in Kuwait and have been waiting for far too long to go north. A couple weeks back, we went to a range near Buehring. The weather was very inclement, and camels were all over the place. I went up to group and zero, and I did so with little to no effort. I only needed 12 rounds. Then I went back to throw my lead down range. When the NCOIC gave the order to fire, my first round ended with a click. There was so much sand and dust blowing around that my weapon had clogged up just from chambering the first round. I even had to use all my upper body strength to pull the charging handle back and pry the round out. Throughout the whole 40 rounds, my weapon malfunctioned three times. After that, I just stopped caring, to be honest. In the end, I walked away with 35/40. Out of all the 80 other Soldiers out there, I had the highest score. Queue the rest of my troops (12). Less than half of them qualified. Their excuse, "my weapon wouldn't fire," or "I couldn't see." As bad as this range went, the one good thing I got out of it that I hope everyone else did, keep your weapon clean and maintained at all times. I was very annoyed to hear them all complain about how bogus the range was and the weather. They actually had it much easier than myself, because after my firing iteration, we waited till the wind died down before anyone else went. One said, "the wind curved my bullet, like from Wanted." I later schooled that Soldier on physics at 25 meters, as they were all shooting paper targets at 25 meters. I fear the day any of them go outside the wire one day, with the excuses they come up with.

Response by SSG Warren Hall made Apr 23 at 2015 2:19 AM

SSG Warren Hall — Thu, 23 Apr 2015 02:19:25 -0400

I know exactly where you were...I think we all use one of the ranges right out there, anyway, If you could do it with a dirty weapon and pissing rain, then they should have also. Excuses are like... you know the saying. Sounds to me like they just wanted to have something to excuse their poor shooting, especially at the zero range. What are they going to do when they get to the box and the weather gets bad? Scary thought. Good example of why to Keep your weapon clean.

Response by SSG Donald Mceuen made Apr 23 at 2015 5:25 AM

SSG Donald Mceuen — Thu, 23 Apr 2015 05:25:00 -0400

Well the weather is not going to be nice when you need your weapon so you better be able
to use it in all conditions and hit what you aim at. There is no excuse

Response by COL Jean (John) F. B. made Apr 23 at 2015 3:01 PM

COL Jean (John) F. B. — Thu, 23 Apr 2015 15:01:07 -0400

Training should be conducted in all weather conditions because you will usually not have the ability to pick the weather to fight in. Of course, common sense goes a log way. If the weather is a safety hazard, it is not worth getting someone injured. If the weather prevents the training from obtaining the objective, consideration should be given to scrubbing it.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 24 at 2015 10:20 AM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 24 Apr 2015 10:20:17 -0400

Im only reservest but we qualified in wind rain and hail once. Better to have experianced it then never to have.

Response by SFC Jim Ruether made Apr 30 at 2015 2:12 PM

SFC Jim Ruether — Thu, 30 Apr 2015 14:12:07 -0400

We shot in all kinds of weather during my service, Rain, wind, snow, mostly. If you can even see your targets you were lucky.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 28 at 2015 10:49 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 28 Jul 2015 22:49:21 -0400

The best ranges are the ones conducted with heat, cold, and wildlife entering the equation. It's all about consistency of the fundamentals!

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made May 12 at 2016 11:10 AM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 12 May 2016 11:10:05 -0400

we train like we fight.