Posted on Nov 28, 2019
SPC Licensed Agent: Sales Producer
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Happy Thanksgiving y'all. I haven't seriously shot in a couple years now (having babies and going to school tends to take a lot of time) but I used to a lot. I didn't realize until about a year ago that I am left eye dominant, but right handed. My goal through BCT and AIT is to be the best version of myself. Will it be enough to trust that the DS will teach me adequately? Is there anything I can do now to help myself? I've been dodging invitations to go shooting just so I don't reiterate any bad habits I, but I'm still concerned. Help, please!
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Lt Col Charlie Brown
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Definitely. I did it
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Maj Kim Patterson
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SPC (Join to see) its possible. Many shooters close one eye when they shoot. Find a local rifle range and shoot daily. Make sure the weapon has been sighted properly
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SFC Casey O'Mally
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It is entirely possible. It is more difficult, but some things in life are. Adapt, improvise, overcome.

It WILL be helpful, though, having already identified a problem, that you communicate this to your Drill as soon as it is relevant. It is actually more common than you think, and your DS should be able to appropriately give guidance regardless of the cross dominance.
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Is it possible to acheive Expert Marksmanship in BCT with cross eye dominance?
LTC Jason Mackay
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Edited 6 y ago
SPC (Join to see) Walking proof. Right handed, left eye dominant. You have to make up your mind quick. Do you force yourself to shoot left handed, or force your self to go with the weaker eye? Experienced NCOs told me that what ever you can achieve a steady hold, good body position, good trigger squeeze, and consistent sight picture is what you do. They can adjust your sights to make it work.

I tried shooting left handed....feels backwards. So I shoot right handed with my weaker eye. Exception is pistol. With practice I shoot well with pistol aiming with my left eye, both law enforcement tables and military tables.

The world is essentially right handed. The brass ejects into you, although the M16A2 and M4 eject forward and right. So you don't have to worry about hot brass down the front of your IBA. When my Dad went to basic training in 1968 they quarantined all the lefties. Buttoned the top button on the fatigues and put them all on one end of the firing line. A left handed drill sergeant worked with them to ensure they qualified. The original M16 ejected right but could flip hot brass down your shirt.

Trust in the training. Civilian shooting has little to do with military qualification tables between distances, timed courses and mandatory firing positions. You'll be shooting one type of ammunition. You'll be using adjustable iron sights. I don't think optics are usedmin IET. You may be issued an optic at your unit.
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LTC Jason Mackay
LTC Jason Mackay
6 y
SPC (Join to see) - you have to trust the training. This is what these folks do for a living. They have every incentive to get you qualified. They have marksmanship training that is tried and true.
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LTC Jason Mackay
LTC Jason Mackay
6 y
SPC (Join to see) - how tall are you? Shooting the M4 as a large mammal always posed an issue for me. I could not get a good sight picture because the rifle was too short. It was almost a relief to get handed an M16A2 because there weren't enough M4s to go around. Especially when my primary weapon was an M9.
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SPC Licensed Agent: Sales Producer
SPC (Join to see)
6 y
LTC Jason Mackay 5' 8", 5' 9" depending on the day. I don't have the large mammal issue, thankfully. I love flying cool planes and driving small sports cars far too much.
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LTC Jason Mackay
LTC Jason Mackay
6 y
SPC (Join to see) - you'll be fine in the height Department then.
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LT Brad McInnis
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I am left yet, right hand dominant. Never had a problem. Just practice before hand.
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CPL Douglas Chrysler
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Get in touch with a local gun club and find out if any NRA instructions are available in your community. There's a gun shop in my city that offers shooting and safety courses right at their site. Police, Air Force people, National Guardsmen, etc all go there for extra practice.
Since you are experienced, maybe just a couple tips will get you straight with it.
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SGT Steve McFarland
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I am also cross-eye-dominant, right-handed but left-eyed, but I have no useful vision with my right eye. I shoot a pistol with my right hand, but I have to shoot a rifle left-handed. It is all a matter of training.
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SSgt Joe Bromley
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I am cross eye dominant and achieved expert marksmanship (in the USAF) without any special practice. Follow your DS instructions and remember that you are at your most stable with empty lungs.
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SFC(P) 1 Sg
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Yes. As we transition to using optics as the dominant aiming device, this will become less of an issue. I am also cross-eyed dominant. I struggled with qualifying early in my military career. Once I understood that I was cross-eyed dominant and how to account for it I was able to do quite well with marksmanship. I'm currently on the Army reserve marksmanship team where I was able to earn the presents 100 tab and distinguished riflemans badge. I would highly recommend learning to shoot with your dominant eye. It does feel awkward at first, but most people quickly adapt. Learning to be ambidextrous helps substantially with the development of later marksmanship skills.
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LTC Program Manager
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I did it but not until after basic training. My trick was to close my dominant eye just long enough to gain focus from my non dominant eye. Other's have said they fired from their non dominant hand but that's not the method I used. Good Luck.
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