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Should officers someday be allowed to qualify with their own sidearm, as long as it is within the same "family" as the issued weapon...i.e.,semi-auto, size, etc?
Personally, I would jump at the chance to use my Glock 23. Heck, I'd pay for the ammo.
Personally, I would jump at the chance to use my Glock 23. Heck, I'd pay for the ammo.
Posted in these groups: 
Weapons
Firearms and Guns
Weapons Firearms and Guns
Posted 10 y ago
Responses: 23
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After almost 30 years of service, I've learned that a day on the range is value added, the more range time you can get the better you are and typically the more disciplined that unit is. I would support a unit range day where the entire unit (not just officers) could qualify with their personally owned sidearm, that is during the normal duty day!
The value in having a specific weapon across the unit is the familiarity of the weapon as well as common ammo, magazines and etc. So, qualification and use in a tactical environment are two different things.
Allowing different weapons across unit does happen at times with some of our most specialized units insomuch as having individualized weapons, I take no issue with this as these professionals spend so much time perfecting their craft that the weapon is typically an extension of themselves!
The value in having a specific weapon across the unit is the familiarity of the weapon as well as common ammo, magazines and etc. So, qualification and use in a tactical environment are two different things.
Allowing different weapons across unit does happen at times with some of our most specialized units insomuch as having individualized weapons, I take no issue with this as these professionals spend so much time perfecting their craft that the weapon is typically an extension of themselves!
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CSM Michael J. Uhlig
It does wonders for the morale TSgt Joshua Copeland and every day on the range is a great day for training.
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TSgt Joshua Copeland
CSM Michael J. Uhlig, definitely a constructive way to blow off steam and get some firing time that as AF Folks, we sadly don't get enough of!
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MAJ (Join to see)
CSM Michael J. Uhlig going to the range and shooting with our assigned weapons is precisely why we joined the Army in the first place! I always remind Soldiers that the instant they catch themselves pissing and moaning about going to the range is the day they have to start their preparations to ETS or retire.
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MAJ (Join to see)
CSM Michael J. Uhlig Sorry, I cut myself short there and didn't realize it. With personally-owned weapons, absolutely! Contrary to the current thinking of Big Army, this could easily be done. A day or two prior to the range-fire, all of the personally-owned weapons proposed for inclusion in the event could be brought to the Arms Room, inspected for functionality and safety. Those approved would be placed in a one spot where they could be drawn during weapons issue. Any firearm not passing, either deemed unsafe or illegal could be red-tagged and set aside. Either way, nothing would be leaving the Arms Room until the day of the shoot, and even then, only those firearms deemed legal and safe would be permitted to make it to the event. This way, you can prevent those firearms you do not want on the range from making their way there covertly. Once the event is over, you can work with the individual Soldiers to either make their firearm safe or legally compliant. As for the ammo, that too could be collected and inspected, although for safety's sake, at a time separate from firearms inspection.
As an MP in the USAR, my Soldiers work for a myriad of law enforcement organizations. I have little concern that what the vast majority of my Soldiers would bring to an event such as this would be legally-compliant. This would be a lot of fun for most troops involved as it would be akin to show-and-tell day in Kindergarten. Their would be much discussion on the merits of different makes and models, various calibers, etc.
In an AD setting, the assortment of firearms might not be quite as diverse, but for young MPs intent on pursuing civilian law enforcement careers, it would still be every bit as enjoyable.
One caveat on ammunition, and I learned this one while training MPs to deploy to Iraq for the PTT mission in 2004: You cannot take government-procurred rounds and fire them through a non-government-issued firearm! Do not get caught doing this! It is bad juju!!! In 2004, the DOJ made the call to issue the Glock 19 9mm to all Iraqi Police nationwide. Whereas the vast majority of the young Soldiers I was training had little to no familiarity with the Glock, I contacted the Glock Law Enforcement Service Rep for the State of Wisconsin. He offered to bring a contact team of 6 trainers to Fort McCoy with weapons, and put the unit through the 3-day Glock Armorer's Course, at no expense to the government. Day 3 included a familiarization fire of 50 rounds. I put in the forecast, and made CSMs and GOs heads melt! Believe it or not, it went all the way to CENTCOM for the thumbs up. It was that big of a deal! Who knew?
As an MP in the USAR, my Soldiers work for a myriad of law enforcement organizations. I have little concern that what the vast majority of my Soldiers would bring to an event such as this would be legally-compliant. This would be a lot of fun for most troops involved as it would be akin to show-and-tell day in Kindergarten. Their would be much discussion on the merits of different makes and models, various calibers, etc.
In an AD setting, the assortment of firearms might not be quite as diverse, but for young MPs intent on pursuing civilian law enforcement careers, it would still be every bit as enjoyable.
One caveat on ammunition, and I learned this one while training MPs to deploy to Iraq for the PTT mission in 2004: You cannot take government-procurred rounds and fire them through a non-government-issued firearm! Do not get caught doing this! It is bad juju!!! In 2004, the DOJ made the call to issue the Glock 19 9mm to all Iraqi Police nationwide. Whereas the vast majority of the young Soldiers I was training had little to no familiarity with the Glock, I contacted the Glock Law Enforcement Service Rep for the State of Wisconsin. He offered to bring a contact team of 6 trainers to Fort McCoy with weapons, and put the unit through the 3-day Glock Armorer's Course, at no expense to the government. Day 3 included a familiarization fire of 50 rounds. I put in the forecast, and made CSMs and GOs heads melt! Believe it or not, it went all the way to CENTCOM for the thumbs up. It was that big of a deal! Who knew?
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I pity the 5m target with my saw-off shotgun. Don't worry lanes 1-3....I got this.
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It was not so long ago that certain individuals (usually senior officers) were allowed to use their personally owned sidearms as their service weapon. I wouldn't mind bringing my own pistol to war. It's pretty tricked out and in a lot better shape than the clunker that's sitting in the arms room.... ;o)
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LTC Paul Labrador
MAJ (Join to see), my issue with the M9 is not the grip. It's very slender for a doulbe stack 9mm. It's that is a very long pistol. I find that it has a lot more muzzle flip than my Glock 23. I also like the Glock's low bore axis, which makes the recoil feel more straight back vs up. I can't stand how Sigs, H&Ks and XDs feel too "tall" in my hand. Those 3 have a relatively high bore axis.
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LTC Paul Labrador
MAJ (Join to see), and yeah, not spending $1400 on a pistol. For that much money, I'm buying another rifle....
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MAJ (Join to see)
LTC Paul Labrador Roger that, Sir. $1,000 is my threshold for handguns. Anything beyond that best have a stock and a scope!
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