Posted on Sep 10, 2016
What are your thoughts on units using the EST to qualify on weapons?
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Responses: 59
Sounds good, and then we should all fight wars on COD (Call of Duty) clan matches.
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No one should be allow to qualify their assigned weapon on any computerized system. Familiarization & retrain only, TRAIN AS YOU FIGHT!
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No, just no. It is a decent training tool for situations that cant be fully simulated in the field but is highly unrealistic when compared to an actual rifle. That thing goes "chunk" and barely has any kick back. To fix a "jam/malfunction" the computer just needs you to pull the mag and put it back in. It also doesn't require the soldier to maintain it. It is my opinion that the lack of responsibility would cause soldiers to neglect their actual rifles. Plus their wouldn't be any "range prep" and would reduce the hip-pocket training soldiers receive while waiting to fire. To me, that's just a natural part of the military experience.
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I am for having one qualification per year via EST and one via a live range. The controlled conditions of the EST environment allow for a true assessment of fundamentals without weather or other environmental factors entering into the equation. Keep in mind that my perspective is as a Reservist and my experience in my 33 years has been that we just don't get enough fundamentals training on the Reserve side of the house; I have not seen a dime-and-washer drill done in years and all of those cute little cheaters, rulers, etc. that aid in dry-fire training are non-existent to most AR units. We also have less overall time to accomplish our training mission in the calendar year. There is also the cost... live-fire training is very expensive.
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Whether you're shooting the EST in an air-conditioned classroom or "Qualifying" with your assigned weapon on a paper target's scaled silhouettes at a short-berm range, you're still not getting the full training quality you need, because all of the targets of any size are at the same focal distance from your eyes. You cannot accurately aim at a 300m or a 175m target if they're represented on a panel at only 25m, or less. We must train EVERY muscle used in battle, including our eyes for refocusing quickly when range-to-target changes.
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So, most of these reponses are along the lines of it being a poor substitute for the real thing - and it is. But I don't see any mention of what I think should be obvious - you qualify on YOUR weapon. That's why you group and zero first. If you are qualifying on a simulation gun, on a simulated range, what makes you think your weapon is going to be ready to make hits when you need it? How far off is the ACOG or Aimpoint from zero and how are you going to judge how to shoot with it without, you know, using it? The simulated is great for reaction drills and things you can't really do with live fire, but should never be a substitute for live fire qualification.
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I think as a way to safely familiarize new troops to a weapon, it is a great idea. Seeing how in the future it may be fewer and fewer recruits will have ever been afford the opportunity to have any hands on experience with any firearm. But, as stated in other comments, nothing prepares you for real life situations like live fire..
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The Engagement Skills Trainer (EST) 2000 is a unit/institution, indoor, multipurpose, multi-lane, small arms, crew-served, and individual anti-tank simulator that saves currently required ammunition resources, operation and personnel tempo, as well as travel time and costs to and from ranges. It simulates weapon training events that lead to live-fire individual or crew weapon qualification and training events currently not resourced under Standards in Training Commission (STRAC).
Squad leaders are able to control and evaluate individual, fire team, and squad performance. The EST 2000 simulates the following weapons: M16A2 rifle, M4 carbine, M9 pistol, MK19 grenade machine gun, M249 squad automatic weapon, M240 machine gun, M136 (AT4), M1200 shotgun, M2 machine gun and M203 grenade launcher.
*This is a training tool and nothing more. To many times commanders use this to safe time, money, and resources. But in the end it is simply not the same. it is designed as a training tool to allow individuals and squads to develop the methods and concepts of small unit tactics before being placed on a live fire range. Use it has it is intended or don't use it at all.
Squad leaders are able to control and evaluate individual, fire team, and squad performance. The EST 2000 simulates the following weapons: M16A2 rifle, M4 carbine, M9 pistol, MK19 grenade machine gun, M249 squad automatic weapon, M240 machine gun, M136 (AT4), M1200 shotgun, M2 machine gun and M203 grenade launcher.
*This is a training tool and nothing more. To many times commanders use this to safe time, money, and resources. But in the end it is simply not the same. it is designed as a training tool to allow individuals and squads to develop the methods and concepts of small unit tactics before being placed on a live fire range. Use it has it is intended or don't use it at all.
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Yeah! And use Call of Duty for MOUT training, battle drill one, battle drill six ...
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