Posted on Jan 7, 2016
What would you do if your Sergeant didn't know how to load a magazine?
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I just saw this video and felt like I was watching a multi-car accident on the interstate. It just got worse as it went on. What made it so bad as this was a SGT. The Safety was professional as he could be. Hats off to him. When I heard her say "I'm not Active Duty" I would have kicked her off the range. I am glad the Safety told her that she was a soldier and that he was a reservist too. If I was her CO I would have do everything I could to reduce her. But I think if you have a NCO like this in your unit the unit itself has a lot of issues in the first place. What kills me also is that she has a combat patch.
What would you have if you were the Safety?
Just so you know that you know it is believed that they Safety was a SSG just the same as was the soldier trying to load the mag.
https://www.facebook.com/Theseniorspecialist/videos/ [login to see] 43848/?fref=nf
What would you have if you were the Safety?
Just so you know that you know it is believed that they Safety was a SSG just the same as was the soldier trying to load the mag.
https://www.facebook.com/Theseniorspecialist/videos/ [login to see] 43848/?fref=nf
Edited >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 394
I would take them aside after the drill and show them how to do it successfully THEN, give them tips on how to convey the instructions in the best possible manner. This is MOST important but it is NOT Rocket Science. Well, little bitty, sorta' rockets.... :-)
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CPT Russell Pitre
I would have went to her leadership and let them know how bad they have failed this soldier and the Army. She if far past just some training on the side of some range.
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Wow! I really loved the "I am a Reservist" excuse. I would light her up just for that comment alone.
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CPT Russell Pitre
I know. That pissed me off. The enemy doesn't care about that. The soldier coaching her got it right. She was in the Army. I bet she brags about how she is in the Army and she gets all the benefits from it while not trying to be a soldier.
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1LT William Clardy
In my opinion, the range instructor's quashing of the "I'm a reservist" comment was the one thing that he did right, SMSgt Thor Merich.
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"What would you do if your Sergeant didn't know how to load a magazine?"
Get Secretary Mabus to show her how. TOTALLY facetious, but Geez.
Walt
Get Secretary Mabus to show her how. TOTALLY facetious, but Geez.
Walt
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1LT William Clardy
Could you share what the post-video outcome was, SFC (Join to see)? Did the NCO in the foxhole end the day closer to being fully competent with her rifle? Did anybody address range personnel on the firing line breaking out a camera when they're supposed to be keeping things moving safely?
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SFC (Join to see)
The NCO firing had 10 (sun up to sun down) hours of mostly 1on 1 training from range cadre, who were mostly DS qualified. By the end of the day, the soldier was still unable to grasp basic concepts of loading a magazine, loading the weapon (consistently released bolt before inserting magazine), clearing malfunctions or just clearing the weapon, let alone zero or qualify. The soldier for whatever reason just couldn't grasp or retain basic weapons operations.
Regarding the filming, I was at another section of the line, so I didn't witness that area at that moment. However, the safety to shooter ratio was 2-1 at that point - 3 shooters, 6 safety's, plus tower personnel and OIC's. Reality was the shooter had no less than 5 personal safeties at that point. The camera on the range issue has been addressed at this point, but I have no idea what was said.
Regarding the filming, I was at another section of the line, so I didn't witness that area at that moment. However, the safety to shooter ratio was 2-1 at that point - 3 shooters, 6 safety's, plus tower personnel and OIC's. Reality was the shooter had no less than 5 personal safeties at that point. The camera on the range issue has been addressed at this point, but I have no idea what was said.
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Maybe they were always given bandoleers of already loaded mags. Been there and done that.
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MAJ Ronnie Reams
You know I was thinking, the M1911A1 and BAR I had to load the magazines. The M-1/2/3 Carbine and the M-14 I had to load with stripper clips from bandoleers with empty magazines in weapon. Everything else, M-1 Garand, M-16A1, M1A1, M-3A1, etc came with already loaded clips or magazines. How do they come today?
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Stripper clip loading of a magazine might be something she hadn't done...now if she had said, does the pointy end go toward the back or front? All kidding aside, 10 minutes hands on demo, Sarge is now squared away.....now, can she hit anything with the weapon....I know lots of folks that can load magazines, very few marksmen...even with optics....which I find really difficult to understand, the red dot on the spot and squeeze.....
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1LT William Clardy
But CW3 Jim Norris, the unit running the range were apparently suffering enough recto-cranial inversion that they gave the shooters stripper clips but no stripper-clip guide. And how many rounds was she really supposed to load? The range instructor/safety/camera-operator says "6 will do", but I can't recall ever hearing a command from the tower to "Lock and load one six-round magazine!"
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CW3 Jim Norris
Didn't watch the video, sure sounds like whomever was running the range had some serious safety issues that should have caused closure and then let's try it again. Haven't been to a military range since 2009 when I was an adviser in Iraq. That one was run by an Aussie SGM and tight as a tick......Would love to see the range guide that they where following (or not).....Jim
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What would I do?
As with most things, if I knew something was amiss, I'd correct it. If the other soldier out-ranked me, I would pull them aside, and with all due respect, explain their mistake to them out of sight from other soldiers. I would do this out of respect for their rank, position and so as not to undermine their leadership.
What I damn sure wouldn't do is video the incident and, out of respect for the uniform which I myself am wearing, post it online for the world to see. It's not that we can't laugh at ourselves sometimes, but this is an image and competency problem prying eyes need not see.
But that's me.
As with most things, if I knew something was amiss, I'd correct it. If the other soldier out-ranked me, I would pull them aside, and with all due respect, explain their mistake to them out of sight from other soldiers. I would do this out of respect for their rank, position and so as not to undermine their leadership.
What I damn sure wouldn't do is video the incident and, out of respect for the uniform which I myself am wearing, post it online for the world to see. It's not that we can't laugh at ourselves sometimes, but this is an image and competency problem prying eyes need not see.
But that's me.
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Being a Reservist is irrelevant, I've ran ranges with active duty Officers, NCOs and Soldiers who do the same thing or worse.
I've seen a round somehow be loaded backwards in an M4. When the individual tried to load a round it actually got into the chamber (the best it could have) and he proceeded to try and fire the weapon.
The safety walked up as they were hopelessly trying to do sports. The armor had to work on that for 40 mins.
You sometimes see it on a line unit but usually it's someone who has been in a staff position forever. Granted I was on special assignment for 6 years and didn't have the same problems but these skills aren't exactly natural.
No PMI or BRM training is being done for these Soldiers goto th range. A unit will run a range for the whole battalion or even brigade and have to rely on the company's to do the training. They then rely on the folks running the range to do remedial training for 3 hours on range day.
I've seen a round somehow be loaded backwards in an M4. When the individual tried to load a round it actually got into the chamber (the best it could have) and he proceeded to try and fire the weapon.
The safety walked up as they were hopelessly trying to do sports. The armor had to work on that for 40 mins.
You sometimes see it on a line unit but usually it's someone who has been in a staff position forever. Granted I was on special assignment for 6 years and didn't have the same problems but these skills aren't exactly natural.
No PMI or BRM training is being done for these Soldiers goto th range. A unit will run a range for the whole battalion or even brigade and have to rely on the company's to do the training. They then rely on the folks running the range to do remedial training for 3 hours on range day.
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