Posted on Jan 7, 2016
CPT Russell Pitre
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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
Edited >1 y ago
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SFC Richard Baerlocher
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I would have asked the Sgt to clear the weaon, and leave the range. Then I would have assigned another NCO to teach the sgt the bsics of the weapon, how to maintain., and how to check and load the magazine. Then I would have sent the Sgt back to the range to qualify!
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SFC Richard Baerlocher
SFC Richard Baerlocher
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I would have asked him/her to place the weapon on safe, clear the weapon, and leave the range. Then I would have asked another NCO to take over the range, and taught the NCO about the weapon, and how to disassemble the weapon for cleaning, and how to load the magazine, and how to keep the weapon on safe and always pointed downrange. Then after the other training have him/her on the range practice fioring for familiarity.
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MSG Thomas Currie
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Oh well, RP has resurrected this post as a "Recent Discussion" but of course can't resurrect the long dead facebook video. I'm pretty sure I saw that video years ago when it (and this post) weren't mummified remains.

The RSO's job is to keep everyone safe on the range. An untrained shooter isn't safe - the answer for the RSO is simple: tell the shooter to leave the firing line, get training, and return when trained. There isn't any need for any discussion beyond that.
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SGT Lorenzo Nieto
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Run
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CSM Michael Allen
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Some soldiers hardly get a chance to use there weapons, because of these specialities...I was infantry and notice that when I took a Logistic Support Battalion, they where really good at supporting the war, but they wasn’t good at shooting at all...
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SSgt Owner/Operator
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Cannot see the video so cannot comment on what I would do.

I kicked my FB account to the curb, deleted all my data, about 2 years ago now.
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CWO3 Us Marine
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Wouldn't happen in USMC because everyone has to qualify to graduate Boot Camp. They may not be familiar with crew served weapons, but somebody would train them before sending to the range. The firing line is not the place to train on the basics, only marksmanship.
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SSG Motor Transport Operator
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As a safety, I experienced that a few times with some NCO'S and lower enlisted on the range. I understand some Soldiers are not as proficient in certain areas like others........... But as NCO/safety, my job isn't to belittle, scream or kick the soldier off the range. My job is to instruct the Soldier no matter rank on how to properly load the weapon, zero and qualify..........
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CW4 Craig Urban
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Teach the SGT
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SFC Dan Collins
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NCO's have the responsibility to self-train. I don't know if this "Pretty-In-Pink" Army still has them, but I used to go to the MOS library , check-out study materials for other MOS's I was associated with. As a Platoon Sergeant I insisted my men [it was a Man's Army then] be well versed in the duties of the man below and above them so they could immediately respond in a crisis. Someone in the Chain-Of-Command did not do their job, did not train this Sergeant, and this Sergeant did not exercise initiative, nor show leadership potential. Reduction in rank, and extra hours of cross-training.
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PFC John McKenzie
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Call a "Cease Fire" if they were firing. Get the Range Safety Officer to the firing point and carefully explain to the Sergeant who was supposed to be loading the magazine how to do it. Make the Sergeant did it a few times to make certain they knew how it was done, then give the command "Ready on the firing line."
"Commence firing."
A very old, old E-3
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CPT Jeff Robinette
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Train Her! I have been out of the Army since 1984 and a competitive shooter.I see silly stuff on the line all of the time. Whenever I see something. I can easily correct I do so.
You would not believe the number of M1 thumbs I have seen in competition.
Nearly every time it is caused by inexperience with the weapon or panic in a timed exercise.
Its all training.
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SA Charles Scarbrough
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Make sure she's the one that gets to teach LT.
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SSG (ret) William Martin
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I wouldn't be mad. I would not embarrass her. I would be a professional and show her how to do it. It's not difficult unless I make it difficult.
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SGT Combat Engineer
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I can't see the video but I've seen something similar to your description. I noticed big differences between the units to which I was assigned in the regular Army and the units to which I was assigned in the ARNG. I would be in favor of pairing up all reserve component units with active, regular units and providing at least one NCO and officer from the partnered active, regular unit at each drill (and more during AT) to provide guidance, advice, and assistance. You don't know what you don't know.
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LCpl Cody Collins
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I would have taken the weapon away from him / her period.
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Sgt David G Duchesneau
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Holy Shit! Now I don’t know about what goes on in any other Branch of Service, but in the Marine Corps, every Marine is first and foremost a Rifleman, regardless of their MOS. Therefore, if a Sergeant, regardless of their sex, does not know how to load a magazine, she or he would not be allowed to be on a Firing Rang. For God’s sake and for the safety of everyone else on that Range, I would get her or him off of my Fire Range most rickety tick. There should be no exception to this rule and I don’t give a shit what Rank or what Branch of Service they might be in. Adios Amigo! I could only imagine what our old Gunny would say? SEMPER FI!
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Cpl Mathew Trickel
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All I can say is that the Army does some odd shit. In the Marines a truck would pull up with the bed filled with ammo, they would issue out however many rounds and then you go load your mags and wait for your turn to fire. And yep you got your weapon with you also. I'm sure this gal was just flustered and having a major brain fart. She has to have shot before....but I guess it's possible she might not have known how to load a mag if it's already done for you in the Army. Odd, but probably shouldn't have been posted online. Makes everyone look bad in my opinion.
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SSG Fred Dugena
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Train them .
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LTC Reginald Brown
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I learned early as a 1LT that is was my responsibility to train those in my unit. To avoid personal frustration, I maintained the philosophy that if I didn't train them then I have no expectations. Once I trained them, then I have high expectations that they would perform whenever needed. I came in at a time when there was a heavy push on mission essential task list, unit tasks and soldier skills (must admit now that there was and is probably always that focus and my time was not unique). It was clear to me that as a Platoon Leader, I alone was responsible for my unit training, I could not rely on what someone else might have taught the soldiers assigned to my platoon. I might have taken on more than I should have, but once I trained (or planned with my platoon sergeant) the platoon then I could confidently expect good performance. If someone before me failed to train a soldier properly for retention of skills, then it was my responsibility to ensure that soldier could not only perform in my unit, but in their future units. For us training was not an one off event. We were not considered trained/proficient until we had demonstrated the standards several times and under various conditions. Not knowing how to load a magazine is such a basic task that every one of her leaders failed to realize that they were responsible for training her on that task. If leaders fail to train or assess skills periodically (like the PT test) then we fail our soldiers who look to us for leadership. Leadership, being the ability to assess the future missions and know what training and skills are needed by every individual, team, section, platoon and unit to accomplish the mission.
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SGT Alen Wilkinson
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Total break down of the unit and the miltitary,..if she even got through basic training,..I mean that's a requirement to complete training,..I've heard of NG and Reserve units back in the day having future soldiers train with them before they actually go into basic training..and if that's the case then it falls on the unit to train her before you head to the field
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