Posted on Jan 3, 2015
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I have heard everything from, kevlar too tight/loose, gloves, camelbak was in the way, can't fire with knee/elbow pads, never fired with a vest/kevlar in BCT, couldn't see anything, etc.
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Excuses
Marksmanship
Excuses Marksmanship
Posted 11 y ago
Responses: 122
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This really isn't an excuse, but it is a range story...
I had just reached My first permanent party station in Germany when I was told that I would be attending a week long .50 range. No big deal. Sounded like fun, and for the most part it was.
While at the range we were zeroing in the weapons when the range NCO discovered that the tracer rounds were burning the paper targets. There was a cease fire called and we were instructed to remove all of the tracer rounds from the belts.
While we were working on this task out of no where an NCO starts yelling at a PFC. Turns out she was using one tracer round to push another one out of the belt.
The NCO made a point to instruct everyone not to do this. Once the impromptu SGT. time training was over we all turned our focus back to our task. The NCO goes back to the PFC to help her. Within a minutes shot rings out. Everyone drops to the ground and starts to look to see where the round came from. The NCO that yelled at the PFC stands up holding his hand. He's clearly in shock and starts walking down range with blood dripping.
Turns out he did the same thing the PFC was doing and the .50 round went off in his hand shredding and burning it. He lost his rank and was kicked out of the Army.
I had just reached My first permanent party station in Germany when I was told that I would be attending a week long .50 range. No big deal. Sounded like fun, and for the most part it was.
While at the range we were zeroing in the weapons when the range NCO discovered that the tracer rounds were burning the paper targets. There was a cease fire called and we were instructed to remove all of the tracer rounds from the belts.
While we were working on this task out of no where an NCO starts yelling at a PFC. Turns out she was using one tracer round to push another one out of the belt.
The NCO made a point to instruct everyone not to do this. Once the impromptu SGT. time training was over we all turned our focus back to our task. The NCO goes back to the PFC to help her. Within a minutes shot rings out. Everyone drops to the ground and starts to look to see where the round came from. The NCO that yelled at the PFC stands up holding his hand. He's clearly in shock and starts walking down range with blood dripping.
Turns out he did the same thing the PFC was doing and the .50 round went off in his hand shredding and burning it. He lost his rank and was kicked out of the Army.
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Funniest thing I ever saw, we had Cadets from ROTC attached to our BCT class at Fort Jackson. We were out at the M60 range, all of us E- nothings listening intently to our instruction, the Cadets off to the side looking all cool, and joking around. I got my chance, blew off my 200 RDS got out of the whole and joined my squad on the bench. Mr Hotshot Cadet gets in the hole, adopts his best Rambo pose( 1 hand on pistol grip, one holding the belt, standing straight up), let's fly, gets slammed straight into the bottom of the hole, blasting straight in the air. We all scattered. Drill Sergeant dove in the hole and twisted the belt, shutting it down. We never saw that Cadet again!
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I had this problem, on hot days with high humidity my eyepro would fog up but I just wiped them out and drove on, but some privates didn't have perception eyeglasses when they obviously need them
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I've heard people say they shoot better with a certain weapon preference (M-16 vs. M-4) as well as I shoot better with a better mount system (Trijicon, Aimpoint over BUIS). Even the ranges themselves. (Can we do paper targets instead) Of course they're easier...They're not MOVING!
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OK, mine wern't things I heard someone say, but rather thing that were said to me. Lol
Maybe I'm the only non-expert naturally borne shooter in the military, but I actually had a range instructor ask me, "Exactly what target are you shooting at?" Lol
Another time one asked me, "Is there something wrong with your weapon?" When I responded with, "Not that I know of"...he proceeded to grab the weapon from me and fired off three rounds in the center, handed me back the weapon, shook his head and walked off.
And no, I'm not deminishing the seriousness of accurately fireing a weapon. Just willing to admit that not everyone grew up hunting or shooting for fun. Actually, the first time I believe I ever held a weapon was in the military. Did I qualify? Yes, but it took a lot of practice, and I learned to endure some frustrated range instructors comments. Lol
Maybe I'm the only non-expert naturally borne shooter in the military, but I actually had a range instructor ask me, "Exactly what target are you shooting at?" Lol
Another time one asked me, "Is there something wrong with your weapon?" When I responded with, "Not that I know of"...he proceeded to grab the weapon from me and fired off three rounds in the center, handed me back the weapon, shook his head and walked off.
And no, I'm not deminishing the seriousness of accurately fireing a weapon. Just willing to admit that not everyone grew up hunting or shooting for fun. Actually, the first time I believe I ever held a weapon was in the military. Did I qualify? Yes, but it took a lot of practice, and I learned to endure some frustrated range instructors comments. Lol
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SPC Charles Estes
As someone who got picked for a detail to replace range targets, some of the targets get shot to hell(especially at TRADOC bases). Nearly all of the 150 and 200 meter range targets had ten inch holes where center mass supposedly was. I quit shooting at center mass at that range and my scores went up dramatically.
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No joke this one locked up the line. I was helping a soldier with shooting. Guy was in a standing position in a foxhole. He begins to shake and squirm around. I ask if everything is o.k. only to realize the guy just pissed himself. Up goes my fist, DI comes running over, just looks doesn't say a word. I take away his M-16 and clear it. The guy ended up section 8. He also came out late to morning formation soaking wet. He took a shower in full gear. We all ended up beating face for that one. Scares me thinking this guy on many occasions had a fully auto rifle and or live grenades.
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Listen guy, how many of us ever fires the first time with a Kevlar? Flak vest? Let alone a fixed fighting position with pop up targets...YOU, the Sergeant, the leader have to train them to fire...that said, what's your excuse for the private not zeroing / qualifying? Make it happen backbone!
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SPC Stewart Smith
Couldn't agree more. I only got 23/40 out of basic. When I was assigned to my first unit in Germany, I had an amazing leadership. They cared and took the time to teach me and help me to better myself. My first time qualifying in Germany I got a 36/40 and after that I never again got less than 38.
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SFC (Join to see)
exactly why I prefer to work the zero range over the qualification range MSG McBride. On the zero, I can actually teach and coach. Once you're on the qual line... it's all up to you.
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I've never heard a soldier make up an excuse, whether I was a range cadre or qualifying shooter. I guess it was the units and/or time in which I served, maybe?
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