Sending the "Good News" Down Range

A delivery of skullbusters

A prescription for 5.56mm* of hot lead

Live dope outgoing

Battlefield preventative medicine

Sending the good news down range


These and a host of other well crafted phrases are the primary (and often hilarious) euphemisms that the Army drill sergeants here use to describe firing the M16A2 rifle. We have spent the the better part of the last three days working on BRM - Basic Rifle Marksmanship. It is really pretty impressive when you see all the science, physics and training that goes into making a good marksman with this weapon (or as the Army calls it "your weapon system"). I have fired the M16 on two previous occasions but have never received such intensive and high quality instruction on HOW to fire it.

And we did not even put live ammo into the magazine until Thursday. We started with a huge video game in what is known as a Fire Arms Training Simulator (FATS). It even recreates the kick on the weapon when the trigger is pulled. What it does not recreate is the deafening sound of 30 M16s lined up on a live fire range.

Don't get too sped-up here - I don't get to carry an M16 in Iraq, but I do get to train on one. This is great because if I were ever in a situation where I needed to use one (which would mean I was in a pretty bad situation), I'll know what I am doing and have at least a decent chance of putting "live dope" on my target ;-). My "take to war" weapon is an M9 pistol. This the weapon that I am required to wear any time I am out of my quarters.
The M9, commonly known as a Berreta 9mm, is the NATO standard side arm. It has a maximum effective range of 50m, if you are a really good shot. The qualification distance is 25m with 40 rounds, including a timed series of 4 quick magazine changes in mid-firing cycle and firing from four different positions. I hit the center mass of the target 34 times. That means I am qualified to "prescribe a hot dose of 9mm lead." But the running joke is that if the situation is so bad that you have to use the M9, you might as well just throw the gun really hard at the enemy and hope it knocks out one of them.

Looking down the qualification range, each lane is numbered and every three lanes are covered by a range safety officer.


The Army qualification range has pop-up targets at from 50 to 300 meters. In this photo, a drill sergeant assists one of my classmates with the sequence we have to fire from the kneeling position.


Among the five different marksmanship scenarios we went through, this one is called Flex Fire. We engaged pop-up targtets from 25m, 15m and 7m. You'd be surprised to know how easy it is to miss a target, even one only 20 feet away, if you are not applying some skill to the shot.

Gear
Remember back when there was much a do about our military not having sufficient or correct gear? Those days are OVER. I have FOUR seabags (think huge duffle bag) of gear, probably weighing in at 250 lbs. The Individual Body Armor (IBA) itself weighs close to 70 pounds and includes side armor, a groin protector, shoulder armor, a neck protector and a throat protector (I am waiting for the model with a built-in bottle opener to come out).


Here I am, in what is referred to "Full Battle Rattle." My kevlar helmet is hanging off my waist. The kit on the left of my vest is an IFAK (Individual First Aid Kit).

I have long underwear, 2 different pairs of ballistic goggles, winter boots, summer boots, knee pads, elbow pads, bug spray, a chemical weapons suit and gas mask, and, my favorite, an ENTRENCHING TOOL! Fondly called an E-Tool, it is a small, collapsible shovel that I’ll be glad to have on hand if I ever need to dig a fighting position in the sand . . . . which, based on what I know, is actually less likely than me ever having to throw my M9 at the enemy.

Food
The Army does many things well, such as firearms instruction and marksmanship, first aid training and, well, marching. They do not do food well. The dining hall appears to be only a few years old and from my observations, is well equipped with modern and expansive preparation and cooking equipment. Yet there are many days when I yearn for the food my culinary specialist (CS) staff produced at our Seabee field exercise in June. Somehow, from a tent, using gear that probably has not been replaced since the Korean War, in arduous climate and under simulated rocket and mortar attacks, my food service team was able to produce absolutely superior meals compared to what I am confronted with here. I guarantee you we never served ¼ inch thick pounded fried chicken pieces with heavy gravy, fried cauliflower and red beans. Never. So allow me to once again thank my Food Service Officer, Matt McCabe, and the incredible Chief Mike Farrell for great food. You guys did better from a tent than the Army seems to be able to do from a $1 million dining complex.

Drill Sergeants
I've been really impressed with the Drill Sergeants here. They are good humored, knowledgeable and obviously love their jobs. It also speaks well that they are able to transition from dealing with 17 and 18 year old army recruits to dealing with a hodge podge of Navy enlisted and officers.


*5.56mm is the caliber of an M16 round