The Army is making marksmanship training harder to prepare soldiers for the two-way firing range

Sanders · 08-30-2019, 01:14 PM

Quote:

The Army is making marksmanship training harder to prepare soldiers for the two-way firing range
Jeff Schogol
August 26, 2019 at 03:55 PM

The Army is working to improve its small arms training to better simulate combat by having soldiers engage several targets at once, grab magazines from their pack to reload, and fix weapons malfunctions while on the range, the service recently announced.

"It's exactly what we would do in a combat environment, and I think it's just going to build a much better shooter," Command Sgt. Maj. Robert Fortenberry, the senior enlisted leader at the U.S. Army Infantry School at Fort Benning, Georgia, tasked with overseeing the Army's efforts to update marksmanship training for the first time in decades.

Starting in October, the Army will begin implementing the new marksmanship training, said Benjamin Garrett, a spokesman for the Army's Maneuver Center of Excellence at Fort Benning. By October 2021, all active-duty, National Guard, and reserve soldiers will be required to pass the tougher standards.

Eventually, all soldiers will have to pass the tougher standards for pistol, rifle, and automatic rifle drills, which include having soldiers decide the order in which they shoot at multiple targets, the Army news release says.

https://taskandpurpose.com/army-impr...45495.amp.html

55chevy · 08-30-2019, 02:21 PM

Are they prepping to take on the US citizens?

remus · 08-31-2019, 12:02 PM

No, I think they are prepping to save their own asses in a firefight situation. Military marksmanship except for a few examples is not that good. I do hope that they improve substantially.

Sanders · 08-31-2019, 12:32 PM

When you have worn out rifles and worn out range mags at qualification time, you get to deal with all those problems like when I was in Basic Training.

We had to use range mags instead of our issued mags. It was not uncommon to slap a mag into the mag well only to have it dump the rounds out and really clog things up. The only time I didn't qualify Expert on any range was the M16 range at Ft. Benning. At least I qualified, but it sure pissed me off because I knew I was better than than that.

Qualified Expert on every weapons system from Dragon ATM, M2 .50 Cal, M60, LAWs, Hand Grenade, 1911A1, and M16A2 -- first time around. Qualified expert with the M16A1 when I got to my first duty station with a perfect score - top in the battalion.

Solid Snake · 08-31-2019, 05:10 PM

"Eventually, all soldiers will have to pass the tougher standards for pistol, rifle, and automatic rifle drills, which include having soldiers decide the order in which they shoot at multiple targets, the Army news release says."

But you're no longer allowed to cuss at them or hurt their feelings.

Enforcer · 09-01-2019, 06:44 PM

When females don't cut it, this program will quietly go away.

4thIDvet · 09-02-2019, 05:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sanders

When you have worn out rifles and worn out range mags at qualification time, you get to deal with all those problems like when I was in Basic Training.

.

1968 Ft Polk .45 qualifications. One mag for practice then have at it to qualify. Grew up around guns and was a good shot in my younger days.
.45 they hand me I asked the Sarge if I could rather use a PVC pipe and a nail. He didn't laugh.

Dead on aim at the Bull. Bam I hit about a foot to the left and I ain't kidden. So I adjusted and aimed a foot to the right and Bam bullseye and expert.
Troop inside collecting targets could not believe what he saw. Actually thought I cheated and poked holes with a pencil.

Pogo · 09-03-2019, 07:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Enforcer

When females don't cut it, this program will quietly go away.

Or the test will be adapted to give them "equal opportunity to pass" just like they do the PT test.

The Mogadishu Mile didn't have different times or distances for males and females. You either made it or you didn't. Some were carrying M249s. Luckily there wasn't any split-tails in that withdrawal.

A.J. · 10-18-2019, 08:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pogo

Or the test will be adapted to give them "equal opportunity to pass" just like they do the PT test.

The Mogadishu Mile didn't have different times or distances for males and females. You either made it or you didn't. Some were carrying M249s. Luckily there wasn't any split-tails in that withdrawal.

Sadly, we need the "split tails" because there aren't enough men in this Country with the motivation or balls to serve.

remus · 10-20-2019, 07:51 AM

Split tails in admin, males in the infantry. Put the right people where they belong.

hangfire · 10-20-2019, 09:37 AM

Every company needs a few “punchboards”.

4thIDvet · 10-20-2019, 05:45 PM

WWII a Navy Sailors US Marine brother was killed on one of the islands. Things quieted down and he got permission to go ashore and pay his respects. Asked the Marines what happened?
"The Nips were coming from all over popping up on us fast we could not get a steady shot." The Sailor was determined to do something. Marines and Army were taught the same old same old at the range. Squeeze the trigger hit the bull from a marked distance.
So began the close quarter cover the sights pop up target courses. We had it at Ft. Polk and it was fun and well thought out. It taught us quick reaction in close quarters instead of that take your time hit the bull bull.
While longer shot training was good they simply forgot about up close and personal.
Great to see the new weapons course being implemented.

10-20-2019, 09:37 AM	#11
hangfire Home on the range Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: S. Indiana Posts: 17,285	Every company needs a few “punchboards”. __________________ "Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure of the universe" -Albert Einstein-

08-30-2019, 02:21 PM	#2
55chevy Senior Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Central Orygun Posts: 4,389	Are they prepping to take on the US citizens?

08-31-2019, 12:02 PM	#3
remus Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: az Posts: 3,490	No, I think they are prepping to save their own asses in a firefight situation. Military marksmanship except for a few examples is not that good. I do hope that they improve substantially.

08-31-2019, 12:32 PM	#4
Sanders Moderator Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 66,530	When you have worn out rifles and worn out range mags at qualification time, you get to deal with all those problems like when I was in Basic Training. We had to use range mags instead of our issued mags. It was not uncommon to slap a mag into the mag well only to have it dump the rounds out and really clog things up. The only time I didn't qualify Expert on any range was the M16 range at Ft. Benning. At least I qualified, but it sure pissed me off because I knew I was better than than that. Qualified Expert on every weapons system from Dragon ATM, M2 .50 Cal, M60, LAWs, Hand Grenade, 1911A1, and M16A2 -- first time around. Qualified expert with the M16A1 when I got to my first duty station with a perfect score - top in the battalion.

08-31-2019, 05:10 PM	#5
Solid Snake Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2019 Posts: 2,535	"Eventually, all soldiers will have to pass the tougher standards for pistol, rifle, and automatic rifle drills, which include having soldiers decide the order in which they shoot at multiple targets, the Army news release says." But you're no longer allowed to cuss at them or hurt their feelings.

09-01-2019, 06:44 PM	#6
Enforcer Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Posts: 3,163	When females don't cut it, this program will quietly go away.

10-20-2019, 07:51 AM	#10
remus Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: az Posts: 3,490	Split tails in admin, males in the infantry. Put the right people where they belong.

10-20-2019, 05:45 PM	#12
4thIDvet slug Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Astor Florida Posts: 48,463	WWII a Navy Sailors US Marine brother was killed on one of the islands. Things quieted down and he got permission to go ashore and pay his respects. Asked the Marines what happened? "The Nips were coming from all over popping up on us fast we could not get a steady shot." The Sailor was determined to do something. Marines and Army were taught the same old same old at the range. Squeeze the trigger hit the bull from a marked distance. So began the close quarter cover the sights pop up target courses. We had it at Ft. Polk and it was fun and well thought out. It taught us quick reaction in close quarters instead of that take your time hit the bull bull. While longer shot training was good they simply forgot about up close and personal. Great to see the new weapons course being implemented.