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Post by Ceorlmann on Jul 20, 2016 12:44:06 GMT -7
Seven years makes quite a difference. I got to use an M16A4 back in 2009, but I never used one with an ACOG until last week. Took up to three Marines to explain how to use it before I finally had an idea of how to use the reticle. Once I got the hang of it I couldn't understand how other Marines failed to qualify using the ACOG (except for the few who had a bad zeroing). The sight picture is nice and big; you can figure out well if you're shooting on your target or not (targets haven't changed: still using Able, Dog, and B-mod targets. Translation for the civilians on here: target with black circle in center, human silhouette from the shoulders upward, and a head with torso, respectively). The ACOG also magnifies the target 4x. I don't think I ever qualified so easily. I will say though i miss using the A2 sights during the close-quarters part of qualification.
Shot Expert. I tied with my fireteam leader for exact score. I wasn't the best-scoring on the range at the 200/300/500 yard line, but I was up there. Highest scorer at that yard line was less than ten points above me.
Standing was my worst section as it is for most of us, but I think a major difference for me was I didn't let myself score less than a 3 out of 5, and I've got more phalanges on one hand than the number of times I got a 3. If I wasn't hitting center black I wasn't happy. A few shots were definitely my error, but those probably would've been remedied if we had five days to shoot as opposed to three. I think it also helped that when we were "snapping in" (practicing our positions while aiming at a barrel with targets painted on it) I aimed at rust spots several times smaller than the painted-on targets (aim small, miss small). This was a lesson learned from the division-level shooting match I participated in while in Okinawa in 2009.
Point is I shot Expert as opposed to Marksman or Sharpshooter, and I'm pretty happy about that. I also now get to experience the "joys" of attaching award tabs to our Expert shooting badges. This is the second time I shot Expert so I get to attach a "2nd Award" to my Expert badge.
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Post by woodyz on Jul 20, 2016 13:34:31 GMT -7
Outstanding Marine!
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Post by USCGME2 on Jul 20, 2016 17:21:48 GMT -7
Im a bit jelous. Never shot expert. Good job.
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Post by marc on Jul 20, 2016 17:41:32 GMT -7
Way to go! Good job indeed.
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Post by crashdive123 on Jul 21, 2016 18:12:23 GMT -7
Shot expert in pistol and rifle many, many, many, many years ago. I can still hold my own, but nowadays I just train to remove a threat, not score points.
Good job Marine!
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Post by woodyz on Jul 22, 2016 9:57:11 GMT -7
I know the equipment and course has changed several times since I was in
In boot camp we spent two weeks at the range at Camp Pendleton and qualified with the M14 I was issued and slept with every day of boot camp. I qualified expert then.
In Advanced Infantry Training I had to qualify again with the M16 and qualified sharpshooter
then came MP School, at that time at FT Gordon, GA where I qualified expert with the .22 Hi- Standard and the .45
Back then you had to qualify once a year, but we had range time several times during the year to keep in practice. The 0300 Infantry Groups fire more often then the supply and motor pool for example but every Marine had to stay qualified regardless of MOS. I'm not sure what it is now.
My next qualification was at Scout/recondo School, back with the M14 and back to expert with the rifle and both pistols. We used the Hi-Standard .22 with the suppressor built-in not removable. Expert for qualification then was out to 500 yards and then if you shot expert you could try out for sniper. I could not qualify out to 1000 yards so I did not attend sniper school, but I was danged good at 800.
After that I stayed Expert with the rifle (M16) and both pistols until I got out after 7 years 3 months and 22 days active, then 2 years reserve.
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Post by Ceorlmann on Jul 22, 2016 11:21:55 GMT -7
Shot expert in pistol and rifle many, many, many, many years ago. I can still hold my own, but nowadays I just train to remove a threat, not score points. Good job Marine! That is arguably the main reason why our qualification is more than just Table 1 (200/300/500). We have four Tables altogether (Fundamental, Basic Combat, Intermediate Combat, Advanced Combat; respectively). As one progresses through the Tables the shooting and targets become more and more combat-oriented as suggested in their names. All Marines at minimum need to qualify on Tables 1 and 2; grunts qualify on 3 and 4 on top of that. That change came about by the end of my second year on Active Duty. The change was seen as necessary as the higher-end brass realized that 99% of our engagements in Iraq/Afghanistan took place within 100 yards or less. |
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Post by Ceorlmann on Jul 22, 2016 11:25:31 GMT -7
Back then you had to qualify once a year, but we had range time several times during the year to keep in practice. The 0300 Infantry Groups fire more often then the supply and motor pool for example but every Marine had to stay qualified regardless of MOS. I'm not sure what it is now. I'll bring you up to speed. All Marines being qualified annually is still supposed to happen, but it doesn't always. I wasn't the only Marine a couple weeks back for whom it's been over a year since the last qualification. |
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Post by USCGME2 on Jul 23, 2016 5:58:25 GMT -7
Shot expert in pistol and rifle many, many, many, many years ago. I can still hold my own, but nowadays I just train to remove a threat, not score points. Good job Marine! |
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Post by woodyz on Jul 23, 2016 8:55:52 GMT -7
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Post by ColcordMama on Jul 23, 2016 13:22:17 GMT -7
Proud of you, buddy! The only piece of equipment I ever scored expert on was a crochet hook. Ok for hand to hand combat I suppose, but a cast iron skillet is better.
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Post by angelhelp on Jul 23, 2016 13:59:30 GMT -7
Proud of you, buddy! The only piece of equipment I ever scored expert on was a crochet hook. Ok for hand to hand combat I suppose, but a cast iron skillet is better. Your cast iron skillet comment reminded me of the fact that I very nearly used one on Ceorlmann once upon a time... Most boys' voices change over a period of weeks/months. His happened to change over a few hours. The laddie went off to school one fine morning, sounding like he'd sounded for years. That afternoon, I was in the kitchen when he came home. Hearing the then-unlocked door open, followed by a voice that definitely did NOT sound familiar, I quietly grabbed a frying pan and stealthily crept 'round to where I'd be able to use it to good effect. The "intruder" also moved from one room to the next. I ducked under the piano, only to see some very familiar feet attached to the "wrong" voice. That boy's voice never once cracked in normal speech. His bro's voice change was only a bit more gradual, completely different from what I hear at school every year. I should mention that the skillet was indeed in clobbering position only moments before I "put the safety back on" (returned it to my side. Lucky for him, I knew those feet! |
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Post by Ceorlmann on Aug 19, 2016 22:33:18 GMT -7
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Post by crashdive123 on Aug 20, 2016 3:22:36 GMT -7
Congrats.
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Post by angelhelp on Aug 20, 2016 14:19:13 GMT -7
Oohrah!
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