This was actually linked to from (and mentioned in) the WSJ!
http://frontpagemag.com/columnists/metaksa/2001/metaksa06-06-01.htm
Five Bullets and Out!
Five Bullets and Out!
Rich Castanet advises that the Marines aren't that much better off. Can you imagine?
The finest fighting soldiers in the world getting ready with video arcade games. What a joke this country has become.
The finest fighting soldiers in the world getting ready with video arcade games. What a joke this country has become.
Five Bullets and Out!
Actually, I'm more concerned that someone writing for the Navy doesn't know the difference between bullets and cartridges.
student
student
-
RACastanet
- Posts: 3744
- Joined: Thu Mar 11, 1999 6:01 am
- Location: Richmond, VA
Five Bullets and Out!
Hello all. Well, the Marines are all riflemen, and everyone must qualify annually or find other employment. However, Majors and above (field grade officers) only qualify with the M9 (Beretta) 9mm. If you are not on a large base, getting range time is apparently not easy.
Yesterday I had the pleasure of keeping company with three officers at my range... a USMC Major, a US Army Major, and a USCG Lt. Cdr. The Marine is about at least as good as I am, maybe better, as is to be expected. The Army Major not quite as good. Interesting to me was that the USCG officer had not fired a weapon in about 5 years. However, with minimal coaching, she proved to be a fine shot (however, had I not checked her out prior to loading she would have had the thumb resting behind the slide reaaranged).
All three were thrilled as we fired a wide range of weapons including M1, M14, AR15, plus my Glock 9mm, G.45 and G mini .45 at ranges of 7 to 10 yards for the pistols and 100 yards for the rifles. Having only fired the Beretta 9mm in training they fell in love with the Glocks (I frisked them before we parted company to be certain no one was too in love with them, heheheh). They would have taken the M1 as well (over the M14) but I warned them I was carrying concealed so mugging me to steal it would be a bad idea. It unfortunately got too dark to try the S&W Ti but boy did they like that firearm.
There is no doubt that I get much more range time and use a greater variety of weapons than most in the services. However, an active Marine getting ready to deploy in an Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) will be doing some serious weapons training way beyond my scope and capability. Likewise, the Marine recruits at Parris Island and San Diego all get plenty of range time, both day and at night (participating in a night fire exercise is incredible... all of the ammo is tracer with the man shaped targets back lit by flickering flares on the ground and in the air. And yes, I qualified my first, and only, time out at night!). If any active or prior service people would like to comment or dispute this please do so as my experience is limited.
I covered the range cost and ammo yesterday as I have had the priviledge of burning considerable amounts of USMC ammo and want to return the favor. Letting me expend munitions is a huge sacrifice for them and I do feel a bit guilty doing it. So, I'll treat any active serviceman/woman who visits me to range time and ammo.
The 'video game' that I used on my first visit to Quantico is actually a video theater, very hi tech and not a joke. The machine is capable of simulating the M16, M203 grenade launcher, the M249 sqaud auto weapon, the M240G .30 cal mg, the M2 browning 50 cal mg, the Mk19 40mm auto grenade launcher and several assorted rocket launchers. As a familiarization device it is priceless. The action is great, and it saves a lot of high cost ammo while teaching fundamental operation of a wide array of heavy arms! However, nothing beats live fire. There are much smaller TV sized pneumatic units that are for the M16 and M9 and I have used them but they are not close to the real thing. It would be a shame if this is the only training some services utilize.
Van knows something about this group I was with (and they are very special officers) and why they were in Richmond, but that is discussion best left off of this thread.
I expect to see the USMC Major again in the future to share stories and burn more powder.
Regards, Rich
[This message has been edited by RACastanet (edited June 07, 2001).]
[This message has been edited by RACastanet (edited June 07, 2001).]
Yesterday I had the pleasure of keeping company with three officers at my range... a USMC Major, a US Army Major, and a USCG Lt. Cdr. The Marine is about at least as good as I am, maybe better, as is to be expected. The Army Major not quite as good. Interesting to me was that the USCG officer had not fired a weapon in about 5 years. However, with minimal coaching, she proved to be a fine shot (however, had I not checked her out prior to loading she would have had the thumb resting behind the slide reaaranged).
All three were thrilled as we fired a wide range of weapons including M1, M14, AR15, plus my Glock 9mm, G.45 and G mini .45 at ranges of 7 to 10 yards for the pistols and 100 yards for the rifles. Having only fired the Beretta 9mm in training they fell in love with the Glocks (I frisked them before we parted company to be certain no one was too in love with them, heheheh). They would have taken the M1 as well (over the M14) but I warned them I was carrying concealed so mugging me to steal it would be a bad idea. It unfortunately got too dark to try the S&W Ti but boy did they like that firearm.
There is no doubt that I get much more range time and use a greater variety of weapons than most in the services. However, an active Marine getting ready to deploy in an Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) will be doing some serious weapons training way beyond my scope and capability. Likewise, the Marine recruits at Parris Island and San Diego all get plenty of range time, both day and at night (participating in a night fire exercise is incredible... all of the ammo is tracer with the man shaped targets back lit by flickering flares on the ground and in the air. And yes, I qualified my first, and only, time out at night!). If any active or prior service people would like to comment or dispute this please do so as my experience is limited.
I covered the range cost and ammo yesterday as I have had the priviledge of burning considerable amounts of USMC ammo and want to return the favor. Letting me expend munitions is a huge sacrifice for them and I do feel a bit guilty doing it. So, I'll treat any active serviceman/woman who visits me to range time and ammo.
The 'video game' that I used on my first visit to Quantico is actually a video theater, very hi tech and not a joke. The machine is capable of simulating the M16, M203 grenade launcher, the M249 sqaud auto weapon, the M240G .30 cal mg, the M2 browning 50 cal mg, the Mk19 40mm auto grenade launcher and several assorted rocket launchers. As a familiarization device it is priceless. The action is great, and it saves a lot of high cost ammo while teaching fundamental operation of a wide array of heavy arms! However, nothing beats live fire. There are much smaller TV sized pneumatic units that are for the M16 and M9 and I have used them but they are not close to the real thing. It would be a shame if this is the only training some services utilize.
Van knows something about this group I was with (and they are very special officers) and why they were in Richmond, but that is discussion best left off of this thread.
I expect to see the USMC Major again in the future to share stories and burn more powder.
Regards, Rich
[This message has been edited by RACastanet (edited June 07, 2001).]
[This message has been edited by RACastanet (edited June 07, 2001).]
Five Bullets and Out!
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Van Canna:
The finest fighting soldiers in the world getting ready with video arcade games. What a joke this country has become. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
About computer simulations for small arms I won't comment, but for vehicles the simulators are very accurate. Particularly the flight simulators and naval simulators.
The finest fighting soldiers in the world getting ready with video arcade games. What a joke this country has become. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
About computer simulations for small arms I won't comment, but for vehicles the simulators are very accurate. Particularly the flight simulators and naval simulators.
