In Afghanistan in '12, everyone, almost without exception, had rails on their M4 or M16. I spent time in Kabul, Bagram, Kandahar, and a few smaller FOBs. I lived with contractors, infantry, SOF, pogues, and Federal/DoD civilians. Everyone had rails.
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Your version of "light discipline"?
I already planned for enough light to identify and target from a source that won't allow the bad guy to see me. Nor will the light he sees come from my direction.
As for a class, I guess the Army instructors are somewhat qualified.
There's an advantage to seeing someone that can't see you. Why light yourself up?
Ya this grunt with my standard hand guards, and no light. Not to mention I definitely didn't have $40,000 in optics on me either. I wish my unit would've had more money so I could've been better equipped.
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/90394889/me.jpg
That picture was from 2009.
So was this..
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/...132009_021.JPG
and this..
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/...152009_090.JPG
I'm sure I could find more.. If I looked hard enough I might be able to find some from 2006-ish. Whatever the issued flashlight was called back then.
and "Hallelujah!"
http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n...psf15be895.jpg
Your experience doesn't reflect that of many of us who have spent numerous years in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere. I also, worked with and interacted with units from all branches and many had rail systems (KAC) on the M4's and M16's.
Numerous personnel also had a version of a weapons mounted light whether it was a form of Surefire or the old Insights lights.
These were not "elite units" as you pointed out.
As for not having a weapon light on a long gun, maybe you need to get out and look at what most if not all current EXPERIENCED instructors are using. Not to mention local, state and law enforcement personnel.
Gotta echo my fellow Coastie. Certain CG deployable units are some of the last holdouts for non-railed, carry-handle weaponry. There may be change on the horizon on that score.
My day job long gun (MP-5N) comes with a flashlight.
Handheld flashlights good for pistols, not so much with long guns.
If one admits that a flashlight is a good idea, how can one be against mounting one on a weapon?
Flashbulb technique from a rail mounted light, activated with my support thumb with a red dot sight. Not all Army instruction is created equal. As far as rails are concerned, even fobbits had rails. The only ones who didn't were some support reservist and USAF support personnel. Folks who actually left the FOBs on a regular basis had lights, lasers, RDSs and powered optics, most with PMags.
Pretty much everyone had an Aimpoint or ACOG. Running irons was by far the minority. I saw a few Elcans too.
Most USAF support personnel had rails and M68s of some variety. I had a CompM4, a Surefire light, and a VCAS sling on my M4.