Machinegunner vs. SAW gunner
USMC 1970 a Machinegunner went to a four week MOS school. US Army in 1976 a machinegunner was an 11B that someone pointed at and said "you are a machinegunner", no MOS school(M60 machinegun) strictly OJT. Is it still that way? Marine Corps or Army?
Does the SAW gunner in either the US Army or USMC go to an MOS school? Not that I know of?
A Squad automatic rifleman is not a machinegunner. A SAW M249 is a crew served weapon, needs an "A" gunner to help out for full efficiency due to the weight and the belt feed. An automatic rifleman with a M27 is not a machinegunner, he does it all by himself. Currently an M249 gunner with a belt, does it all by himself. Does either Army or Marine Corps designate an assist automatic rifleman? You want to participate with the fireteam as an automatic rifleman carrying a belt fed "machinegun" go for it. I would rather carry an M27 and be able to keep up with the fireteam and fully participate with the fireteam. An automatic rifleman is part of the fireteam and his job is to support or participate with the fireteam. The MOS machinegunner is to support the platoon or squad as planned by the plt HQ, not the fireteam. In my opinion it was a mistake to use the M249 belt fed as a squad automatic weapon. Different jobs being mixed up and misunderstood by US military and now the USMC is trying to get that straitened out.
Does any of the above make any sense to anyone? Opinions?
Semper Fidelis,
Tipy