
Originally Posted by
danpass
The 0.5k Report would never have happened if Army marksmanship training were adequate. Where is the USMC equivalent report?
I agree with the Major that Basic RM needs serious improvement. The Army certainly realizes this or the SDM 'position' within the squad wouldn't even exist.
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7-29. MISSION OF THE SQUAD DESIGNATED MARKSMAN
The primary mission of the SDM is to deploy as a member of the rifle squad. The SDM is a vital member of his individual squad and not a squad sniper. He fires and maneuvers with his squad and performs all the duties of the standard rifleman. The SDM has neither the equipment nor training to operate individually or in a small team to engage targets at extended ranges with precision fires.
The secondary mission of the SDM is to engage key targets from 300 to 500 meters with effective, well-aimed fires using the standard weapon system and standard ammunition. He may or may not be equipped with an optic. The SDM must, therefore, possess a thorough understanding and mastery of the fundamentals of rifle marksmanship as well as ballistics, elevation and windage hold-off, sight manipulation, and range estimation.
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I'm a lot like you; HSLD and Precision classes and then competitions. The fundamentals in competition translate perfectly to the classes.
A recent Precision class I attended included an Army E-5 Silver Star back from Afghanistan. His comment was that he wished he had this
long range training before going over there.
Based on what you hear, what I hear, and the report ...... both are needed.
In my armchair opinion that's fundamentals in Basic and advanced afterward.
and you never know if a barfcom fantasy may come true
.
Agreed to a point, but as far as marksmanship programs, it's apples and oranges. The type of MOS you hold, the type of job your unit is expected to perform and FUNDING has a lot to do with it. Basic Infantrymen are better shots than clerks. HSLD Infantry (Rangers, Teir1 groups, folks assigned to USAMU) are way better shots than basic infantryman because....the have FUNDING and they have to be MORE efficient across the spectrum of warfare from CQB to long distance Sniping.
The Marine Corps has an extremely long and rich tradition with long range rifle marksmanship and continues that tradition, among others, to a fault (Hence the reluctance to go with M-4s, and they don't look as squared away during D&C/Parade ground purposes without full sized battle rifles).
The Army, which is 3 to 4 times the Corps size, has a similar marksmanship tradition, but morphs back and forth, occasionally forgetting what it's purpose is, due to political expediency, and FUNDING.
Example: When a SOCOM General was the Army's C of S, he instituted many war fighting skills be instituted so every soldier, regardless of MOS, could run a crew Served Weapon, Could do a 4 man CQB entry, could fire and maneuver, call for fire, etc... so we would not have anymore Jessica Lynch episodes, and the Basic Soldier, could be a War Fighter. Today, it is being dismantled do to FUNDING.
For God and the soldier we adore, In time of danger, not before! The danger passed, and all things righted, God is forgotten and the soldier slighted." - Rudyard Kipling
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