Budgetary constraints are a big factor often. While I was in the national guard during the time mid 80’s to early 90’s, we often used the conversion kits and .22 ammo to do short range qual on indoor ranges. Even funnier later in the 90’s I was assigned to a tank battalion and for practicing gunnery and maneuver in tanks, the line companies had these funny elevated chair platforms on wheels, and each tank crew would take turns either pushing the chair around simulating tank movements, or sit in the chair shooting a pellet gun into tiny minuture tank targets!
Keep in mind a 50 round box of .22 for qual per soldier in a 100 man company would cost less than 200 dollars for the unit. For 5.56 the same ammo cost would be a conservative $750 dollars, then add in the time to drive to a range capable of qualifying on a standard military course, the cost of fuel, etc and the saving becomes obvious
Basic at Lackland, July 1994. Crew chief AFSC. Fired an old school m-16, slick side, triangle hand guards, with 3 pronged flash hider. We did actually fire 5.56 ammo.
A good friend of mine went through Lackland in 1980 and served from 1980 to 1984. He was a "Weapons Troop" (loaded ordnance on aircraft). The only firearms training he had the whole time he was in was 50 rounds of .22LR during basic through a slick side M16.
He always thought it was funny that they trusted him with B61 Nuclear Bombs with up to a 360 kiloton yield, but not 5.56 rifle ammo .
Just my .02,
LeonCarr
"If you attempt to leave, or play any games, I will TAZER you and watch Supernanny while you drool into the carpet." - Agent Coulson to Tony Stark in Iron Man 2
I thought the MAC/Attichisson 22 Conversion Unit first marketed in 1972 was the first M16/AR15 22 Conversion unit (predating both the M261 and Airforce units )
That is really amazing. I can see occasional use of .22lr for simplicity and cost savings. But everyone serving faces the possibility of being thrown into combat whether planned or not. Every single service member should be qualified on at least one individual weapon, besides a nuke! It is shameful the command structure thinks it is OK to not train on combat arms just because they want to save a few bucks. I hope things are much better these days. Anyone signing up deserves to be trained to protect themselves and their unit. Otherwise we are asking THEM to roll the dice on their lives, certainly not the generals’.
It is in vain, sir, to extenuate the matter. Gentlemen may cry, Peace, Peace but there is no peace. The war is actually begun! ... Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!" - Patrick Henry in an address at St. John’s Church, Richmond, Virginia, on March 23, 1775.
I went through Lackland at the end of 68....As others have mentioned we shot what we were handed which was an M16. Basic Instruction, two weeks later we went a second time...You didn't ask questions....Again M16....No shortage of Ammunition in 68.
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