11-02-2011, 12:35 AM
Regarding the experiences you had during qualifications with the 82nd, that is one thing I did not experience with my units in the Marines. We actually spent a week dry firing, working on breathing, trigger control and sight alignment/picture. There was minimal hazing during this week or the following qualification week, but then we ran qualification alot more like a civilian marksmanship scenario with fixed location targets. The most stress we had was during 200yd rapid fire in the kneeling and 300yd rapidfire in the prone (10 rounds in 1 minute). I always wondered why we did it his way as we were not likely to have the convenience of not being a target during combat. It did instill some really good shooting habits, in me anyway. One well placed is better than 20 spray and pray...
After further memory diving, I guess we did fire a bit more than I indicated in my earlier post. We spent about 6 weeks a year at Puhakaloa (PTA) and ran almost continual field training, and ran through around 500-800 rounds. Line platoons probably did a little better (I was with anti-armor/demolitions platoon and spent a fair amount of my time on the SMAW range or the demo range). Still, I know we tossed more blanks in the shrubs than 855's down range.
grunt
After further memory diving, I guess we did fire a bit more than I indicated in my earlier post. We spent about 6 weeks a year at Puhakaloa (PTA) and ran almost continual field training, and ran through around 500-800 rounds. Line platoons probably did a little better (I was with anti-armor/demolitions platoon and spent a fair amount of my time on the SMAW range or the demo range). Still, I know we tossed more blanks in the shrubs than 855's down range.
grunt