Quote:
Originally Posted by JGarcia
Gene, you are right, I need the badges to get the respect. I believe our course might just be the best practical marksmanship training you can get ... anywhere in the Army. I’m a graduate of it, and excited about marksmanship for the average Soldier. I'll let you know when I am sporting that Distinguished Badge.
Do you think any of your students might participate in our Wilson Match or AFSAM this year?
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J.G.
I work with Regulars and they send guys to Benning for the sniper competition but not Little Rock. I am not sure you guys would accept them as the Wilson matches are for Guard only (?). It wouldn't matter as Regular outfits really aren't interested. A different culture.
The courses I run for DM's are ten days and I use stress tests for evaluation purposes so there are very significant differences between what I do and what faulty doctrine advises. So far I haven't been impressed with the DM courses run by the AMU but don't know what the Guard does. I don't think the AMU courses prepare guys for combat and I know they don't give them much in terms of perfecting marksmanship skills. The old story of shoot more ammo and you will learn on your own while emphasizing everything except what needs to happen for good enough shots under difficult conditions.
Ask the guys there at Little Rock why they will not allow a sniper team to compete in the Sniper matches unless they are B-4 qualified. He, he, he. It is because guys from the All Guard Team donned full kit and whipped all others. This brings on a point that you may want to consider. It depends on what you define as the mission essential aspects of making a good shot. You see, even though those All Guard guys shoot High Power, they have done one thing that most Army schools don't train guys to do or even emphasize in training. The guys who shoot High Power and are top of the line have trained their finger to move when their eyes have seen the degree of perfection they know is needed for success. And they move the trigger without moving the barrel.
Now some say "put on full kit, shoot a rack grade carbine and ball ammo and then see how well you do." This is not the type of statement I would place bets on. The really superb shooters -- guys who hold High Master scores in national competition, repeatedly get the Presidents Hundred and who vie for national level titles are so used to shooting in different conditions that their abilities don't drop because of the enviornment or what they are wearing. They understand that ball ammo and a rack grade rifle won't shoot as well as their match grade rifles and match grade ammo but aside from that -- they don't allow other things to bother them. In other words, they can maintain their focus despite helmets, body armor, etc. Take my word for it -- time factors mean nothing to them either. Their performance levels don't change much due to the environment or anything else. Also, they know what to train on and how to train which are two more things lacking in doctrinal schools.
Becoming Distinguished or Presidents Hundred in Rifle or Pistol isn't to earn a badge. It is to learn how to perfect the basics and from that you can influence your Soldiers more efficiently and effectively in training.
I wonder exactly what the Army expects out of guys shooting carbines, issued ball, and poor optics (ACOGs). So far I haven't heard of a DM blasting someone at ranges past about 200 meters yet the courses seem to emphasize trying to make a worn out carbine and ball ammo function efficiently at 550 meters instead of what a DM will really do which is maneuver with his Squad and do his best to shoot folks he can identify as enemy.
My intent for the DM courses I run is to prepare them to fill in Sniper slots and sorry guys but it happens -- a-lot. So I get spotting scopes and have the DM's work in two man teams -- using the same dialogue and techniques as with snipers. I run them through so many tests that it gets to the point where a test is training and not even a test anymore. It payed off for a couple of Brigades so I figure it is OK.
You have a unique opportunity to really become a fine rifleman or pistolero at Little Rock. They have the resources and the guys with the experience that will allow you to move to the 'next level'. 99.99% of us never had that opportunity and if you really enjoy marksmanship -- take advantage of what Little Rock can offer you.
Happy New Year!
Gene