Today was interesting, and probably one of the most useful days if one considers carrying a weapon. We went to the Short Range Marksmanship Range to learn how to tactically use our personal weapons, the M4 and M9.
(Where would we be without another Hum-V picture? Left to right, Jerry and Andrew)
As with all the previous ranges, we were briefed ahead of time on the safety fundamentals of the range. Shortly thereafter, we split into 3 groups of about 10-12 (some of our Air Force compadres were with us) and instructed on the different elements of the range. First, my group went down to the, what I will call "tactical movement" area and learned how to fire behind objects used for cover. Next, we were taught how to move with and draw our M9 pistols while engaging the targets and switch to our M4 immediately. Finally, we learned how to engage a target with our M4, while we were moving. I will explain each of these in more depth as they come up.
Being in the first group, about 15 of us headed down to the range. There were orange cones set up at 25, 20, 15, 10 and 5 meters from the "black paper on wooden targets". Each one of these distances would be a spot from which we would engage the target. Initially, we started at 5 meters with our M4. This part of the exercise had us begin with our weapons in the "low ready" position. This means having our weapons pointed at the ground...so as not to shoot thy neighbor...I joke, but serious stuff. The instructor, over a loud speaker, would then say "Target......Up". On "Target", we would look at the target and on "Up", we would aim and fire a "controlled pair". A "controlled pair" is two rounds fired at the target in about 1 second intervals. Then, everyone would turn to their right and face their neighbor's back (again, weapon always in the low ready position). As before, the instructor would call out "Target......Up" and we would view the target, move from a 90 degree angle to the to facing the target, raise our M4s and engage the target with a controlled pair. We did this facing left and 180 degrees away from the patient. Additionally, we engaged the targets by walking towards and away from them. Mind you, we didn't walk backwards and fire, rather, we turned and stood still while engaging the target. This is very difficult as one tries to steady your aim while moving.
After practicing on the black paper targets, we were given white paper targets with a yellow triangle at the head, a red circle on the chest and a black square in the abdomen. Standing at either 5 or 10 meters (I can't remember), we began in the low ready position and upon the loud speaker command, we would engage the target. However, you couldn't just shoot where ever you wanted; you needed to shoot at the target declared by the loud speaker. For example: "yellow triangle...bang bang, red circle...bang bang". (The "bang bang" was me shooting...in case that wasn't clear.) We fired 20 shots and counted our results. 19 in the target zone for me...not quite sure where that 20th shot went though...hmmmm.
The next exercise was practice at switching from our M9 to our M4, repeatedly. We were given two targets dressed in "very distinct attire", 5-10 meters away, and placed next to one another. On the command from the loud speaker, we shot a controlled pair with our M4 at one target, placed the weapon on safe (this is a very important concept), switched to our M9 and shot another controlled pair at the second target. Each target fell if hit twice. We repeated this process as the targets alternately popped up.
The last and most exciting exercise was a course with three shooting stations. Two participants started out lying on their stomachs, awaiting the "go". Once released, the pair ran to a four-walled enclosure with no roof and two windows facing the targets.
(Here are Mike and Andrew waiting to run.)
Each participant took a window, used the walls for cover, and fired a controlled pair at the targets. To make this more interesting, each person approached their window from the wall in the middle of the windows. Thus, one was required to shoot left-handed from the left window and right-handed from the right window. After the first controlled pair fired, the two participants switched places and repeated the process.
(You are seeing the left window.)
Having finished, the participants ran out of the enclosure and over to 2 orange barricades (one for each). They fired from the right and left sides of the barricades in the same manner as in the enclosure, and then moved onto the last station.
The final site was an old vehicle. The participants lined up side by side, leaned over the hood of the vehicle and fired their controlled pair at the targets...taking great care not to shoot the hood. The instructors yelled and screamed and threw smoke bombs in the area to raise the level of excitement. All good fun.
Please check back to see the video below. It shows a full run through the course. Unfortunately, the internet is a little slow and not allowing me to post it.
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