Question(s) for Military Personnel

[Tazz]

Whats the 1st few words in my original post? And if you wasn't being a dick, then what did you mean by go ask a recruiter? I assumed you meant that I need to go enlist, where again I'll say "are they taking 40 year olds?. If you meant just go ask a recruiter, that's stupid as hell when I can just sit in my living room and pose an open question on a forum. Either way, I thought it came off as a dick reply.

Now, Tazz. You feel I owe this gentleman an apology just b/c he's a vet. That's kinda the attitude I see with a lot of vets. Yes, I know I owe my freedom to guys like him but if you think your military career somehow gives you the right to treat me like s..t, or that you are somehow better than me for serving, you can go to hell.

Nope, not just because he's a Veteran but because you got all butthurt over a comment and resorted to childish name calling. Now you're saying go to hell?! Hey pal, whatever makes you feel better about yourself. He didn't treat you like **** either, what the hell is wrong with you anyway? You didn't get enough hugs from your momma when you were a kid or something? Grow up and get over yourself!

 

[jaybees]

LOL!!! Wow, that is absolutely the most generic "comeback" I have ever read. And who did I call what? I simply stated that I thought a reply was dickish.

 

[01coltcolt]

OPSEC

 

[fleebag]

Whats the 1st few words in my original post? And if you wasn't being a dick, then what did you mean by go ask a recruiter? I assumed you meant that I need to go enlist, where again I'll say "are they taking 40 year olds?. If you meant just go ask a recruiter, that's stupid as hell when I can just sit in my living room and pose an open question on a forum. Either way, I thought it came off as a dick reply.

Now, Tazz. You feel I owe this gentleman an apology just b/c he's a vet. That's kinda the attitude I see with a lot of vets. Yes, I know I owe my freedom to guys like him but if you think your military career somehow gives you the right to treat me like s..t, or that you are somehow better than me for serving, you can go to hell.

Don't bother with it, he's obviously upset he can't remember

 

[Tazz]

LOL!!! Wow, that is absolutely the most generic "comeback" I have ever read. And who did I call what? I simply stated that I thought a reply was dickish.

LOL

 

[mkdhotrod]

Having never been in the military, I've always been curious about several firearms questions. How long after entering basic before you get a weapon and what kind (rifle or pistol), as well as brand. During basic, do you practice w/ the same weapons the whole time or do they just kinda pass them out for the days activities?
After completion of basic, are you given a specific weapon that you are responsible for during your entire enlistment. Are you responsible for basic cleaning and up keep. If there is a problem with your weapon, is there always an armourer nearby that can get you back up and running? Are you allowed to accessorize your gun any way you see fit. If so, is there certain brands that are approved by the military? Do you have a choice in which gun you choose? What different types of guns are used by our military at the present times (shotguns, pistol caliber carbines, bolt action, etc.)?
Lastly, ammo. My buddy (former Marine) told me ammo was made on base but I've read that our military buys from several different manufacturers. So where does it come from? How is ammo allotted to each individual soldier? How much ammo is carried in the field? How many mags does each soldier carry?

Sorry for so many questions. Just some stuff I've always wondered about. Please don't feel obligated to answer every single question. If there may be anything else you think I may find interesting, please feel free to include it as well.

And most importantly, while I have your attention.......Thanks For Your Service!!

Standard Battle load is 7 magazines, 210 rounds with either a M16A2/4 or the M4 Carbine. In basic you get a standard rifle for which you are responsible for the whole time youre in basic, when you go to other unit you draw another weapon as per that companies MTOE. The weapons are either made from Colt, FNH, Beretta, Springfield (EBRs for the DMR) etc.

 

[Carmelfight]

Boot camp is different for each branch of service. I was in the Marine Corps and we were issued M16-A2's but now I believe they have gone to M16-A3's for boot and either SOI or MCT. M16A4's are standard issued to active and reserve units. Buddy went to the Navy and he said they only touched M9's during basic. In the Marine Corps, we were issued rifles on the 2nd day... well really the first few days your pretty much doing everything with no sleep so it's a big blurr. The rifles stayed with us the entire time until graduation week when you turn all your issued gear in. We touched our rifles everyday...EVERYDAY! DI's would tell us to name our rifles and when cleaning to talk to her in a soft dirty way... i.e. calling her a filthy little *#^%, having so many men touch her over the years stuff like that. We had to recite Marine rifle creed the famous "This is my rifle, their are many like it, but THIS ONE IS MINE!" When I went to SOI I was a damn M249 SAW gunner cause NOONE wants to lug that thing around all day out in the field. During SOI and routine training you'd check out your weapon from the armory by serial number on the rifles. Out in the field in training you are responsible for all issued gear you are assigned. Armor? No your a rifleman in the Marines, you are the operator, radioman, cook, driver, machine gunner, and every other MOS except for specific jobs like EOD,chemical, POGS, all in one were not the pathetic soldiers that need a complete MOS to fill ranks and everyone be a E-4 specialists. YES! You can buy your own equipment like attachments(depends on your unit some do some don't) for your weapon system or random things you can attach on your combat load. GOVERNMENT ISSUE STUFF SUCKS!!! Commercial things like from blackhawk or what not actually make far superior products than these crappy government contract companies that mass produce products for cheap. No. You do not have a CHOICE on what you are issued... Ofcourse EVERYONE wants the M4 because it's light as *&%& and going on force marches for more than 5 miles, you want to make yourself as light as possible. NOONE wants a M249 SAW strapped to their body with a spare barrel! Our standard ammo is the 5.56 in rifles and .308 for our sniper rifle systems, and the crappy 9mm in combat enviroment. For all the 9mm fanatics talking about shot placement. M9's and our issued bayonets are the last resort in any engagement. Army probably issues out the M9's but in the Corps. only officers and select SNCO are issued M9's. Army went with the M4 platform while the Marines opted for the M16A4's. Army trains at max range of 300 m with optics, Marines train at 500 m out with iron sights. Army gets state of the art range equipment, Marines still use pit crews at range having Marines pull up and down targets for shooters. As far as Shotguns in Marines, only Marines trained as an assault man use a shotgun for breaching purposes. Ammo is taken out by a Marines who have hazmat certification. Ammo can be checked out but CANNOT be checked in, meaning if you take out 20,000 rds and only use 10,000, you better start using your speed loader and switching to burst cause you'll be shooting another 10,000 rds. Comes from the ammo depot by ammo techs. No smoking or electronics used while near the building warehouse. While training we usually got around 800 rds a Marine a day. Usually it will be a day range and a night range for 5 days for each evolution. So you can imagine how much ammo is check out for entire company. Marines standard issue mags are 7 for each Marine, but as stated you can buy your own **** and get like P-mags and throw the crappy GI mags back in your locker. No problem thanks for supporting out troops hopefully this opened your eyes on some things.

 

[EchoFiveIndia]

Ok, I have question. Do incoming small arms rounds sound like firecrackers? I hope that is not a stupid question but that's kind of what they sound like to me on all the YouTube combat videos from the sand box that I have watched over the years and I always wondered about that.

Pretty much. It depends also on exactly how close it is to you too. It's a distinct "crack" but I guess a fire cracker is a good reference.

If you really want to know just find a big field with a ditch in it, lay down in said ditch, and have some one shoot over you. Yes, that is crazy. Yes, I'm a Marine. You can also hear it by shooting supersonic rounds through a can.

An RPG sounds like a cross between a giant Roman candle/bottle rocket. I've heard it from both sides and it's MUCH cooler sounding when it's out bound. Lmao.

 

[Tony2X]

Boot camp is different for each branch of service. I was in the Marine Corps and we were issued M16-A2's but now I believe they have gone to M16-A3's for boot and either SOI or MCT. M16A4's are standard issued to active and reserve units. Buddy went to the Navy and he said they only touched M9's during basic. In the Marine Corps, we were issued rifles on the 2nd day... well really the first few days your pretty much doing everything with no sleep so it's a big blurr. The rifles stayed with us the entire time until graduation week when you turn all your issued gear in. We touched our rifles everyday...EVERYDAY! DI's would tell us to name our rifles and when cleaning to talk to her in a soft dirty way... i.e. calling her a filthy little *#^%, having so many men touch her over the years stuff like that. We had to recite Marine rifle creed the famous "This is my rifle, their are many like it, but THIS ONE IS MINE!" When I went to SOI I was a damn M249 SAW gunner cause NOONE wants to lug that thing around all day out in the field. During SOI and routine training you'd check out your weapon from the armory by serial number on the rifles. Out in the field in training you are responsible for all issued gear you are assigned. Armor? No your a rifleman in the Marines, you are the operator, radioman, cook, driver, machine gunner, and every other MOS except for specific jobs like EOD,chemical, POGS, all in one were not the pathetic soldiers that need a complete MOS to fill ranks and everyone be a E-4 specialists. YES! You can buy your own equipment like attachments(depends on your unit some do some don't) for your weapon system or random things you can attach on your combat load. GOVERNMENT ISSUE STUFF SUCKS!!! Commercial things like from blackhawk or what not actually make far superior products than these crappy government contract companies that mass produce products for cheap. No. You do not have a CHOICE on what you are issued... Ofcourse EVERYONE wants the M4 because it's light as *&%& and going on force marches for more than 5 miles, you want to make yourself as light as possible. NOONE wants a M249 SAW strapped to their body with a spare barrel! Our standard ammo is the 5.56 in rifles and .308 for our sniper rifle systems, and the crappy 9mm in combat enviroment. For all the 9mm fanatics talking about shot placement. M9's and our issued bayonets are the last resort in any engagement. Army probably issues out the M9's but in the Corps. only officers and select SNCO are issued M9's. Army went with the M4 platform while the Marines opted for the M16A4's. Army trains at max range of 300 m with optics, Marines train at 500 m out with iron sights. Army gets state of the art range equipment, Marines still use pit crews at range having Marines pull up and down targets for shooters. As far as Shotguns in Marines, only Marines trained as an assault man use a shotgun for breaching purposes. Ammo is taken out by a Marines who have hazmat certification. Ammo can be checked out but CANNOT be checked in, meaning if you take out 20,000 rds and only use 10,000, you better start using your speed loader and switching to burst cause you'll be shooting another 10,000 rds. Comes from the ammo depot by ammo techs. No smoking or electronics used while near the building warehouse. While training we usually got around 800 rds a Marine a day. Usually it will be a day range and a night range for 5 days for each evolution. So you can imagine how much ammo is check out for entire company. Marines standard issue mags are 7 for each Marine, but as stated you can buy your own **** and get like P-mags and throw the crappy GI mags back in your locker. No problem thanks for supporting out troops hopefully this opened your eyes on some things.

Nope, no optics.

 

[mkdhotrod]

Yeah man... you usually never ever qualify with optics.. 300 meters is iron sight range.