Question(s) for Military Personnel

[PapaTokarev]

Wow the memories you bring back. Aside from some MOS specific changes you are spot on.

But I'm a POG so I would know only about The Wing. In the wing as aircrew we were issued three platforms if enlisted and two for the O's. An enlisted aircrew man had his rifle, and a shotgun (mossy), and all aircrew had an M9. It was always fun come range time because you would basically spend two weeks on the range. The only benefit was when you were able to get your pistol and rifle in the same week. Because you didn't have to pull pit duty.

No A3s. Only the Navy and Coast Guard maintain M16-A3s in inventory so far as I am aware. An A3 is an A2 with an A1 fire control group (safe, semi, full). In the civilian marketplace, this has somehow been confused to mean something else... usually referring to a flatop AR15 of pretty much any flavor.

 

[Byte Stryke]

when I was with the 94th Engineer BN (CBT,HVY) They would grab the largest guy in the squad under E-5 and strap them with the 60.
I was always glad to be the biggest guy... they gave the runner up the tripod and ammo

 

[Ravic]

when I was with the 94th Engineer BN (CBT,HVY) They would grab the largest guy in the squad under E-5 and strap them with the 60.
I was always glad to be the biggest guy... they gave the runner up the tripod and ammo

I hear you man, I was in the 92nd eng bn and I got strapped with the 240B not to bad but could be quite cumbersome.

 

[Byte Stryke]

oh, as far as incoming fire don't worry about the ones you hear... they are just warning you about the ones you won't.

 

[marnedrake]

In basic your issued an M-16. You qualify on it and only receive live ammo at the range, but you use the same one through out all of your basic. When qualifying you will receive 40 rounds to qualify.
Weapons stay with the unit. When you go to a new unit you get a new weapon (new to you, most likely beat the heck up). When you leave that unit that weapon stays behind.
The weapon your issued and the amount of ammo really all depends on your job. For instance when I was deployed with a Cav Unit (not a Cav Scout myself) I received an M4 and everyone got a minimum of a basic combat load of 210 rounds. When I deployed with Aviation I had an M16. Most of our Soldiers who were not flight crews only received a 30 round force protection load, but my job (Chaplain Assistant) caused me to travel a lot so I still had the full combat load (210). Most of your Officers and Senior Enlisted will carry around an M9 but have a M4 stored away and secured (except for combat arms units, they carry them both). You will also have specialist (more so in combat arms units) like some one to carry a 249, or snipers, shot guns etc. The more on the ground and in the 'crap' you are the better the weapons generally tend to be.
In my experience most people don't take care of their military weapons. Being a AR owner myself and seeing malfunctions while others are under fire I understand the importance of cleaning my weapon, and have always left the unit with a better weapon than the one I received.
With that being said I personally wished the Army issued you a weapon you kept through your entire career, and that you were allowed to keep it once you left. I believe if that were the case more people would take better care of their weapons. But due to the many changes in positions, titles, and ranks this could never be the case. I hope this was helpful.

 

[marnedrake]

Were you at Stewart?

 

[marnedrake]

I graduated in 02 and we were still doing the same thing when I got out in 07. The army likes the lazy ass pop up ranges ran by computer. I hate it

Agreed and most of the targets were missing over half of the body because it had been shot so many times lol!

 

[Tony2X]

I wore civies everyday and carried a Sig...lol

 

[Bypass]

I wore civies everyday and carried a Sig...lol

I hate you.

 

[Tony2X]

I hate you.

Thanks...yeah, I get that a lot.