Thank goodness for repetitive training

Cross-X

Cross-X

Shooting at the big range in heaven
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Thank goodness for repetitive training!

I've been in the military for 18 years now. I know in my head that repetitive training is the only way to ensure that things go right when the SHTF. Last night I got a lessong that repetitive training can save your life in non-emergency situations as well.

I just got my CCW yesterday, and I wanted to practice drawing and firing my carry gun (G19) from my current (temporary) IWB holster, and thought I'd practice some dry-firing on my non-carry gun (Sig P226) as well. I got both pistols out of the car and went into the house.

Now, I'd fired the Sig at the range last week, and I always clear the pistols when I go off the range, so I *knew* that it was unloaded. However, I've been taught multiple times that "all guns are always loaded, until you visually verify that they're unloaded, and even then only as long as you have them in sight". So, even though I *knew* that the Sig was unloaded, the first thing I did prior to dry-firing was to lock the slide back and visually verify that it was empty.

A 147gr Speer Gold Dot ejected and flew across the room.

Had it not been for doing it the same way, every time, I would have had a negligent discharge and would have put a hole through the wall.

Just something I wanted to share...
 
Great post!

See... He KNEW that the gun was safe... But by checking one more time he avoided a potentially DEADLY problem.

Good stuff.

Adam
 
I'm gonna print that out and hand it to students. We DRILL it in to them to double check and triple check if need be, but you can't babysit them 24/7. Thanks D.
 
Chris Tavaras used to blame that on the "Ammunition Fairy"

It is a very real entity. Very cunning and Dangerous. This fairy will not be stopped by the most secure of safes. One day, the Fairy will deposit a round of ammo in your gun and you will be shocked and amazed to find it.

Keep an eye out for your gift. You never want it to be a LOUD surprise.
 
the "Ammunition Fairy"

It is a very real entity. Very cunning and Dangerous. This fairy will not be stopped by the most secure of safes. One day, the Fairy will deposit a round of ammo in your gun and you will be shocked and amazed to find it.
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thats great!
 
So, even though I *knew* that the Sig was unloaded, the first thing I did prior to dry-firing was to lock the slide back and visually verify that it was empty.
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Darius,

Good lesson, thanks for posting it.

I was going to question you about your time in service, but then I saw the very top line. Ooops.
 
FPrice said:
So, even though I *knew* that the Sig was unloaded, the first thing I did prior to dry-firing was to lock the slide back and visually verify that it was empty.
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Darius,

Good lesson, thanks for posting it.

I was going to question you about your time in service, but then I saw the very top line. Ooops.
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Yeah, I spent my years in the USAF telling stories, with very, very little shooting.

For some reason, they didn't seem to want their lawyers to have guns...
 
I took a defensive handgun class with an active duty USAF LTC this Summer. Ran into him shopping recently and he tells me that they get something like 50 rds for Beretta and 60 rds for the M-16 every TWO YEARS!! That's to "qualify"! If they ship out to the sandbox, they get further training in the sandbox, not before!

I'd say that the brass in DC don't take firearms training seriously. I certainly don't want to disparage the fighting troops, but it seems to me that the desk jockeys have their heads up their collective asses.
 
excellent post Cross-X!!!!!!

I never have a loaded weapon in the house, but everytime I pick one up, out of habit/training I always open the chamber and inspect. Everyone should make that their habit.
 
The Ammo Fairy can even sneak into a firearm class and load demo guns that were empty when you took them out of the case (at least that's what I tell the students). A good reason to check every time you pick one up, a habit I want them to develop. If you never make an exception, you can never have an problem; as soon as you make a single exception, you'll make an unlimited number of them.

Ken
 
For some reason, they didn't seem to want their lawyers to have guns...
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Well, after some of the JAGs I have known I can understand why!

BTW, in the last few years they have begun putting AF lawyers and paralegals on mobility status, requiring them to get training and have equipment to deploy to war zones. Boy was that culture shock for some of them.
 
Len, the Airforce never had to qualify every year like the rest of the services. My brother did 12 years and qualified twice. Although I did like using the AirForce range in Berlin. [lol]
 
Sue, I hear you, but to me a Soldier is a Soldier . . . regardless of branch, color of uniform, etc. [NOTE: Substitute Sailors, Marines if you wish, my sentiment is inclusive not exclusive.] They are a target in hostile territory (e.g. New Orleans, Iraq, Afghanistan, San Francisco, etc.) and their lives may depend on their ability to defend themselves.

As many sadly found out in the sandbox, there is no such thing as "safe duty" out of harm's way . . . so we owe it to every one of them to give them the tools to do the job and come home safe and sound!
 
Trust us I think most of us here would agree. Not sure on the Zoomies take though. Unfortunately this war there are no so called front lines,so support units also have to be able know how to use their weapons. Even the Army should be more like the Marines, (Can't believe I'm saying that.) where it is everyone a soldier first,then whatever your job may be. I know the Army is heading that way. Just like with this war is showing it is the Needs of the Army. Alan's unit as an example. Them being Combat Engineers,but yet they are doing MP duty. Glenn and I also feel that our service members should be able to go to the range and keep their skills up,and not just have the yearly qualification.
 
Sue, the Army has rewritten the Common Task Manual to include a LOT of previous MP tasks as generic Firce Protection Tasks.

We still don't do near enough weapons training, though.
 
Not sure on the Zoomies take though.
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I was very close to this issue (on the wing level) and feel I have a bit of an understanding of what is going on.

Until recently (Vietnam notwithstanding) most Airmen were in Combat Support roles, they were not expected to be infantrymen and fight the enemy directly. Their jobs were to provide whatever support they were trained in to the Air Force's weapon systems to keep them in the fight. Much of the "combat" training our Airmen received was based upon this premise. Only a very few specialties such as Civil Engineering Squadrons addressed this issue on a consistent basis.

But in the last twenty years or so the Air Force had realized that forward bases were subject to attacks and began to train it's people in Air Base Ground Defense. This was supposed to provide airmen with the skills to defend their "home turf" against terrorist and small unit attacks, and to some degree it has accomplished that. But it does not produce trained infantrymen.

Today there are several AFSCs (Air Force Specialty Codes) which are designated as "Battlefield Airmen". These specialties are expected to operate on the battlefield, usually with or close to other service ground combat units, and receive the training and equipment necessary to do this job. Pararescue Jumpers, Combat Controllers, Tactical Air Control Party, Combat Weathermen, and a few others are in this arena. While their primary missions are not to engage enemy forces in ground combat, they can be expected to do so on a regular basis, and in fact are doing so almost daily in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Despite the current situation in Iraq there is still a difference between the Air Force and the Army and Marines. We organize, equip, and train our airmen to support our primary weapons systems. Ground combat skills come after this. Marines, and I am sure the Army to a large extent, train as ground combat troops first, and then branch out into other specialties as necessary. But they always start out in the basic role of their service.

Warfare is a complex and ever-changing subject. The location, the face of the enemy, the weapons we face, and the environment change, usually faster than we can anticipate. To be prepared to change with the changing situation requires a strong focus on those skills necessary to survive and emerge victorious on the battlefields. Those services who's job it is to do this are most likely to receive the training and equipment required. Those services who's job lies in other areas need to try to keep up, but it is a very difficult task which takes financial resources and valuable training time from their primary mission. That is the challenge which the Air Force faces today.
 
Frostie said:
Until recently (Vietnam notwithstanding) most Airmen were in Combat Support roles, they were not expected to be infantrymen and fight the enemy directly.
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Much the same for the Navy. While active duty on boats, only those crewmen qualified as either ship's or weapon's security received yearly 20-rd fam-fire (familiarization, not qualification for ribbons, which is a 40 rd course of fire).

During my last shore-based active duty fixing subs, and during my first 10 years in the reserves with the various surface and submarine units, we did not even fam-fire. Couldn't get funding for ammo.

My last 10 with the Navy Reserves was spent with the Seabees. At the Company and Battalion level, we made every effort to qual-fire TOA weapons (rifle & pistol) every year. Squad/crew-served (M-60, 60mm mortar, Ma Duece & the Mk19 40mm automatic grenade launcher) weapons quals were on a three year cycle. (Usually in Camp LaJuene NC or Hunter Liggett CA)

One of the big suprises I had as a brand-new Navy Warrant was being able to sign out Platoon-level quantities of equipment (m-16s & 1911a1s) from the local Illinois National Guard Armory on just an ID check. I would draw weapons for the my 'bees to use for our annual weekend of firearms training. Also would draw out a Ma Duece on occasion.

The Batt would send ammo, a local DCM-alligned range provided facilities, and either the local PD or a nearby Reserve USMC unit* would provide a certified Range-Master. Beautiful!

*IIRC, they were CHARLIE Co, 6th Engrg Support Batt.
 
LenS,
Yes, that sounds about correct. I dated a wonderful girl who's an Army Reserve. Only time she shoots is durring qual's, and its less than 100 rounds through an M16. No handgun issued, therefore she doesnt shoot them at all.


Re: ammo fairy.

That is one VERY good reason that I ALWAYS load my firearms completely before leaving. I carry one Sig all the time, and the other stays in a SW Versavault next to my bed. I know they are always loaded, so I'de never ever once think about "yea, its unloaded, i did so at the range".

Regarding my Ruger, That stays unloaded. But I dont ever take it out of the case at home except to clean. dry firing it isnt much fun, and im pretty darn good with it already....
 
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