From the Soldier side: (sorry no photo today--there are none that could depict some of the stupid people in the Army National Guard)
I've been sort of busy the last week or so...when our unit goes to the weapons ranges, they like to have me run which ever range had problems the last time. So...this time I ran the pistol qual range.
I do this for the police department and it's a lot easier. Let me compare:
For the Army we have to ask for ammo months ahead of time
For the PD I make a call and they deliver it in a week or so and send a bill
For the Army we have to have several people go to the training camp a few days ahead of time and sign for barracks, ranges, ammo etc, then have a bunch on the range helping those shooting
For the PD I throw the ammo, targets and whatnot into the back of a patrol car and drive to the range (stopping at Star Bucks on the way) and run things by myself
For the army we have to account for all the expended brass and turn in the empty boxes and junk
For the PD, I take all the left brass, boxes etc and throw it in the trash can
For the Army I have to listen to the supply puke tell me how they may have to do an investigation because out of 1,250 rounds, we lost one brass case
For the Army I actually saw someone load bullets into all his magazines backwards...wow
I am so glad I can retire from this soon...oh yeah, they said I may have to go to Kosovo next year....(how many times do I have to tell them I'm broken from Iraq still?)
I should have joined the Air Force
4 comments:
Trip to the range, military style:
1. Request range (2 mos. in advance)
2. Request ammo rated truck to transport ammo
3. Request ammo rated driver to drive truck (civilian)
4. Request range frequency (on notification we have range)
5. Request corpsman for medical support, appropriate numbers
6. Request to draw ammo (BN S-4)
7. Request to draw ammo (ammo supply point)
8. Request water and rations for range (BN S-4)
9. Check that range is still allocated at one month, one week out
10. Arrange transport to range (or cheat and march out -but you still need support vehicles)
11. At one week out, check with motor pools, ammo driver, ammo issue point, medical support, commo support, BN S-4 that everything is still on.
12. Ditto 11. day before.
13. Won't even deal with setting up range, operating it, or post range police.
14. With regard to 13, suffice it to say almost every range I showed up to was a trash pit, and spotless when I left -and range personnel still often bitched.
15. As Plt Cdr, Co XO and CO, got this routine figured out -with a couple good company gunnys. Was hauled in one time and chewed out because my company had fired up 60% of the BN's ammo allocation.
16. All my peers were married, trying to have a life working 90 hours a week. Being unmarried, with nothing better to do, was willing to take the extra time. Also had deep and abiding personal reasons to want my troops to be proficient.
17. Can't imagine things have gotten any better.
18. Enjoy your writing. Keep it up.
V/R JW
JW, you got more detail...I think most civilains would not understand the Pain in the Ass the Army makes about the range.
The range in Camp Gannon, Iraq was much easier. We'd get ammo, and tell the Marine TOC we're going to the dump to shoot and go shoot.
For targets we drew a circle on an empty box...
I should have joined the Air Force.
Ack not funny even in jest. Take it back!
I vote for Joe to be in charge of range scheduling, ammo and supply.
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