31B_Soldier wrote:
Now Ranger 42L5V...
If I were a preceptive young lad, I would think this was a crack about MPs being non-shooters.....
While I cannot speak for everyone in the MP Corps (obviously, see post 1), I can honestly say I have never shot less than a 49/50!
This isn't a dig on you, but...
I'm a USAMPS instructor at the PSD course - all I deal with are MPs and CID agents. I teach combat pistol, amongst other things. Most "agents" now days aren't former MPs, they're crossover from other MOSs. They're truck drivers, supply clerks, etc. who passed the background check to become CID. You have to be a SGT/E-5 or below to crossover. Which means they have shot pistol about five times in their life. Most MPs can't shoot for shit - the schoolhouse is too lock step in their approach to teaching shooting. We don't teach that crap. No blading, no Weaver bullshit. No first shot on single action. We don't do the standard qualification stuff. Have you ever shot a target that is about 2-3 meters away from the close-in? The close-in is where you draw, and as soon as your muzzle clears the holster, rotate it up and shoot from the hip. (two rounds in 3 seconds - I've seen misses at almost every range. How the fuck do you miss from 6 feet?) We shoot a 60 round qualification for 300 points. Like I said -
advanced pistol marksmanship. You know, where you actually have to draw and engage a target, do an emergency reload and re-engage. Shooting on the move. Support hand shooting. Shooting in the kneeling position. Barricade shooting. Stress shooting. Not the "all clear on the left? all clear on the right? firers, lock and load, watch your lane" bullshit. Hell, does the 50 point qualifiction table even include drawing a loaded weapon? Why do most L&O patrol officers not carry a hot gun? Most PMOs refuse to allow their patrol guys to chamber a round. Why not?
Because the Army doesn't teach gunfighting - it teaches marksmanship. That's two totally different things. My 14 year old can qualify with a pistol. Put him in a life-fire shoothouse, and it's a different story. The worst shooters are junior officers.
The Army Marksmanship Program is broke - especially for pistol. I see more bad habits in stance, grip, rapid reloading, etc. than you can imagine. Any jackass can shoot a pistol reasonably well on the Army qualification tables.
Now, you said that the accident happened with an M-4 on the range. Which means that your unit is going to go way overboard on range safety procedures, and your "marksmanship" training will be even more safe and more stupid. Now your units' shooting will become even more unrealistic, in the name of safety. I don't blame PFC Shitbrick - I blame the leadership. I'm assuming that the lane safety and RSO are gonna fry just as well.
Anyway, enough of the hijack. Send me a PM if you're interested in how we shoot/teach shooting. Better yet, come to the course, so you can buy me a beer!

MSG, U.S. Army, 1987-2007
RSClass 10-92