OK, I have to admit this soldier is about to have a big surprise when he pulls the trigger.
Here is the link to the whole story, oh, it is about us sending troops into eastern europe to stop those crazy Russians.

NATO to consider options to reassure Eastern European members | Army Times | armytimes.com

Attached Images

US soldier on live fire range with blank adapter on.jpg (46.3 KB, 332 views)

Yup. If that is indeed a live fire exercise he is in for a very short but interesting session.

Isn't that a Miles-type laser mounted above the barrel? Looks more like a simulated fire range rather than live fire.

Rob

With one empty just out of the ejection port, and the bolt closing on another round, whatever lesson he is going to learn has already been taught.
Looks to me like he's shooting blanks with a blank adapter. And, when I was in (11-14 years ago) supposedly the yellow M4 BFA's were designed to merely peel open if a live round was accidentally fired while they were installed. No major failures should occur. Key word, supposedly.

You took the words right out of my mouth. Either that or it's loaded with blanks and that's a blank compensator on the end.

i would think that part of the world they should put there army out front first. Y is it we have to go out first? oh i get it now they lost the first 2 times

The black object is an EOTECH of some kind and the green thing is a laser. I admit the whole picture and caption is wrong. The rifle has a blank adapter on, (the yellow thing on end of barrel).

It just struck me as incredibly stupid to be saying this is a live fire event, the first shot will ruin the barrel and hurt the soldier.

Agreed, shooting the laser adapter. I'm curious about what reactive targets he is shooting at? The MILES system was designed for live tactical drills with everyone wearing a reactive vest and "shooting" at each other.

Reminds me of a picture I saw at Fort Benning years ago, it was supposed to show "Rangers in Action". Yes, you could clearly see the blank adaptor on the M-60.
I note he does not have the butt tucked properly into his shoulder, either.

My guess is a photographer somewhere, sometime said "Point your shootie thingie that way!"

Soldier did, the photo went in a file somewhere & got dug up by somebody who needed a photo of a soldier pointing a shootie thingie...

Yep. I think you're right on the money with that one.


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I think you'll find that his position is SOP these days. Body armour prevents you from getting the butt into the shoulder in the old way.

I'm going to say this is more a commentary on the "journalism" than the soldier. There's clearly a case ejecting minus some unintended result at the muzzle. When the pic was taken, if it were a live round, you'd probably see the yellow muzzle 'stop, brake, or whatever' blowing apart.

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But then, what do I know?

No, this is exactly right. Because the M4 has a straight stock, you want the toe in the pocket to bring the comb up to your eye. If you put the stock lower, you'd have to duck your head to see the sights.

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Those who pointed out the "Miles unit & blank adapter" are correct of course. However the Sgt. appears to be quite alive. So I guess you could call it a live fire exercise.

Although it has nothing to do with the subject being discussed. Did anyone other then me have a short neck and find it almost impossible to see well enough out from under that damn "Kevlar helmet" to qualify in the prone position?