Any military who weren't shooting instructors?

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I was RO for a Boy Scout camp. I learned from many months on the range with a WWII MSgt RO who hated the OCS program.

I am often left aghast by the people who try to shoot at my range. I surely spend more time each visit training than shooting.
 
Me. All I did was shove gas in stuff that flies and dodge the occasional rocket.

My AFSC didn't lean heavily on sidearms training and what training we got was anorexic. With the exception of an arthritic Mod. 15-4 at DaNang and 500 rounds through an M-16 during basic, I didn't spend a lot of time with firearms.

After my hitch, I looked for guys like you, when I could, to help me get better. I've had a few along the road and they worked.

I became capable and confident. I don't dwell on "what if" I just concentrate on what I know and reflexive execution.

So thanks, if not you, then someone like you.
 
I was an ET in the Seabees for 4 years. Not an instructor but part of my job was working in the armory maintaining & inspecting weapons. I knew my way around the M-16 & 1911. ;)
 
Not in the military, but I was a civilian range officer for awhile while in college, after USAF service.

Only worked there for a couple of months, then got another job. I can tell you, many people using public ranges are dangerous. I'm still uneasy shooting at some facilities.
 
There will never be a shortage of pretenders Rastoff. The stolen valor syndrome extends to every aspect of military life. You already know how easy it is to ferret out those undeserving of the recognition they crave. The other element is the actual capacity they may have served in. Being an RSO is often just a job of the day assigned by which ever level of command you are subject to. It has never been an enviable duty largely because every soul on the range complex seems bent on hurting someone and landing the RSO in Kansas making sand out of big yellow rocks. Time was, the ones actually doing the job weren't the ones crowing about it. Times have changed.
 
JSR III said:
I was a master Army shooting instructor in the Navy and even got to train folks like General George Patton during Viet Nam and Desert Storm. Ya that's my story.....
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yeah, me too... but I don't wanna talk about it.
ETA: I'll explain why. Later while in the CIA, I was assigned to instruct Carlos Hathcock in long-range shooting techniques at a secret marine base underneath the White House. But I can't talk about it. Yeah, that's my story. :)
 
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I've seen very little correlation with occupation, past or present, in being capable of following range safety rules and demonstrating safe gun handling. What I have observed is age matters. Being at the range with people I don't know, I'd rather be shooting with guys through their 40s. Guys my age mid 50s and older tend to be less attentive and aware, and generally more dismissive of safety disciplines. Though, the older guys are better BSers. :D
 
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Saw something on the news that "stolen valor "is now a jail term if convicted of it. Only fitting I think.
 
vonn said:
Saw something on the news that "stolen valor "is now a jail term if convicted of it. Only fitting I think.
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Stolen valor is serious and I have zero patience for anyone doing it.
But unless the perp benefits someway from it, I don't know if jail time is appropriate as the jails are already over crowded and IMO should be filled with violent criminals, meth cooks/dealers, etc. But fine the **** out of them.
 
Yeah I know what you fellas mean. It seems everybody I meet now days was a sniper or in the Rangers.
 
ChattanoogaPhil said:
Being at the range with people I don't know, I'd rather be shooting with guys through their 40s. Guys my age mid 50s and older tend to be less attentive and aware, and generally more dismissive of safety disciplines. Though, the older guys are better BSers. :D
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I find just the opposite. Older guys, especially those who've been in the Army or Marine Corps, retain the range safety practices that were drilled into our heads back in the day. Better BS'ers? Of course, we've had years of practice.
 
I taught NKPA and Warsaw Pact weapons and tactics in Korea. We used to give classes on the Kalashnikov, Romanian FPK, Makarov, RPG-7, and while we had one, the Czech Vz. 61 Skorpion. At the end of the class, we'd hold a live fire exercise where the students got to shoot AKMs and RPKMs.
 
Golly! I didn't realize I was a "Military Range Instructor".
In my 20 years of active duty I have shot on a lot of military ranges and I'm sure I have offered help to a another shooter that was at the range and having problems.

Doesn't that qualify me as a "Military Range Instructor":rolleyes::p
 
vonn said:
Saw something on the news that "stolen valor "is now a jail term if convicted of it. Only fitting I think.
Click to expand...

jack the toad said:
Stolen valor is serious and I have zero patience for anyone doing it.
But unless the perp benefits someway from it, I don't know if jail time is appropriate as the jails are already over crowded and IMO should be filled with violent criminals, meth cooks/dealers, etc. But fine the **** out of them.
Click to expand...

Fines & jail for being a BSer? Ummm... some of us around here might be in a bit of trouble... Some of my fishin' buddies... YIKES! ;)
 
I was a hospital corpsman...so, no, I wasn't a shooting instructor.

I have a Navy Veteran ball cap that I wear a lot, and when I am out and about, people will come up to me and thank me for my service. The other day, a man came up to me and asked me if the hat was genuine...meaning, did I really serve in the Navy. I told him I did, and he asked me if I could prove it. I happen to carry one of my dog tags on my key ring, so I showed him that, and he was satisfied...he shook my hand, thanked me, and walked away. First time that has ever happened!
 
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