Vietnam Era

[jimmyj]

Question:
During basic training in the Vietnam War was the Manuel of Arms and Close Order Drill taught in any branch of the armed forces?

Thanks,
Jimmy

 

[Marine Corps Air]

Jimmy,

Absolutely for us. For us it started at either Parris Island, S C or San Diego CA. In 1965 it was PISC for me, and later in 1968 it was Quantico, VA.

I believe that we continued, but at a lower level of frequency, at Staging Battalion at Camp Pendleton before we shipped out for Vietnam. We were being taught and trained how to survive in combat.

Obviously, it was suspended for our 13-month tours while we were in country.

Bill

 

[Targets Guy]

Question:
During basic training in the Vietnam War was the Manuel of Arms and Close Order Drill taught in any branch of the armed forces?

Thanks,
Jimmy

It was in 1964.

 

[vonn]

Learned on M14 but all the units I served in were equipped with M16's so never used it after basic.

 

[jlrhiner]

I went in in late '75 and we were the last rifle company in the Navy. 16 and 64 count manual at arms along with drill with an '03. They were inoperable.

 

[Roadtrash]

It was in 1965 as well we also used the M-14.

 

[Gamecock]

We had close order drill in the Air Force, 1971.

Manuel of Arms? Yeah, they showed us PICTURES of the M-16.

 

[fiasconva]

AF basic in '71 and had no idea what a close order drill or a manual of arms was. We did get to fire a M-16 for one whole day during the 6 weeks of training. I think we got to fire 60 rounds. I have to admit it was the most fun of any of those days. *s*

 

[NYlakesider]

I went in in late '75 and we were the last rifle company in the Navy. 16 and 64 count manual at arms along with drill with an '03. They were inoperable.

We also did 16 (no 64) with "dead" Springfield's in mid 60s at Great Lakes. Spent a bit of time marching on the Grinder! One night we went out at midnight cause our CC said we were not tired enough to sleep quietly!

 

[ameridaddy]

I did in Jul, Aug 64 with M-14. Was carrying an M-14 when our platoon leader gathered us, sweaty and dusty, in a field to tell us about the Gulf of Tonkin Incident, and declared we'd be the first to go to Vietnam after we finished our training. Not true, but it got our attention.
We did some simple drill with the M-14 for our graduation ceremony, I think it was late Aug 64. Some hometown friends who followed me in later 64 and early 65 had drill in basic also.

 

[GPM]

We also did 16 (no 64) with "dead" Springfield's in mid 60s at Great Lakes. Spent a bit of time marching on the Grinder! One night we went out at midnight cause our CC said we were not tired enough to sleep quietly!

Your CC's brother must have been in San Diego in 65. Had virtually the same experience. Name was Chief Smith as I recall.

 

[Gamecock]

AF basic in '71 and had no idea what a close order drill or a manual of arms was. We did get to fire a M-16 for one whole day during the 6 weeks of training. I think we got to fire 60 rounds. I have to admit it was the most fun of any of those days. *s*

Our marching around Lackland parade fields was close order drill. Prolly not up to the other services standards.

Add 10 rounds for sighting in. The 60 was for qualification. I had a tight infinity symbol of 60 hits, plus ten more. Yeah, 70 hits out of 60 shots. I figured the geniuses beside me shot my target some.

A jack rabbit ran across the range, and all hell broke loose.

 

[perryhd]

I was in the last basic training cycle at Fort Brag to carry the M14.

 

[Double-O-Dave]

I enlisted in the Army on Feb. 14, 1975. Yes, we still learned the Manual of Arms and Close-order drill in Basic training. BTW, even back then, there were still people who couldn't tell their left from their right (SOUND OFF!)

Regards,

Dave

 

[fordson]

1970 AOCS at NAS Pensacola FL. first with the M1 Garand, then same drill and range time with the M14. Younger brother at OCS Quantico, VA with M14s, in the late '70s. So yes, for Navy Airedales and mud Marines.

 

[JamesArthur60]

"Close Order Drill" What? At Amarillo AFB in 1968, during basic training the only time I touched a gun was on the range, M-16 and M-1 carbine. Then we cleaned them and I never saw one again.

 

[Drm50]

We did close order drill in Basic, but I can't remember If we did
Manual of Arms. We had M16s. Later in AIT we had to do it for
parade with M14s.

 

[STCM(SW)]

Did it with Springfield 03 bolt action rifle in 1960 boot camp...
Lots of fun.......

 

[Targets Guy]

Here is what my Dad trained with in 1943 at Farragut Naval Training Center, ID.

 

[Frank46]

1964 fresh out of high school and at Great Lakes Naval Training center. We used 03A3's for drilling and for marksmanship they let us shoot 22 rf Mossbergs. Never any centerfire rifle. Interesting story believe it or not. During our Westpac cruise 66-67 I was out on the fantail reading a book. Gunnery sargent was doing weapons training with the M14. Evidently the results from the navy officers was sadly lacking. He calls me over and gives me the basics and tells me to shoot at a fire foam can sitting in the water. with the giggle switch in the off position and ten rounds in the mag I proceeded to riddle the can full of holes. I handed the now empty M14 back to the gunnery sargent when he tells them that this sailor with no experience can shoot like that and you all can't even hit the can. Got some evil eye stares from a couple officers from the air wing. And went back to my book. Think I was singled out as I was the only enlisted man there from which to choose from. I did have prior experience shooting a 1891 argentine mauser and M1 Carbine. I mean you have to be pretty bad with a M14 not to hit a 5 gallon red can floating in the water. And he had a stack of those old fire foam cans. And that was my total sum of shooting a centerfire rifle while in the navy. Frank