Basic Training
Journal: Friday, September 12th
Yesterday we went back to the hardest range for pre-qualification.
I got a first time go with a 23...the minimum but I did pass
the first time when many didn't. They let you shoot over and
over that day..I think up to 4 times. We got to buy a candy
bar and gatorade at the PX since we were first time gos.
Today was a totally different story for me. My first try
was an allaby because of a freak accident. I jumped into my
foxhole pumped up because I was confident I'd do well.....but
the sandbags had it in for me. I had placed my M16 to the
side of the sandbags so I could slide the sandbags closer
to me....and there was a hole at the end of the sandbag that
hovered right over my M16's OPEN dust cover(we had to have
our dust covers open). When I adjusted the sandbag, some sand
went right into my dust cover...and I mean big chunks too.
I was so steamed...and I couldn't move the weapon around to
clean it because I was on the range. I used my fingers to
scoop out as much of the sand as I could, but it didn't help
one bit.
I tried to fire just for the heck of it but I was 99% sure
I needed to spend a lot of time cleaning it before it would
fire. If your weapon jams on qualification day you raise your
hand and a drill sergeant will come over and see what the
problem is. If it can't be fixed by SPORTS...S-Slap the bottom
of the magazine, P-Pull the charging handle back, O-Observe
the chamber for rounds, R-Release the charging handle, T-Tap
the forward assist, and S-Squeeze the trigger again.
Again, if it can't be fixed by SPORTS, you get an allaby.
That means you get to go again and the previous attempt is
not counted at all. That means you are still eligible for
sharpshooter and expert. Sharpshoot if 30 hits or more and
Expert is 36 or more hits. To qualify you need 23.
I had to spend a good hour cleaning my weapon because it
had so much dirt and sand in it from the dang sandbag incident,
so I didn't get many more chances to qualify that day. I shot
6 times after cleaning my weapon and I got a 22 for 4 of the
attempts......I had extremely bad luck today. I was pretty
much demoralized after lunch.
I'd say less than 3/4ths of the company got first time gos.
A lot of our platoon shot several times but they all made
it EXCEPT for me. I was mad, now I have to shoot with Delta
company next week. Our platoon didn't get any experts, but
we got several sharpshooters but mostly marksman.
Drill sergeant Bailey talked to me in his office. It was
pretty much a pep talk telling me not to worry, and I'm not
worried either. I was so close, but I was just not getting
that final target to get 23. Sixteen people didn't qualify
for our company that day. We all try again Friday.
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