U.S.M.C. no longer teaching the fundamentals?

[BlackKnight]

Originally Posted by milkmanjoe

I agree with timely change, but I suspect the last few years of changes have been less than timely and more political/ideological. I know quite a few Marines in their fifties, sixties, even a few in their eighties. The stories they tell me don't resemble what I see today. So, "old", or " crusty " to me translate into experienced in reality on the job.

I agree. Why the "unfortunate" part of my post.

[Snipersnest]

I remember "snapping in" for a week without firing a round at the range. We qualified out to 900 meters with iron sights. The Marine Corps was always based on marksmanship and the tenet that every man is a basic infantryman from the Commandant right down to the lowliest private. Chesty must be rolling in his grave!

[pony up]

Originally Posted by Snipersnest

I remember "snapping in" for a week without firing a round at the range. We qualified out to 900 meters with iron sights. The Marine Corps was always based on marksmanship and the tenet that every man is a basic infantryman from the Commandant right down to the lowliest private. Chesty must be rolling in his grave!

Absolutely. I remember my DI sitting on my shoulders to get me into a proper sitting position. I left the range with a black and blue right thumb, a black and blue right cheek bone, a very sore shoulder, an expert rifleman qualification and extra swagger on the grinder. I had been positive before but the hell, yes, I can do this really kicked in at the range. I am sure that todays new Marines in training have the same feelings we had then and will shake their heads at training regimen down the road. I am a lot more concerned that we seem to have developed the art of getting a whole slew of good young men and women killed to no good end. It is not the troops, they are as good as ever. It is gutless weasel politicians who waste those brave men and women and an electorate chock full of useful idiots who vote those weasels into office over and over.

[Lonestar grips.]

this is sad to hear but it doesn't surprise me.

when my Dad went to the island in 75 he was a top shot, so much so the senior DI got him to qualify for some of the other recruits who couldn't do it.

some folks just can't shoot worth a sh#t no matter how much training you give them.

[brownie]

I'd heard a few years ago from a jarhead who told me they weren't being trained on irons anymore.

Part of the Corps tradition has died.