My Week in Review. (Why do I keep this job?)

Sunday, 22 April 2007, zero day for Master Gunner class 07-03. 13 smiling Non Commissioned Officer faces of varying experiences and skills, all support related. Unfortunately and perhaps sadly that's when the judging begins. What judging you might ask? Judging who will make it and who won't, and who will excel and who will scrape by.

Let me back of and preface what will follow with this: As a Non Commissioned Officer, some one at some point made a determination about you and decided that you displayed the traits and characteristics necessary to be a leader. As such you are charged a heavy and somber burden. Perhaps the most somber of burdens... Responsibility.

Responsibility for the lives of those in your charge, responsibility for teaching them to survive. Responsibility for training them to employ and maintain their equipment. Responsibility for their safety. You are responsible for every aspect and facet of their very lives, from their hygiene to the advancing of their careers.

The performance and conduct of those in your charge is a direct reflection of your leadership and the training and knowledge you impart on them. As such you MUST, not should, not try, not attempt, you MUST give them the best most accurate and most complete training possible. You must care for them like they are your children and your family. They ARE!

All that being said, another responsibility is implied: Being competent. Competent with your job, your skills, and your ability to train and lead. Being competent includes keeping yourself current with the latest tactics, techniques and doctrine. That means taking the time to do some reading and learning.

Those of you (if there are any of YOU out there) that have visited here and done some reading will know that I have done some ranting in the past about the Master Gunner program. You may recognize some common themes. For those of you who haven't and don't hang on, it will all become clear soon.

Back to the varying skills and experience... You must be a Non Commissioned Officer to attend, and the course requirement used to be Staff Sergeants and above, however do to shortages and mission requirements this was relaxed to allow Sergeants and above. Basically experienced soldiers most of whom have a minimum of 5 years experience, with a large majority having more than 10 years of experience.

You would do well to assume these experienced soldiers, (most of whom are now wearing a combat patch) would at the very least understand the basic fundamentals of those weapons commonly used by ALL soldiers. (Yes ALL) You would however been sorely mistaken and disappointed. It's a sad state of affairs when Staff Sergeants serving in excess if 15 years can not even successfully disassemble or reassemble an M16A2.

They would have been REQUIRED to qualify with that specific weapon in basic training prior to entering the permanent party Army, and then a MINIMUM of once a year, with the norm being every 6 months, perhaps more depending on the unit and the mission. Therefore it would be advisable to have a basic understanding of the operation and function of that weapon in particular.

Bearing in mind not all soldiers handle or handle often crew served weapons, ( The M2 .50 Caliber Machine Gun, or the Mk 19 40mm Grenade Machine Gun.) ALL soldiers are trained in the use and operation of the M9 9mm Pistol, the M16A2, the M249 Squad Automatic Weapon and the M240 (or M60) 7.62mm Machine Gun.

Why is it then that it's like teaching basic training over again to people who should be ready, willing and able to receive more advanced information and training? Out of a class of 13 four of the NCOs were incapable and incompetent, and this after 3 full days of instruction and hands on training. Of the remaining nine master gunner candidates, only four showed and demonstrated and real aptitude, interest and desire to learn and either excel or seriously apply the knowledge and training, with the remaining five candidates displaying marginal abilities and interest with professional attitudes and behavior to match.

Day four; Test day, time to separate the professionals from those collecting paychecks. After three full days of instruction, hands on training and one on one training with available assistant instructors, and a complete technical library on all the systems being covered. A disciplined and studious NCO might take them home in the evenings and study.

Four individuals were to be removed from the course per SOP after two consecutive test failures, the tests being timed events involving the assembly, function checking, and proper set up of the weapons covered. The previously mentioned four displayed not only an inability to grasp simple concepts, but demonstrated a potentially dangerous lack of knowledge and interest in the weapons and their proper and safe operation and employment.

Day five; Range Day. Those soldiers who failed the course were not to attend the range familiarization phase of the training, not being fully qualified to employ or operate the weapons safely. This is the only proper and correct course to take as safety is involved. My decision, and that of my senior supervisor were overridden however, and these soldiers were taken to the range.

We began firing the large crew served weapons first, and of course those aforementioned individuals were incapable of setting up or timing and otherwise properly emplacing the weapons, and had to have it done for them. Strikingly, something that would absolutely not be an option in combat. Now to give live 40mm linked grenades to individuals who demonstrated an inability to handle these weapons safely. How comfortable am I right now?

Crew served fire complete, no one is dead. On to the 5.56mm and 9mm ranges as well as the M203 40mm Grenade Launcher. Bus driver is lousy, has been since 0445 in the morning when we left. He's driving so poorly and demonstrating so little skill that the whole class is commenting on it. He struck three marking cones separating the highway from an onramp, (The solid kind) while disoriented and failing to react in a timely manner. We grin and bear it until at approximately 1130 he drives the bus into a ditch and nearly rolls it.

The bus heels over sharply to the right, nose down and passing through about 30 to 45 degrees in a lean to the right and is halted by a large soft earthen berm. We have all the students move to the left side rear of the bus as slowly and carefully as possible to attempt to stabilize the bus. We pass the weapons back and left as well to add the additional weight and then the senior exits the bus to verify whether we can safely unload.

It would really suck to die in a bus wreck. Especially due to some stupidity or the driver not paying attention. Ridiculous. Five is now the total number of unsafe people whom I do not and would not trust with my life for today's activities. I love my job.

I stay on with 3 others and we pass the weapons out the window on the left side, the show must go on! We safely offload the students and transit to the small arms ranges to complete our firing. We are all shaken and not stirred, no one is dead, but the bus has taken a beating. The driver is now taking a brow beating from the students.

We get to the range and the students begin firing. Immediately I have to get behind one of the aforementioned students who failed to properly acquit themselves. Firing at a 10 meter target with no control of the sidearm whatsoever, left thumb crossed over behind the slide. I get attitude and lip.

Next weapon, M4 Carbine fired from the standing position. Same soldier (NCO) fires 20 rounds uncontrolled and un-aimed over the berm. I become livid and step in again. Why are these people here? They are unsafe. The other students in question also having various weapons safety failures while on the range. What's the big deal? They are only peoples lives right? Maybe I'm overly critical...

Firing and familiarization all complete. Bus has been recovered by a wrecker and is drivable. Driver parked it while we continued to fire. Do we have to ride with that jackass again?? Absolutely!! I can't wait! Students load back on the bus... NO ONE sleeps or dozes, and everyone is eyes wide open and prepared for a rollover drill. About an hour into the return trip the driver again strikes a lane divider cone due to inability to react. The students unanimously decide sleeping might be the best way to survive the trip. No one wants to SEE their deaths coming.

Back to base. Made it home alive. I think I'll get really really drunk and contemplate why I keep this job. That's my week in review.