On Combat

The US Army is experimenting with new basic rifle marksmanship (BRM) skills based on lessons of recent combat. (see Jackson Testing New Weapons Qualification Method) Building solid habits on the training ranges is an essential step to applying the actions needed in battle. World War II saw a restructuring of marksmanship training (partially instigated by SLA Marshall’s dubious history) replacing bullseyes with person-shaped silhouettes, and pop-up targets to condition soldiers to kill.

New experimental training habits include multi-shot kills to preclude the enemy fighting on after being hit:

“Lessons learned from Afghanistan and Iraq show that you may have to engage that target more than once before it goes down…This will teach the Soldiers that lesson, versus the regular BRM where with one hit, a target goes down.”

Fighting in and among civilians places a premium on target discrimination, reflected in this experimental BRM training:

During the last three scenarios a new twist is added. A target painted white appears representing a civilian. If a Soldier shoots the civilian, he or she is automatically disqualified.

“It’s teaching the Soldiers to have a little bit of target discrimination,” Burkes said.

“We’ve placed the civilian ‘target’ in the middle of the others,” said Weeks. “The Soldiers have to look beyond it and aim in front and behind.”After the first round of targets, Soldiers rush to the barrier and change magazines, and repeat the scenario three times from behind the barrier — standing, kneeling and prone positions.