BRM

BRM or Basic Rifle Markmanship is the beginning for most to learn how to fire an M16.  For a lot of people entering basic, this is the first time firing a weapon.  Besides shooting two clay pigeons, this was the first for me as well.  There is a list of basics that take place that you have to become proficient at to be successful at this.  These basics took me a little longer to master. 

The day we went to the range was a challenge for me.  Anyone who had taken a while to zero their weapon had to start out on the firing line first, since they knew they would also probably be the individuals who were going to have to attempt to qualify more than once.  I was in the first group.  After my first go at it, I found myself back in line to attempt to qualify again.  This happened a few times...before one of the drill sergeants, whose MOS was Infantry came up and offered some advice.  Since these were pop up targets you didn't have very long to aim and shoot before they laid back down.  With him kneeling there, he called out the distance for each target as they popped up. 

There are a couple of sequences during the pop ups that two targets come up at one time.  One of those times, I got the perfect shot.  The 150 m and 300 m target both popped up at the same time.  I established my breathing, aimed and squeezed the trigger - both targets fell with the one shot.  At first I thought that I had taken too long and the had both timed out, but the drill sergeants looked up to the tower who had just seen the same thing.  They verified that I had hit both targets with one round.  That turn at qualifying I was finally a go. 

My shooting abilities improved significantly during my time in the Army.  Well, on the rifle at least.  The pistol is more effective if I throw it at someone than if I were to shoot it.