Good Lord.
10lbs extra means you’re carrying what, 30lbs?
Two hands are necessary for a radio at all times? Grow up.
Land nav is difficult with a rifle smaller than an M4? Grow up.
Every other reason is just as ridiculous. It’s an extra tool. It’s better to have than not have.
I just love all you tough air-conditioned cockpit warriors. What a dumbass. Here, I’ll make it like a cartoon so you can get it.
WOSH! Capt.
@Treetop Flyer has ejected. Tumbling through the sky our steely-eyed, TBS trained warrior is already planning his next action before...SNAP...his chute opens. Drifting to the ground he takes mental notes of his survival gear, but luckily he has his ready-to-assemble assault rifle! WHAM! On hitting the ground our hero disengages from his canopy and pulls his seat pan toward him.
“Durka durka...Allah kabob durka.” “Damn,” says
@Treetop Flyer, the bad guys are closer than I thought.” Instead of moving away from the enemy as fast as possible, our hero assembles his rifle as the enemy closes in. SCHLICK...the sound of the magazine sliding into the receiver is fucking loud. “Durka? Cassba Allah hummus durka.” Our hero can hear the enemy is close...too close. SQUELCH...”Treetop Five this is rescue one, over...” The captain takes his best Rambo pose, rifle in the crook of his arm and answers his survival radio, “Hey guys, the enemy is close.” “Treetop Five, we need you to move out of the village and south toward the open field. The captain fumbles for his compass when he hears a noise. Squeezing the trigger...nothing...”Shit, in all the confusion of the ejection I forgot to chamber a round!” Dropping the compass he readies his weapon. CLICK...CLICK...BLAM-BLAM, our hero squeezes off two rounds at the approaching enemy, hitting nothing. Realizing he needs to aim, he now drops his radio, missing the next transmission as he takes deadly aim. POW...a miss? “What the fuck! I had him dead in my sights.” Then
@Treetop Flyer realizes that he may, or may not have, zeroed this particular rifle in the last three months. Looking over the edge of his hiding place he sees the enemy splitting up, preparing to either flank or envelope him.
A series of loud cracks are heard as
@Treetop Flyer fires three, maybe four or five rounds in the direction of the men on his left and right. He can’t tell if he hit anyone but the sudden explosion of dirt and rock along the front of his hole tell him there are still some alive. Ready to fight the captain fires a few quick bursts...BLAM, BLAM, BLAM...BLAM, BLAM, BLAM...BLAM, BLAM, BLAM. “Durka mufti camel khaki durka!” shouts an enemy soldier.
@Treetop Flyer can only fire in angry response. He can hear the CSAR helo calling, asking him to move, but he is stuck and still has...uh...ummm...about 90 or 100 rounds. As he continues to shoot he feels that sickening lack of recoil indicating an empty weapon. He drops the empty mag and reaches to his seat pan ammo purse and struggles to extract a magazine. “Shit!” He can smell the fucked up Russian cigarettes and greasy lamb stench of a nearby enemy fighter. Gathering his courage he makes a quick break...dashing for a nearby alley, his ammo purse bouncing between his hip and wall. Rounding a corner he realizes he doesn’t know what direction south is! Finally extracting a magazine he slips in in just in time to see the enemy round the corner. He aims and squeezes the trigger...nothing! In all the excitement he forgot to chamber a round (hey, he only fires the fucker twice a year and never on float). Slamming the bolt forward he fires again...nothing! He suddenly realizes he inserted the magazine upside down. As he turns to run, the last thing he feels is the butt of the enemy rifle crashing into his skull.
Hovering over the empty field, Rescue One wonders why
@Treetop Flyer never responded to their calls. They are forced to depart.
Two nights later all the news channels in the US feature the tragic story of a US military flyer captured by the enemy. His fate is sealed. Looking angerly at the camera all the world knows this man’s head is about to be sliced off. No one notices the enemy fighter with the fancy American carbine standing guard.
Stick to airplanes
@Treetop Flyer, I am certain you are a fantastic aviator. Stick to what you learned in SERE, it will serve you well. Leave the long arm fighting to the guys who know what their doing. Oh, and grow up.