Shooting/qualification question

[Spekkio]

The base here in Charleston has a shooting program through the MWR that for $150 you get instruction and can get your rifle and pistol quals on the weekend. Is this something I should look into, or is it a ripoff? The reason I ask is because A) no one has been able to tell me for sure if submariner officers even qualify with any firearms at all B) even if I do qualify at the boat, it will most likely be with pistol only and C) a lot of people have said that qualifying for rifle is difficult to do with the MA at the boat if it's not something that's necessary since we're at war and there are people who need the ammo.

 

[insanebikerboy]

The base here in Charleston has a shooting program through the MWR that for $150 you get instruction and can get your rifle and pistol quals on the weekend. Is this something I should look into, or is it a ripoff? The reason I ask is because A) no one has been able to tell me for sure if submariner officers even qualify with any firearms at all B) even if I do qualify at the boat, it will most likely be with pistol only and C) a lot of people have said that qualifying for rifle is difficult to do with the MA at the boat if it's not something that's necessary since we're at war and there are people who need the ammo.

I did something similar when I was there as an E-3 back in 2000. It wasn't through MWR, some crusty retired Chief Gunner's Mate ran it at a local range. If memory serves, I think I paid $50-60-ish for the quals. He did all the paperwork.

You are right though, there may not be many opportunities nowadays since most of the range time is taken up by people who are required to get the qual.

 

[snake020]

Well if it was required they'd send you to qual without cost... so are you asking if it's ok to pay $150 so you can wear a ribbon or two that says nothing more than "I shot a gun/rifle?"

Maybe someone with fleet experience can confirm this - I was told here at NSCS that once you hit the fleet you will qual on weapons as part of the OOD quals for whatever ship or boat you're on.

 

[Spekkio]

Well if it was required they'd send you to qual without cost... so are you asking if it's ok to pay $150 so you can wear a ribbon or two that says nothing more than "I shot a gun/rifle?"

Maybe someone with fleet experience can confirm this - I was told here at NSCS that once you hit the fleet you will qual on weapons as part of the OOD quals for whatever ship or boat you're on.

I'm asking because I've never handled a firearm. I want to learn how to shoot both rifles and pistols the "correct" way (and to eventually purchase one -- or more), and I still haven't been able to find any source that says for sure whether submarine officers qualify with firearms.

I could care less about the ribbon. If it was a definite that I'd be doing this at the boat, I'd wait and save the money.

 

[BACONATOR]

If these courses would satisfy your requirement for a CCW in your state, then by all means go for it, if it's cheaper than getting your CCW the civilian way.

If you just want to pay to learn to shoot a weapon, then go take a CCW course. Paying for quals is retarded, and has been discussed in another thread on here. The Navy will eventually get you these quals for free. This is like throwing away 150 bucks.

 

[insanebikerboy]

The Navy will eventually get you these quals for free. This is like throwing away 150 bucks.

Not always, that was his point. But I agree, $150 is a lot.

Good idea too on it satisfying req's for a CCW (if that's an idea for the op down the road).

 

[scoober78]

Paying for quals is retarded, and has been discussed in another thread on here. The Navy will eventually get you these quals for free. This is like throwing away 150 bucks.

Bogey...I would agree, if there was any chance that he would get the chance to do it in the fleet. But guess what? He won't. You don't know what you are talking about.

As a sub O, you will likely qualify only on the M9. I NEVER saw an O get the chance to rifle qual on the boat, and I was the small arms PO on the boat. That...btw...was a sweet gig. I got to qualify on everything from Ma deuce to the M9...and then send all the leftover ammo rec's from qual shoots downrange.

 

[navy09]

I'm asking because I've never handled a firearm. I want to learn how to shoot both rifles and pistols the "correct" way (and to eventually purchase one -- or more), and I still haven't been able to find any source that says for sure whether submarine officers qualify with firearms.

I could care less about the ribbon. If it was a definite that I'd be doing this at the boat, I'd wait and save the money.

If you just want to learn how to shoot, sign up for some civ classes. They can range from basic firearm safety to more advanced marksmanship. You'll probably get a lot better 1:1 training than you would from a fam fire or whatever in the fleet.

 

[Brett327]

If you just want to learn how to shoot, sign up for some civ classes. They can range from basic firearm safety to more advanced marksmanship. You'll probably get a lot better 1:1 training than you would from a fam fire or whatever in the fleet.

Yeah, shooting in the fleet, particularly for aviators isn't really instruction of any kind. You learn basic safety, that's about it.

Brett

 

[Spekkio]

Good idea too on it satisfying req's for a CCW (if that's an idea for the op down the road).

That was one of the end goals I had in mind.

Yeah, shooting in the fleet, particularly for aviators isn't really instruction of any kind. You learn basic safety, that's about it.

Perhaps I had a misconception, then. I thought that military shooting instruction would be more rigorous than civilian. If this is not the case, I will look around for the best deal.

 

[HeloBubba]

I thought that military shooting instruction would be more rigorous than civilian.

Having done the small arms qual both the Navy way and the Army way, in my opinion, the Army way is about what you'd expect for military shooting instruction. The Navy way....not so much.

 

[Spekkio]

Having done the small arms qual both the Navy way and the Army way, in my opinion, the Army way is about what you'd expect for military shooting instruction. The Navy way....not so much.

Is there a way to do it with a different branch short of doing a joint ops tour?

 

[HeloBubba]

Is there a way to do it with a different branch short of doing a joint ops tour?

My bad, I didn't mean to imply that this was an option available to you. My opportunity came when after Active Duty Navy, I enlisted in the Army Reserve. Sorry.

I was just commenting on your remark about the rigorousness of military shooting instruction.

 

[navy09]

Training costs money and goes to those who need it. Marine grunts/SEALs/etc don't need to know how to fly a plane, so they don't get sent to flight school. As an aviator, you won't need to have any real tactical expertise with a firearm, so the training I imagine you'd get would be very basic (how to load, which end goes boom).

 

[FlyinRock]

I've always been puzzled at the military resistance to everyone being basic small arms qualified. Spend millions of dollars on one freaking missle and yet scream about money when it comes to teaching our troops at the pointy end of the spear. OK OK so you are on a boat. Does anyone remember one of our boats being taken by the North Koreans....?
Is there any guarantee that you won't be tasked with shooting your way out of a bad deal? Oh yeh, I forgot - spend five years in a POW camp as the alternative.
If you have the money to spend for some basic small arms instruction, consider it an investment in your future and ability to defend yourself and your turf and family. In todays environment it seems like warriors and their ability to defend whatever in hell they signed on for is handicapped by "Oh My God - he is using a real live gun..."
I began my small arms instruction when I was five years old by my father who was, of course, Marine Corps. It continued for the next 65 years and I'm still ranked in the top 10% of pistol shooters in the entire freakin world. So you might ask, what have you done lately? Well, I have trained my wife to be deadly with pistol and shotgun. When my son gets older I'll train him the same way. Neither of them will have to ask for someone else to do it for them when the SHTF.
I applaud you for even thinking of qualification with small arms. $150 is not a huge price to pay for that instruction and consider it a down payment for more training. If the Navy won't pay for it and you have the money, go for it. Even if you have to cut down on costs of a few 6 packs it will eventually allow you to decide if you want a 6 pack or a case.
You can't begin to imagine how much respect you'll get if you can show some expertise with small arms regardless of service. But in particular, the Navy with its attitude about using a missle or a big boat when some clown has an AK pointed in your face up close and personal. Think it can't happen? Doesn't take too much of a google search to find numerous incidents. Been there and done that.
Go for it.
Semper Fi
Rocky - Distinguished Pistol Shot, Presidents 100 and grad of several civilian schools of gunfighting.