Week 5

Monday started with the DSCT range which is a computerised range designed to show the person firing how good (or bad!) they are at shooting.  Some of us learned that we are not born snipers, however there are a few marksmen in the Troop! 

On Tuesday we arrived at the 100m ranges armed with waterproof jackets and trousers (despite the glorious sunshine!) and we began to zero our weapons.  This was a very long process for some (Musn Hurley!) but we all got there eventually.  We then moved on to the electronic range for some target practice.  We worked on our breathing and natural alignment and using those marksmanship principles that we all know so well to aid our shooting. 

By Thursday we had all taken our 100m, 200m and 300m basic soldiering tests and it took some of us a lot of one-to-one tuition with the instructors (thanks Cpl Ramsey!) to pass the test. 

On Friday we learned never to leave our lockers/drawers untidy, so we spent the day compensating … let’s just say our weapons are immaculate!

Musn Chadwick

Cleaning weapons before firing	in the range control point
On the point ready for the shoot to start

Monday morning 0545, the weekend already seems ages away! It’s cold, cloudy, wet and early. HOOFIN! It was off to the ranges this week and Troop 1/07 were ready and raring to go. There was a fair scattering of nerves running around, this was after all our first opportunity to fire live rounds. After several weeks of weapons drills, it was time to put them all into action, this time for real!

We departed HMS Nelson on our way to our second home, Longmoor. Of course we made best possible use of the coach trip up the A3, revising in our heads all the weapons drills, marksman principles etc. We definitely did not just all fall asleep!

Day one, we were using the Dismounted Close Combat Trainer (DCCT) Range, which is in effect a giant, very clever computer game! The weapons are fitted with lasers and all shooting is done at screens, which can display a whole host of things from different ranges, to video footage of scenarios. For today though, we were analysing our shooting skills, checking that were carrying out the training we’d been given, going through every single shot with a fine-toothed comb. Luckily for us though it was all indoors. Thank goodness for small mercies!

Tuesday came, weather still grey and damp, but onwards we soldiered, this time outside at the ranges. Job number one was to zero our weapons. This is basically adjusting the sights of your own weapon, so that you actually end up shooting where you are aiming, which is rather useful it turnsout. The detail basically consists of firing five round groupings at the target, these are then checked for positioning and how big the grouping is (how far spread the shots were). From this you can adjust your sights accordingly. For some, this was quite a quick process. Others however, took slightly longer but nonetheless by the end of the day were zeroed and ready to go.

Wednesday then saw us moving to the Electronic Target Range (ETR). This was where we were to spend the rest of our week practising and hopefully passing our Annual Platoon Weapons Test (APWT). As the day progressed, we went through the different firing positions and at different ranges. Some even managed to nail it through their 100m test! Part one done and dusted anyway! Wednesday morning the remainder of the troop pushed their way through the 100m tests and then it was on to 200m and 300m. Bizarrely enough, most people found these easier, which is slightly odd, as according to Sgt Bissett, you can pretty much throw stones and hit the 100m targets! But anyway, by the end of our second day on the ETR and after a few tears, attempts and the better part of 7000 rounds we all passed and were done on the ranges until next year.

Friday morning hit with a bang! Surprise rounds! These weren’t really a surprise as some of us had been warned off the previous evening, but obviously thought it more important to spend the evening in the bar than cleaning our kit and lockers! The rounds therefore, unfortunately, did not go as well as perhaps we would have liked. It was understandable then why Sgt Schofield got excited and told us that we could expect a few ‘incentives’ to ensure we all knew what our priorities were! We cleaned our weapons, had them inspected, cleaned them again, inspected again, and then cleaned then… Oh, well you get the picture! Let’s just say the weapons looked absolutely spankers when we eventually signed them back into the armoury. Friday evening we had extra rounds! So, 1900, there we are all standing by our beds, accommodation gleaming! (Well, we thought so; Sgt Bissett and Cpl Johnsen had a slightly different take on it) But all done and dusted, we had had a pretty good week, tiring, but we felt like we had all accomplished something big. Role on the weekend and a good run ashore!

Bug Crossley

Prone position live firing	View from the firing point
Kneeling	Cleaning weapons after firing

Predicted forecast of the training programme (Subject to change at short notice)

Mon 01 Oct - Fri 05 Oct

Live firing range week including Signals, Voice Procedure, Military Fitness

Sat 06 Oct

Shore Leave

Sun 07 Oct

Church Parade

	Meet the Troop
	Meet the Training Team
	Meet the School of Music Staff
	Service Slang Abbreviations