[pony up]

Originally Posted by Snipersnest

I remember "snapping in" for a week without firing a round at the range. We qualified out to 900 meters with iron sights. The Marine Corps was always based on marksmanship and the tenet that every man is a basic infantryman from the Commandant right down to the lowliest private. Chesty must be rolling in his grave!

Absolutely. I remember my DI sitting on my shoulders to get me into a proper sitting position. I left the range with a black and blue right thumb, a black and blue right cheek bone, a very sore shoulder, an expert rifleman qualification and extra swagger on the grinder. I had been positive before but the hell, yes, I can do this really kicked in at the range. I am sure that todays new Marines in training have the same feelings we had then and will shake their heads at training regimen down the road. I am a lot more concerned that we seem to have developed the art of getting a whole slew of good young men and women killed to no good end. It is not the troops, they are as good as ever. It is gutless weasel politicians who waste those brave men and women and an electorate chock full of useful idiots who vote those weasels into office over and over.