The Death of Machine Gun Gunnery


I’ve been involved in two investigations at mobilization platforms where this happened. It may not be widespread but it happens enough to be disconcerting. The Soldier on the gun didn’t understand (or didn’t check) Headspace and nobody running the range did either.

And this is a failure of Mechanical training! The “put gas in the tank and press the pedal” level of “driving” a machine gun.

Do you think this “gunner” understands Characteristics and Classifications of Fire, ADDRAC, PICMDEEP, mils, or other principles of gunnery?

Most Soldiers (and sometimes Marines) issued machine guns are NOT gunners. “I carried one of those for five years” does NOT qualify one as a gunner. We could have strapped a log around your neck for five years and had the same training.

Read The Rise, Fall, & Rebirth Of The ‘Emma Gees’ for more info.