Is military experience a valid indicator of firearm and shooting know how? It might be but probably not. As always the proven, demonstrated skill of the individual is what matters. Prior service does not.
T. Mark Graham, gunsmith for Arizona Response Systems, LLC, sums this up nicely.
I fail to see where military service is a prerequisite for intelligent evaluation of firearms design and employment. Some of the stupidest things I’ve seen were from Special Forces Weapons Sergeants, such as stomping on an M60 cocking handle and shearing it off and the receiver in an excessive, failed effort to clear a malfunction. I ended up fixing the problem with my bare hand.
My friend worked at a gun store. He would frequently be asked what supersecret ninja-commando unit he was in that gave him the “credibility” to sell a gun. His response was, “Dude, I’m just the guy behind the counter.”
Colorado Pete
Feb 03, 2013 @ 20:42:03
I would consider a Marine Expert to have a pretty good clue. But, I’ve heard at least one horror story of one of their boot camp marksmanship instructors, giving a boot advice to turn the rear sight knob the wrong way. Boot saw result, remembered what I taught him, and got himself squared away without further sabotage.
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John M. Buol Jr.
Feb 03, 2013 @ 23:07:51
Aye. There are true small arms experts and good marksmen in all the services. There are also some personnel without a clue. Rank, unit assignment/affiliation, overseas deployments and combat experience does not guarantee this expertise has been acquired.
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