Fort Sill | Week 5

Hooah!! Welcome back for your Week Five Training Update! Are you fired up? This is a BIG week for your Trainee! All the focus, discipline, and hard work they’ve poured into training so far is about to be put to the test as they take on the Basic Rifle Marksmanship (BRM) qualification course! Hopefully, they’ve been locked in and paying attention, because now it’s time to show what they’ve learned. Confidence, precision, and control are the name of the game—and your Trainee is ready to rise to the challenge!

Week Five Expectations: White Phase

Fatigue is definitely setting in this week—your Trainee has been pushing hard, spending long hours on the range perfecting their marksmanship skills. They are now at the midway point of BRM training, and the progress is amazing. By now, they know their weapon inside and out: how it feels, how it fires, and how to hit their target with precision. Mastering the fundamentals like steady aim, breathing control, and trigger squeeze, they are building the warrior skills that will define them as Soldiers. It’s not just about qualifying—it’s about becoming confident, capable, and lethal with their weapon. This is a major step in their transformation, and they’re charging toward it with everything they’ve got!

Range Week

Basic Rifle Marksmanship (BRM) is one of the most exciting and transformative parts of Army Basic Training—it’s where your Trainee becomes a marksman. This phase marks the beginning of their journey to mastering the Army’s standard weapon, the M4 carbine. From the moment they first pick up their rifle, Trainees are taught to treat it as an extension of themselves. They’ll learn essential safety rules, parts of the weapon, and how to maintain it in top condition. Early on, they’ll practice dry-firing and using training simulators to build muscle memory and understand the fundamentals before ever firing a live round.

Once Trainees hit the range, the energy ramps up. They’ll spend long, focused days learning how to zero their sights, maintain proper shooting positions, control breathing, and fire with precision at pop-up targets ranging from 50 to 300 meters. Each target represents a critical skill in marksmanship and combat readiness. As they progress, they’ll fire from various supported and unsupported positions, working to build consistency, accuracy, and confidence under pressure. The highlight of this phase is the official BRM qualification—where Trainees must hit a minimum number of targets to pass. It’s a challenging but exhilarating event that pushes them to apply everything they’ve learned. To earn their marksmanship badge, trainees will have to hit 23 to 29 out of the 40 targets. Trainees hitting 30 to 35 targets will qualify for the sharpshooter badge. An expert badge will be awarded to those trainees that hit 36 to 40 of the 40 targets.

Successfully qualifying in BRM is more than just passing a test—it’s a rite of passage. It proves that your Trainee can handle their weapon safely and effectively, and it builds a deep sense of pride and confidence. Many Trainees will tell you there’s no feeling like the first time they hit targets downrange and realize, “I can do this.” BRM lays the foundation for their combat skills and is a moment of transformation—when they stop seeing themselves as civilians and start stepping into their role as capable, ready Soldiers in the U.S. Army.

Letters From Home = Morale

Your words matter. Letters from home are fuel for the fight—they lift spirits, inspire grit, and remind your Trainee they are never alone. A few kind words from you can make all the difference. If you’re not sure what to say, start with encouragement, share some updates from home, or ask them about their BRM qualification course results. Ask them if they qualified as Experts, Sharp Shooters, or Marksmen. Plus, don’t forget you can include up to 4 photos in a Sandboxx Letter when you select the Multi Photo Add-on.

Did you know you can send an Exchange gift card with every Sandboxx Letter? With an Exchange gift card, your trainee can buy anything they need at basic training as well as using it at any Exchange post training. Learn more about gift cards here.

The Making of Your Soldier

The journey is just past the mid way point, and the road ahead will continue to be tough—but your Trainee is rising to the challenge. Stay tuned for more insights as we walk this journey together. Next week is a tough week as they tackle the Anvil Field Training Excercise. Follow us on social media for the latest updates, letter ideas, and more.

That’s a brief look at the intense but rewarding journey your Trainee is on. Let’s keep supporting them every step of the way!

You can always find me via chat in the Sandboxx app or happiness@sandboxx.us — just ask for Kris, and myself or another teammate will get back to you as soon as we can.

Hooah!

SGM Kris Broadus, U.S. Army (Ret)