Hooah!! Welcome back for your Week Five update. This phase of training seems like it lasts forever. This week fatigue is starting to set in as your Trainee has been spending a lot of time at the range practicing with their weapon. They are at the mid-way point of Basic Rifle Marksmanship (BRM). By now they have become very familiar with their weapon while learning its capabilities and all the fundamentals that are required to be an effective marksman.
Week 5 Expectations – White Phase
Week 5 is another week at the range just like the previous week. They have been issued their weapon and are becoming well versed in the fundamentals of firing it. With time at the range also comes Meals Ready to Eat (MRE) for lunch.
Range Week
Week 5 is another week at the range just like the previous week. The Trainees have now become more comfortable on the range and accustomed to the range procedures. They also have been issued an M68 Close Combat Optic (CCO) which is a red dot sight with 1x magnification used to engage targets out to 300 meters. The CCO will be their primary aiming device in daylight conditions and the iron sights they zeroed in week 4 become the backup.
While most people will never understand the difficulty of shooting a rifle, there is a lot more to it than just squeezing the trigger. There are four primary fundamentals of firing your M4 Carbine weapon. Your Trainee is mastering the art of controlled breathing, proper sight picture, body position, and trigger squeeze. These fundamentals are vital for a successful day at the range.
While spending time at the range this week, your Trainee is also getting accustomed to Meals Ready to Eat (MRE) for lunch. Although some find discovering the treats inside an MRE and experiencing the flameless heater to be cool experiences, field time can be pretty tiring, so the smell of food – even in MRE form – can be pretty euphoric. After being out in the field for even a couple of days, getting hot chow brought in from the dining facility (DFAC) also known as the Warrior Restaurant can be the only rest that your trainee gets all day.
The Making of Your Soldier
In your Letter this week ask your Trainee how they are doing with BRM. Also ask them what their favorite MRE is so far. Next week they put everything they have learned at the range to the test and will qualify with their weapon. Plus, don’t forget you can include up to 4 photos in a Sandboxx Letter when you select the Multi Photo Add-on.
Are you including Stamps with your letters? This makes replying that much easier for your busy Trainee, since they won’t have to track down a stamp from the Exchange.
Letters From Home = Morale
Stay tuned for more insights into Week Six and beyond. 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)