Smell the Roses, Then Stomp on Them

gCaptain ^ | 01/27/2019 | CW4 MICHAEL W. CARR

[Oatka]

The Instructor, a retired Navy SEAL, spoke with a quite, steady and commanding voice: “Load one nine round magazine, lower the hammer, place your weapon on safe, re-holster, and raise your right hand when you have completed these actions.”

Clear and concise. Each of his ten students followed these commands. Soon ten right hands went up.

“Now lower your hands, and listen to the following directions. I will give these directions twice, and only twice.”

He then enunciated how his students were to draw their weapons, engage targets, how many rounds to place on each target, when to perform a combat reload, and when to indicate they had completed tasks.

This was the student’s final day of a very long course titled “Weapons and Security Training for Mariners.” Most mariner training is fairly straightforward, and though often demanding, students expect to pass if they show up each day and pass the multiple-choice exams.

This course was different. Many of the students, if not all, were wondering if they were going to pass. It was mentally and physically demanding. That was obvious from day one.

“You have one hour to memorize, verbatim, the four rules of firearm safety. Here they are,” and he gave them each a printed card with the rules.

“Meet back here at 10:00, not 09:59, and not 10:01, at 10:00 and you will write these four rules on a piece of blank paper. If you get them correct, word for word, you will continue, if not you can go to the admin office and see if you can get into another course, now get out of my classroom.”

[4yearlurker]

LOL! Now that was a good comeback.

[Reily]

ok