[Docbarleypop]

Ive been in the Navy 7 years now. I am not sure why most recruits would need small arms training beyond "this is a gun, aim and pull." I am an expert in both rifle and pistol though I will NEVER be issued a weapon unless I decide to change rates. We learn to fight a ship, not hand to hand, that is why we own a little outfit called the Marines. If it would come down to most of us needing to use a weapon, the close proximities onboard a ship would render accuracy needless. Our watch standers are trained and certain rates are trained with small arms.

[Dawgsquat]

You don't carry a weapon when you stand quarterdeck watch? I went through Navy bootcamp in '73. Qualified with the 1911-A1 and a .22 rifle (I have no idea why a .22). Later when I was qualifing as Petty Officer of the Watch I got more training with the 1911-A1. We were required to carry one when on watch. Has that changed?

[Dawgsquat]

Not to mention security alert drills and repel boarder drills. You don't get issued weapons?

[Britton J Wingfield]

When I went through Navy bootcamp at Great Lakes in 88, I did not fire a single round. I qualified .45, 12 guage, and M-14 when I got to my ship.

Some rates do a lot of weapons training, some do none at all. Onboard ship, I'd rather have them spend time on damage control than small arms.

Since I converted to SeaBee, though, I've had plenty of small arms practice.