Current Inadequacy of Small Arms Training for All Military Occupational Specialties in the Conventional Army

This thesis examines the current inadequacy of small arms training for all military occupational specialties (MOSs) in the conventional Army and the lack of focus on weapons training for the dynamic nonlinear/noncontiguous (NL/NC), asymmetrical battlefield that today's soldier encounters. Small arms weapons training and qualification in the United States Army is largely based on the defense and is woefully inadequate in the area of dynamic offensive operations. The NL/NC battlefield operating conditions increase the requirement for all soldiers, including combat support (CS) and combat service support (CSS), to be able to fight and defeat or suppress and escape (based on the size of the threat) an adversary and requires more offensive vice defensive training. This thesis formed five recommendations for implementation, throughout the Army, that would bring marksmanship training to a relevant level for today's NL/NC battlefield. Update the POI in the respective Army field manuals and include range configurations to facilitate advanced, short-range, CQC like marksmanship training that will allow soldiers of all MOSs to dominate their 100 meters. Introduce Small Arms Master Gunner (SAMG) into all BCT and higher units. Update STRAC allocations to incorporate additional SRM live fire training and restore a full allocation of training ammunition to units that have an EST. Implement SRM training at IET, AIT, NCOES, OCS, OBC and also have a traveling Train-the-Trainer program to instruct and update instillations and units on the advanced POI to produce a future cadre of proficient combat shooters. The Army should implement an additional skill identifier (ASI) for the recognition of advanced marksmanship training.