Primary & Secondary Article Library
Explore the Primary & Secondary Article Library: practical writing on firearms, defensive training, law enforcement, equipment, tactics, mindset, and the people who contribute to the professional training community. Articles are organized to help readers find durable information, professional perspectives, and useful resources by subject.
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Thermal-Sight Boresighting: Principles and Precautions
A technical-manual-centered overview of thermal-sight boresighting, including equipment preparation, thermal target contrast, controlled adjustment, laser safety, and live-fire confirmation.
Read articleStop Marksmanship Training
Since this organization is very gun friendly and dedicated to knowledge I should now have your attention. I just said it and will reiterate. STOP MARKSMANSHIP TRAINING IN…
Read articleStandard Qualification for the M4
M4 Qualification Standards We are going to start a discussion on qualification standards. Specifically, we are going to address what the standard is for qualification with the M4.…
Read articleRates of Fire for the M4 and M4A1
We are continuing our discussion on control. Specifically we will be addressing the rates of fire for the M4 and M4A1 platforms. The Reference for this discussion is…
Read articleLow-Power Variable Optics: Roles and Tradeoffs
Understand how LPVO magnification, focal plane, reticle, eye box, illumination, weight, mount, and zero affect a general-purpose rifle.
Read articleFire Control for Machine Guns
We are continuing our discussion on Fire control for machine guns. Specifically, we are addressing what fire control is, and what methods are available to the Paratrooper. The…
Read articleEven More On Boresighting
We are continuing our discussion on the Boresight. Specifically, we will be boresighting lasers. The reference for this is TM 9-5860-226-13&P dated August 2007. The boresight needs to…
Read articleQ/A on IWTS
We are answering some questions that have been brought up in reference to the Integrated Weapons Training Strategy and how it is reported. As we discussed in previous…
Read articleMachine-Gun Fire Commands: Structure and Purpose
A doctrine-informed explanation of fire-command structure, including alert, direction, target description, range, method, initiation, and subsequent corrections.
Read articleMore Zeroing With Boresight
We are going to continue our discussion on the Laser Boresight. Specifically, we are going to talk about how to zero the enabler with a zeroed LBS. The…
Read articleMachine-Gun Ammunition Planning for Support by Fire
A doctrine-informed framework for machine-gun ammunition planning based on mission events, weapon data, fire control, distribution, carrying capacity, resupply, and reserve.
Read articleCalling the Shot: A Core Shooting Skill
Calling the shot means observing the sight or reticle at discharge, then comparing that honest visual call with the impact to diagnose performance and equipment.
Read articleFollow Up on TC 3-22.9
A year ago, we finished the last edits on the TC 3-22.9 that published in May of 2016. For those that have taken the time to read this…
Read articleWeapon Control and Workspace Management
A doctrine-informed explanation of the shooter’s workspace, rifle controls, selector management, safe manipulation, diagnosis, and position-specific dry practice.
Read articleInstitutional Inertia
“My greatest contribution as the chief of staff was to nourish the mavericks.” – GEN Matthew Ridgway, Commander, 82ND Airborne Division (1942-1945) and Chief of Staff, United States…
Read articleConflicting Surface Danger Zones in Range Planning
A historical Fort Bragg example explains how overlapping surface danger zones affect scheduling, coordination, approved weapons and ammunition, and safe live-fire execution.
Read articleHow To Zero The Laser Boresight To A Weapon
Zeroing a Laser Boresight to a Weapon We’re going to do a talk through on how to zero the laser boresight to a weapon. If you have any…
Read articleSDZ’s Continued
We are continuing our discussion on Surface Danger Zones or SDZ’s. This is important to know, because to get certain range concepts approved by your range officer at…
Read articleIntegrated Weapons Training Strategy (Continued)
We are continuing our discussion on how to resource training utilizing the Integrated Weapons Training Strategy. The reference for this post is TC 3-20.0 dated July 2015. at…
Read articleMachine-Gun Classes of Fire Explained
A doctrine-based explanation of machine-gun classes of fire with respect to the ground, target, and gun, including grazing, plunging, enfilade, and controlled manipulation.
Read articleThe Art of Tactics
The art of tactics consists of three interrelated aspects: the creative and flexible array of means to accomplish assigned missions, decision-making under conditions of uncertainty when faced with…
Read articleSafe Weapons Handling
As part of our previous discussion on control, I’d like to bring up one of the primary points Paratroopers of every MOS need to be aware of; that…
Read articleWhy PMAGs Are Better Than Aluminum USGI Mags
This subject is currently at some higher levels and I put this together to give some end user perspective. I’ve been involved with PMAGs since almost the beginning…
Read articlePositive Weapon Control
We are going to be discussing the first few components of the element of Control. Training Circular 3-22.9, Change 1 dated January 2017 states that control is: “all…
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