Weapons training at RTC offers hands-on experience

When you think about basic military training, one of the first things that comes to mind is firing live weapons. That's exactly what recruits experience at Recruit Training Command (RTC), the Navy's only boot camp.
    At RTC, an average of 38,000 recruits per year will fire a live weapon under the direction of 121 weapons instructors. However, before they can step aboard USS Wisconsin, RTC's live-fire range, they first must successfully pass the Small Arms Marksmanship Trainer (SAMT) course during their fourth week of training.
    "Basically, it (SAMT) is a laser-enabled range using a weapon that has a bit of recoil action," said Lt. Robert Brown, the weapons division officer who has been at RTC since September 2006. "They get to see on a computer where their shots would have hit. It's all functioned by a laser hitting a target. Then we are able to instruct those recruits and coach them on better techniques in order to get all their shots going into the bull's-eye."
    The six-hour simulated trainer teaches recruits how to draw pistols from holsters, clear barrel procedures and use a sight alignment that shows them what it should look like when they're looking down the barrel of a gun, all while stressing basic safety. SAMT instructors provide recruits the background, basics and fundamentals to be successful at live fire.
    "Our weapons program uses blended learning techniques and provides comprehensive, hands-on training and ultimately leads to completion of the Navy Handgun Qualification Course and completion of all basic Antiterrorism/Force Protection requirements," said Capt. Steven Bethke, commanding officer, RTC. "Every graduating sailor understands the core competencies in the Navy are Damage Control and Antiterrorism/Force Protection."
    Both SAMT and live-fire instructors must complete rigorous training before they are qualified to train recruits.
    Chief Fire Controlman Jacque Westhoff, a live-fire instructor, has been training recruits for two years. Prior to RTC, he was stationed on board the guided-missile frigate USS Vandegrift (FFG-48), which is home-ported in San Diego.
    "The normal route for instructors is to leave their previous duty station and go to small-arms instructor's school," said Westhoff. "From there, they go through journeyman instructor training and then they come to us and get their on board qualifications to train at RTC."
    Brown said all the instructors at RTC deal with weapons training on a daily basis.
    "They're seeing people each time that have never handled a weapon for the most part," said Brown. "They are taking someone with no skill level whatsoever and, 12 hours later, that person qualifies as a marksman, sharpshooter or an expert. The quick turnaround is based on the quality of instruction given by the full-time instructors."
    Once recruits complete SAMT and are cleared for live-fire training, they start in the classroom performing holster drills and learning weapons-handling skills with a strong emphasis placed on safety.
    "We've had no safety mishaps since I've been here," said Brown.
    Live-fire training utilizes the 9mm Beretta handgun and 12-gauge Mossberg shotgun. "Recruits shoot the shotgun for a 'familiarization' fire," said Brown. "They shoot five
    rounds just to get a feel for the weapon."
    Whatever their weapons experience may be, newly-arrived recruits express their eagerness for live-fire training.
    "I'm looking forward to it," said SR Brian Jeffrey Alberto, 19, of Carol Stream, Ill. "It's pretty cool to shoot a gun and I've never shot a gun. I've never even held a gun. I'm not nervous, just excited."
    For SR Nicolas Payne, 23, of Monroe, Ore., handling weapons is natural.
    "I've handled pistols and rifles for hunting or just practice," said Payne. "I expect to qualify and get my marksmanship ribbon. I've gone through some shooting training."
    "We shoot more than any other naval facility," said Brown. "The goal here is to build confidence and weapons-handling fundamentals so that that when the recruits get to the fleet, it's just like riding a bike."
    Getting the opportunity to be properly trained on how to fire live weapons is exceptionally important to SR Jennifer Sahley, 19, of Palm Harbor, Fla.
    "SAMT was totally different," said Sahley. "The weapon didn't feel the same when it was hooked up to the computer. It wasn't real; you knew it wasn't real and it didn't feel real."
    "I felt comfortable there even though it was actually a real weapon," said Sahley. "I felt more trained and prepared for live fire the next day. Of my first four rounds, two were right in the middle of the target and I was like, 'Yes! I got this, I can do this!' I'm going to be a master-at-arms so my job involves weapons. I've been looking forward to this part of training because this is what I need for my job. This is what I need for my career in the Navy."
    While many recruits eagerly anticipate the training and look forward to shooting a live weapon, there are those occasional recruits who are hesitant to handle a weapon.
    "We highly encourage them to shoot," said Brown. "We ask them what type of job (their rating classification) they will have in the Navy and we put it into perspective for them. We tell them that when they get to the fleet, they're going to stand a watch with a weapon and that we here at RTC have some of the best line coaches in the Navy."
    According to Brown, the instructors usually convince those recruits of the benefits of RTC's live-fire training, and the majority of them complete the training.
    If recruits don't qualify at live fire and their rating requires them to carry a weapon, they are reclassified for a different job that does not require them to handle weapons. This process allows RTC to identify personnel not suited for weapons handling and saves the Navy money. They are reclassified at RTC before they enter the fleet.
    Brown stresses the importance of giving recruits the opportunity to shoot at live fire during boot camp.
    "Each boot camp conducts weapons training because it's a basic military skill set, but the reality is you're taking a civilian — on whatever level, whatever job they're going to be — and you're in fact turning them into a warrior," said Brown. "You cannot impart a warrior ethos without a person ever holding a weapon in their hand."
    Recruits express their concerns if live-fire weapons training were not offered in boot camp.
    "I wouldn't feel confident if we didn't get to train at live fire here," said SR Victor Sanieljimenez, 21, of Queens, N.Y., who will be a master-at-arms. "I would like to see a real weapon and shoot a real weapon so I know the recoil and the accuracy. It's one thing to shoot a laser gun but it's something entirely different shooting a real one."
    Brown emphasizes that point.
    "You can't pick up your Playstation 3 and play one of those car-driving games and then jump into a car and drive it if you've never driven before and be safe," said Brown. "Well, you can't shoot a fake weapon and then pick up a real weapon and expect it to be the same. There's a distinct difference between firing a real weapon and firing a laser."