Bad Training, Bad Results
A story from Ash Hess about the results of failing to let Soldiers learn weapon basics.
I have received a few negative comments on various videos and editorials I’ve put out, despite my sticking only to published data and studies while (mostly) keeping my personal experiences out of it.
Here’s an example: Misusing ammo points and failing to let personnel manage their own ammo sets troops up for failure.
Don’t take my word for it. Here’s an incident as told by a primary author of current Army doctrine, director of Quantified Performance, and Government Sales Specialist for Knight’s Armament, Ash Hess:
It's May 2006. Soldiers from the 3rd Squadron, 71st Cavalry Regiment and 2nd Battalion, 87th Infantry are engaged in a firefight in the Chowcay Valley. The enemy has brought a DSHk and plenty of fighters to attack the Infantry down in the valley and the Cavalry on the hill.
The team leader is controlling his team when he notices a young private not engaging.
“Why are you not firing?!?!"
- "My magazine is empty."
"So, reload!"
- “ I didn't know I had permission to do that."
The above story really happened. Some of you are thinking this young private is dense and it's common sense to reload.
Before you judge any further, think about this: Until 2020, the main [and often, the only] marksmanship event for Soldiers required guidance from the Tower to load a magazine. If you loaded before given an explicit command to do so, NCOs would appear out of nowhere and dutifully and gleefully destroy the Soldier.
Many Soldiers, particularly those who were not in combat jobs or those new to combat units, never loaded a rifle without express permission. This is what caused our young trooper to be sitting in a firefight, rifle empty, and confused.
- Ash Hess