Night Vision Device training and M-9

Today, though not over, has been alright. Few hiccoughs along the way, but that's par for the course with any organization - especially the government run kind. Drive on!

The morning began cold and hazy - we all had an extra hour of sleep supposedly because of the daylight savings time change, but like the soldiers we are, we used the extra hour to instead stay up, watch movies, text message, do PT (we're not lazy!), and read. Wake-up felt like it came far too quickly. Our formations are interesting affairs, but generally in line with military thinking, and formation (after shaving and using the head, and sometimes chow) are generally the first thing that happens in the morning. Formation is scheduled for say 0800 hours. Good soldiers arrive 15 minutes before, at 0745. The platoon decides that they're going to form up before and march over as a platoon. The platoon agrees to form up at 0740. But good soldiers show up 10 minutes early. So now it's 0730. The squad decides that they don't want to be 'those guys' who show up at the last minute for the formation, so they agree to meet at 0725. Good soldiers show up 5 minutes early. So now it's 0720 and we're standing outside, and it's cold. Breath mists in the air, and cigarette smoke swirls around the mouths of the Trés-Trés (3rd Squad, 3rd Platoon - who are all growing moustaches during our time here.) as they tell jokes, and mumble to themselves, "Tona, Tona, Tona."

We started classes with the Beretta M92FS or as the military calls it, the M-9 weapon system. It's a 9mm blowback operated air-cooled semi-automatic magazine fed pistol. It has an effective range of about 50 meters, but realistically most people, be they cops, soldiers, gun enthusiasts don't think of engaging targets past 10 meters. Unless they're Steven Segal, apparently that guy can light a match at a quarter mile with a pistol. Blindfolded.

I'm about as familiar with the M-9 as I am with the back of my hand, and felt very comfortable through the entire class, helping soldiers field strip their weapons - collect their guide rods from about the classroom, and teaching them good firing posture and grip. Too easy.


After a nice lunch (pork chop, salad, rice, chili) we began NVD (Night Vision Devices) training and had a blast! NVDs are all pretty cool, a little heavy (generally) and VERY expensive. For most of us it was familiarization, and for the older hands, it was all new.

To be continued...going to chow...enjoy the pictures and the movie until then!