This is a typical rifle range where we fired M16 A4's with a 5.56mm round. We did three consecutive weeks of basic weapons training. At the end we had to qualify and I got sharpshooter hitting 35 of 40 timed targets from 50 to 300 meters away.
It's essential to be comfortable and confident in your gear and your ability to properly use that gear. In the gas chamber, filled with CS gas, we had to partially remove our mask, clear it, and put it back on creating a seal. We also had to remove the mask completely and breath in, put it in its holder, and put our helmet back on before we could exit the chamber.
This is me coming out of the gas chamber. Our Drill Sergeants told us to wave our hands to keep our airways open, to keep our eyes open, and to not touch our skin until we were able to breath again.
I was voted most inspirational trainee during week 1. Behind me is an obstacle course called The Roman Wall where six of us had to get over a rope wall and then over five consecutive wooden walls elevating from 6 to 12 feet high. The best six trainee's from each platoon competed for the fastest time. I competed for my platoon and we finished second place at 1 minute, 33 seconds.
During week 8 we fired A4's which are single use RPG's (Rocket Propelled Grenades) at tanks during our Advanced Marksmanship week.
Graduation day! We woke up at 0300 to get ready and rehearse twice before 0900 when the official ceremony was scheduled to begin. By that time we were all dead tired after being on our feet and sedentary for almost 6 hours; not to mention it was in the Georgia sun, it's hot as hell! It routinely was 100+ F and the humidity must be near 80-90%.