As more time passes away from memories of my past, the more fondly I seem to remember things. I am starting to feel that way about much of the hard field training in the Army. As an infantry soldier it was the best of times, and it was the worst of times (someone should use that as a book intro).
Something that I still viscerally remember to this day as the absolute worst part is the silly amounts of time wasted upon returning from field training. We would be sleep deprived, too hot, or too cold, wet, and stinking slightly better than sizzling summer garbage. But there we were, cleaning kits splattered about, hands caked in carbon and a line around the Battalion waiting for the armorer to punch our ticket to beer and freedom.
My most prized rifle now an Adams Arms P2 5.56, is much like my issued weapons over the past 21 years. Except It’s mine so it is far nicer in all the ways that matter especially because it’s PISTON operated. I have the saltiest of tears for that group of young men knowing just how simple to clean a piston driven rifle can be. I shudder to think at the time wasted and pushups done over a dirty NCO pinky retrieved from the star chamber of my issued rifle. Reason enough to never buy a DI rifle ever again.
The Army just announced that the new standard issue battle rifle will be the M5, a PISTON rifle. Good for the new kids joining up now. Sergeant dirty pinky is going to find some other reason to kick Private smelly to the back of the line.
My most prized rifle now an Adams Arms P2 5.56, is much like my issued weapons over the past 21 years. Except It’s mine so it is far nicer in all the ways that matter especially because it’s PISTON operated. I have the saltiest of tears for that group of young men knowing just how simple to clean a piston driven rifle can be. I shudder to think at the time wasted and pushups done over a dirty NCO pinky retrieved from the star chamber of my issued rifle. Reason enough to never buy a DI rifle ever again.
The Army just announced that the new standard issue battle rifle will be the M5, a PISTON rifle. Good for the new kids joining up now. Sergeant dirty pinky is going to find some other reason to kick Private smelly to the back of the line.
