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31st Jan 2006

‘Detail – Ready!’

With over a thousand rounds, ten L98 rifles, and two No. 8 rifles; eleven cadets certainly were ready on Sunday 29th January for a good day’s shooting. With the freshly certified AWO Browne giving the orders for the No. 8 rifle, which fires the smaller and often more accurate .22 ammunition, and AWO Taylor commanding the range for the more modern L98 cadet rifle, Bedford Squadron was ready to deploy to DISC Chicksands’ rifle range for practice and training.

The day started with the obligatory preparation of the range for a day’s shoot; consisting of pasting targets, listening to briefs and signing range orders. After this there followed an opportunity for all the cadets to fire the No. 8, for many it was the first time firing a rifle. Despite its greater weight, the weapon is an excellent starter for new cadets, as it has no age restrictions on the firer, and is simpler than its more powerful cousin to use. All the cadets were able to have several grouping practices, the aim of which is to place as many shots as possible within the smallest area on a target. This practice allowed Cadet Morse, Corporal Every and Sergeant Otulakowski to achieve the grading of ‘Squadron Marksman’. This was a greater achievement still for Cdt Morse, as it was the first time that he had shot with the rifle.

At lunchtime cadets and staff were treated to a fantastic meal cooked up by the Civilian Committee of the squadron. At two pounds, two generous helpings seemed a steal!

During the second half of the day the older cadets had an opportunity to use the L98, which included practising grouping again, as well as ‘snap’ practices, where targets are simulated to appear and disappear for short periods of time, and ‘rapid’ practices, where the shooter attempts to fire as many rounds as accurately as possible within a short period of time. The afternoon passed very enjoyably with a lot of rounds to be shot before the close of day.

Throughout the day instruction in rifle practices and maintenance of the weapons was being conducted by the NCOs present. Before the sun had set all the rounds had been fired and many lessons had been learned; only cleaning the rifles was left to do.

Despite the cold weather, a constructive and enjoyable day was had by all, owing to the work of the Civilian Committee and both of the Warrant Officers.

By Sergeant Antoni Otulakowski