Thanks Gears, wasn't sure about GMs. I knew they learned how to work on them in "A" school but I wasn't sure about the fire training. MEs I know because it is part of the graduation requirements.

I've shared my thoughts on simulator fire on a thread a while back.
While I haven't been to Cape May yet (Feb. 7, yeehaw) I have had the opportunity to use the Marine Corps range simulator at Parris Island. Of course, they still primarily rely on live fire, however the simulator is there to familiarize Marines with a variety of weapons, and also to assist recruits who are "problem" shooters. The weapons they use can be programmed to variable recoil, i think anywhere from 20%-90%, so really the only part that's missing is the report. Wind, heat, cold, etc. can all be programmed into this simulator. It tracks the barrel movement and is a pretty cool machine.
That said, I'm fine with a rifle and garbage with a handgun. Hopefully I'll get to fire the real thing not long after boot.

even if you were to qualify at Basic you still had to qualify when you get to your unit.

And you can shoot a perfect score on the simulator but will not get a ribbon for it....has to be live fire in order to count.

most people who hate the SIG P229 are the people who cant qualify on it. The trigger pull is not the problem for the most part, its people anticipating the recoil and focusing on the hammer instead of focusing on the front sight where their eyes should be. What you guys are debating is the difference between a single action and double action PDW. No doubt there is a huge difference between the two, and when it comes down to it, you will meet people who prefer one or the other. If you are a good shooter it wont matter. Just put the lead down range and on target.

Gears, do you mean that GMs will be among those who are going off base to shoot since the switch to the simulator, or that over the course of doing quals at their units and A school they will have a lot of time with live fire training? I locked in my GM rating and got my unit assigned already since I'm enlisting in the Reserves. Sim or live fire, I'm looking forward to it either way; just wondering what I should expect when I ship out for basic May 1st (and won't be surprised if things change between now and then either!)

reserve dont go to the real range, if you are active and are going to a unit (which you will know by then) that requires a gun qual, then they will let you go to the real range. For my company it was only people that were going to stations, not boats.

Gears, do you mean that GMs will be among those who are going off base to shoot since the switch to the simulator, or that over the course of doing quals at their units and A school they will have a lot of time with live fire training?

I don't know what the current range policies are at Cape May. As a GM though, you can expect to spend a fair amount of time at ranges and in armories.

Thanks for the reply.  Any idea about the folks who are going to Sectors?  It seems like a pretty safe bet that I will be training on the simulator, which actually sounds like a pretty cool experience.  I have lots of ranges available to me where I live and have shooting experience (which I will of course be keeping in mind but keeping malleable for whatever new information I get), but there are not too many simulators around (unless you count that Area 51 arcade game at the movie theater lol).  This thought just occurred to me: does the reduced stress/danger of not having live ammo on the range day mean the CC stays with you during this part of training?

Side note: all of you posting replies on all of these different topics, your answers are greatly appreciated.  Thanks for all your help in getting me and my fellow recruits ready to ship out to boot camp as informed as we can be.

And thank you, Gears.  My last post was in response to Bells, just saw yours once I hit submit.

Any idea about the folks who are going to Sectors?

You'll probably be involved in maintaining the armory and conducting small arms training for the operational units. That's just a guess though. Also, you're welcome.

The latest that I heard from my CC friends is that nobody goes off base anymore to shoot. It's the simulator for all these days.

Posted By Cooch on 01 Mar 2012 09:37 PM
The latest that I heard from my CC friends is that nobody goes off base anymore to shoot. It's the simulator for all these days.

That's too bad, but understandable when you think about how many ratings in the CG won't be doing firearms related anything in their daily lives.  I think it's still important to have people experience live fire of pistols, just to get over any initial fears or misconceptions.  Oh well... I guess that's why I'm going in as a GM.     

No one in my company went to the live range. In fact, we didn't even know where we were going yet to send anyone that needed to get qualified there. Your unit will send you later if you need it.

A former CC posted on my jeep forum saying that they used to send recruits going to units who needed them to be qualified to a off base range but it was too expensive. Everyone shoots simulator and you will be sent to the range at your first unit. A guy off my last boat qualified expert out of BC and had to requalify again once he got to the unit.

http://m.youtube.com/index?desktop_...i8PX3fyF0k the updated "It's Just 8 Weeks" shows the new firearms training pretty clearly.