I agree with the benefits of target rifle. Not sure I agree with all the above about blank, but I would concur that we need to emphasise the other aspects of field training (and maybe do more dry training, this was touched on in the Townhall last night).
On target rifles, can much of those benefits be achieved on the AR? Where we are the 144 has become a white elephant, logistics are hard and ranges have gone.
It might be possible, even, to have a longer range AR as I think the BSA cadets use is limited, but they make a ‘full sized’ version (I’m not an expert!)
ETA it is this one: https://bsaguns.co.uk/air-rifles/pcp-airguns/scorpion-ts/
Rated at 12ft/lbs