As we are approaching the end of 2025, did anything happen with this Business Case?
Things are still progressing in the background.
Hopefully the on-going case for Silver ā Gold shooting badge will have chosen the joint route (either CCRS eligible competition OR the FCC).
Anyone else had a chance to look over the LaSER Military Skills Strategy proposals?
Yes, better efficiency / sharing resources could be a good ideaā¦
However, I cannot see how on earth they would get through a maximum of 154 cadets to Bronze L98A2 standard - on ONE day!!
I also think that the targets for air rifle awards are far too high - they donāt take into account cadet interest (some donāt want to shoot) or the fact that sqns often canāt run as many range evenings as they would like as shooting might curtail other activities. If anyone suggests do shooting on other evenings or at weekends - take a running jump!! 
By maximising the use of the ranges, running multiple ranges at one location.
You could run a Gallery, 16 lanes running stick-ins at 25metres (as long as the range orders allow it), with another parallel gallery running at 25m alsoā¦ (think Longmoor or Pirbright).
Last year, we had three wings running shoots on the same wpn, on the same day, over 4 ranges at two locationsā¦ that was three sets of wing staff teams, 3 sets of movement vehicles, 3 sets of movement orders, 3 sets of wpn and OME drawsā¦
There have been some really good ideas, especially surrounding the former L81 and now into L98. Where the wings combine efforts. One runs the range, one runs the activity, one does the OME/Wpn run.
All teams descend onto one locationā¦
Iām all for efficiency, but guaranteeing a gallery range is not always possible (& with ROs permitting firing from 25m - normally 100m is the minimum), taking into account higher priority trg / getting a booking cancelled at short notice. Also, depending on location, you would need to be able to transport the maximum number (154) cadets to that range, which for some sqns wouldnāt be feasible. Running 2 ranges = splitting DS resources - & this wouldnāt be feasible if all are first time firers for 1:1 supervision. Concurrent activities / troop shelter size for the cadets not shooting?
Likely to be purely range capacity I would suggest - & DS availability has to be taken into account. Also, depending on local options, IWT is often done on a wg range day (gotta get those rifles from somewhere as the L103s versions arenāt available!). This may not be possible on a combined day, & of course, WHTs for DS / cadets need to be factored in.
Similarly, unless the range is run in a way such that a group of cadets all progress CLF2 / CLF3 / CLF 5 & then transfer the rifles to another group, there would be the need for an unusually high number of L98A2s to be drawn. It is also necessary to take into account that all the required / qualified DS (& cadets) are available on the (same) planned day.
Looking at the various CLF exercises (I assume as itās not stated, that all / most firers would be first time on the L98A2, or have not achieved Blue award), then even being generous on pass rates, it would be necessary to allow up to 3 details per cadet in order to pass the CLF2 / CLF3 / CLF 5 exercises. I would say that from experience, at least 50% of cadets do not pass each exercise on the first attempt; even they pass one CLF first time, they do not necessarily pass the others first time. Itās bad enough running a 6 lane range with all the variables!
On a typical barrack range with a maximum of 10 firing points (& that is a large range compared to some), the planning for the details would not work; I donāt think that they would be possible on a larger range either. Moreover, I doubt if they take into account typical range order timings / OME move limitations - some armouries need wpns back to the armoury by say 1600-1600 = stop firing at 1500-1530 to allow wpn cleaning. This of course ignores external OME transfer time to another location - which would be a requirement if using a gallery range rather than one on a stn.
Iām all for sharing the load (our wg is coordinating āsharedā events for 2026) but I donāt really see, taking all the known factors into account, how this proposal would be feasible.
Where is this strategy doc hosted?
Iām yet to find a long range (Gallery / ETR) that doesnāt allow for CQM with engagement from 75m-3m using Stick In targets.
In 12 years as an RCO, Iāve never had a range booking cancelled at short notice, in 2025 Iāve run 5 ranges successfully with allocation coming in days of bid. So Iām afraid I will call this out as a Myth.
This is a regional plan, so we arenāt suggesting getting 10-15% of a wing to one location, I have a shoot happening this weekend that had 75 bids from 1 Wing, so to get to 150 from 6 Wings isnāt impossible.
Again this is a regional plan, so you have DS from 6 wings, as @Tornado said there was 3 wings running 4 ranges at 2 locations on the same day, so the staffing is available to deliver.
Why are you running at 1:1 for first time firers, this will be set within your risk assessment, but do you find that 1st time firers are more likely to have challenges or do you not trust our supervisors to effectively provide supervision to 2 (or more) firers?
If your waiting firers are coaching those firing as the concurrent activity, on a 16 lane range that is 32 troops actively engaged in activity, if you have a 3rd detail who are having a rest you only need shelter for 16 troops, thatās 48 troops on 1 range, so only need 2.2 more ranges of the same size to deliver the 154
I have so many questionsā¦ IWT on the L98 is 2 whole days (longer than a range day) so Iām unsure how you could be delivering this. We draw weapons from our parent station and deliver training at various locations using both L98s + L103s
Agreed you would need to draw a high number of rifles, much as I would for a FT / Shooting Camp or even delivering IWT en masse, limited by instructors rather than weapons.
I donāt see how this is a problem, assuming your objective is for cadets to progress through the syallbus, even if the cadet only passes CLF 2 they have progressed, they also obtain the Blue Shot badge at the same time.
Donāt forget you can run CLF 2,3 & 5 concurrently on the same range, all 3 are grouping at 25m and this allows you to maximise the range. I never want to see a lane unused if we have the sufficient staff to operate it safely. On an ETR you can run 6,9 & 12 concurrently as well.
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Itās been shared within the LaSER Military Skills Team on MS Teams, and emailed to all LaSER Personnel as well as being available to access on the Military Skills SharePoint Site - LaSER Military Skills Strategy
Worked example I have bid for the following facilities at a single range complex:
- 3 x Barrack Range (18 Lanes total)
- 2 x Converted Gallery (24 Lanes total)
So this gives a total of 42 lanes, although for Short Range shooting you lose lanes 1 & 12 on the CGR, so this gives 38 lanes to deliver GP 2 + 3 + 5.
To deliver 154 places you need 4 details per Ranges.
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We have had at least one long range that I remember (last 2 - 3 yrs) cancelled due to operational requirements & I think last yr, one self-cancelled due to terrible weather. Not sure if the weather one would have permitted barrack range firing though, it was rather wet! However, weather is definitely more of a factor for a gallery range.
Not at all - if all āxā firers are first time firers with āxā lanes to run, then you need āxā safety supervisors.
Surely, only if qualified to coach? Considering the experience levels, not likely?
Correct - over 2 consecutive wg shoots. Actioned this way by quite a few wgs I believe.
Not practical for us in terms of locations / distances.
The stated aim (pardon the pun) of the suggested process (āMeeting our Targetsā) would be for all cadets to achieve Bronze in one day if possible?
Yes - but a large numbers of fires completing different CLFs across a range adds to the supervisory aspects. There is also a potential time penalty of doing CLF5 along other CLFs - if cadets need several attempts to get their 3 round group in the right place, then having someone on CLF 2 or CLF3 firing 20 rds isnāt best use of range time.
Are you assuming completion of each CLF on only one detail? As I outlined previously, I would envisage up to 50% fail on the first attempt, possibly more on CLF5.
Iāve got a shoot this weekend, my Risk Assessment is for inexperienced firers to be supervised at a ratio of 1:2, thus to run 10 lanes I need 5 safety supervisors.
Anyone who has previously fired and received coaching themselves has experience that they can share. I actually find this can assist with re-enforcing the marksmanship principles. Cadets coaching cadets is the best solution and delivers great results.
They might need support from more senior / experienced persons, but lets not forget that the majority of Safety Supervisors have not undertaken a coaching course, back in the dark days I did a BCC as a 16 year old.
Most ranges open 30 mins prior to firing and close 30 mins later, if firing times are 0900 - 1545 this gives you 0830 - 1615, which is less than 16 hours including breaks and lunch. Each lessons is 2 x 40 min periods, so a total of 12 hours before considering time for practice periods and WHTs.
I have my doubts, but until I see it in action wonāt comment further.
Blue Days are designed to achieve Blue Shot (Target is 50%)
Bronze Days are designed to go from Blue Shot > Bronze Shot (Target is 25%)
If I only have 4 cadets that need CLF 2/3 why not put 2 cadets on lanes 5 & 6 to shoot CLF 5? Surely this is better than having 2 lanes doing nothing at all.
I tend to see perhaps a 80% 1st time pass of CLF 2, maybe even higher, CLF 5 does take multiple attempts but this comes down to teaching the application of marksmanship principles and successful grouping in the earlier lessons.
For me this is key, the range is a classroom and each CLF has an aim, this are Cadet Life Fire Lessons, not do some shooting and hope you meet a standard.
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Thatās standard - first time firers L98A2 is specified as 1:1. Hence those starting at Blue will invariably need that higher ratio. The LaSER suggestion is 28 DS for a Bronze day; subtract at least 4 for essential roles (RCO, Ammo, Stats & 1st aid) = 24. Thereās your maximum number of first time firers on one range (assuming all qualified to safety supervise); if the use of multi-ranges is feasible, then the number of DS used for essential roles increases of course.
I would qualify that to only apply to experienced cadets. However, itās another person on / near the FP requiring supervision. For AR (not the primary topic here), thereās no real room if using plinths (as we do).
I donāt see that as best use of range time. If a cadet has qualād to CLF3, then they should be comfortable with their rifle & overall principles of marksmanship. Unless you give them a ārefreshā CLF 2 on a Blue to Bronze day, then their chances of passing CLF5 cold arenāt so good. Less time / less ammo to go all the way through from Blue to Bronze in a day.
The cadets firing CLF5 will only be firing 9 rds (or even 3) compared to 20 = not the most efficient use of range time - but if no other cadets available for CLF2 or 3, then so be it.
Yes - but for CLFs 2 & 3, they have 2 bites of the cherry to achieve the required group size - they might mess up one element but still pass. For CLF5, I stress to them that one bad shot will ruin their 9 (or 3) rd group = fail to achieve the standard, have another go. Even cadets who remember the principles of marksmanship can fire a bum shot. For best use of range time, I think the ideal is to get as many cadets as possible to pass the 9 shot group standard, & hold off shooting the 3 round grouping until at least a full detail is available. However, several ways to skin that cat!
Thatās not the case, historically it was however policy has evolved since then and itās to be determined by the Planning Officer in consultation with the Senior Planning Officer as part of the planning process.
Itās not my plan so I canāt comment further, Iām always looking to maximise progression with the available resources. When I have cadets with a CLF 3 pass I might not allocate them to a Short Range but use a Long Range to complete CLF 5 before progressing to CLF 9 and beyond.
Do you have the chapter and verse for that?
Notwithstanding the CTR document, Iāve always gone with the details as specified in our wg RSD template (which is always updated with any associated revision). Iāll check with our Wg Shoot O.
A nice luxury to be able to have.
As an SPOā¦ thereās only one template.
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I really hope the Wing RSD Template - which scares me immediately - matches CTR. If not, youāre outside the safe system of training before even getting on a range.
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Yes it does. We have always been notified of revisions.
The demand is still super high, 4.5 bids per available place for our wing IWT in the new year.
Of the units that shared, 18% of the cadets on SMS bid 
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2026/27 Courses have now been loaded onto the Shooting Portal
If you are interested in a course, apply soon rather than later, although I think priority is given in-region, with top up for out of region at the 6 week stage - this might vary SATT to SATT
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