As a general question for RCOs.
When you go to run an L98 range do you along with the weapons and rounds, draw x sets of webbing, one per cadet? Or do you expect cadets to turn up with it. Which unless you are someone who isn’t on a squadron will know is unlikely to happen.
I just bought a handful of sets of webbing for the squadron for training, testing and live firing. Wasn’t difficult. Just got on and did it.
My life is much easier when I don’t spend my time whingeing about things, and just get on and do them.
[quote=“the silverback” post=19488]Is webbing the same as an assault vest?
Can you do your WHT in as assault Vest?
What happens if Little Jonny turns up in 58 webbing not PLCE?[/quote]
Assault vests are perfectly acceptable according to regs. They are, of course, a total pain in the ■■■■ as the issue assault vests were designed for A1 magazines which were slightly thinner (and flimsier), which makes it a tight squeeze getting an A2 magazine in. You can cut out the dividers but that leaves a flimsy ammo pouch which isn’t great either.
Technically 58 should not be used but many people seem to ignore that. I ensure that none of my cadets have to experience the crapness of 58 webbing.
[quote=“juliet mike” post=19494]I can pretty much guarantee that those against webbing are WIs who have never used webbing, don’t think slings are required on the range and teach bear minimal lessons to pass the WHT. There is a safe system of training for a reason, and shooting is progressive - 25m, 100m, blank firing. Try running around for a weekend on blank exercises with your ammo in a plastic bag!
The point is, we teach them in webbing, practice them in webbing and they become skilled in using webbing for when it is really needed, which may be years after the initial training.
And if course, any CFAV without webbing for a WHT cannot run a range practice, conduct a WHT or teach a SAAI lesson.
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Its target shooting. Not combat shooting. The cadets dont need to be “skilled” in the use of it to run around blank exercise.
I shoot the same, regardless of wearing webbing or not.
Slings, meh not really important, yea its part of the “weapon system” but so is a bayonet. The only time a sling really becomes important is during speed marching or casevac drills or CQB drills, I doubt you guys use the “safety circle” and you definately dont do transition drills. Making the use of a sling, pretty obsolete just leave the weapon on the point.
If you have webbing to use, fantastic. But quite frankly its not that important. All your going to carry is mags. Its not the end of the world.
[quote=“RearAdmiralScrinson” post=19509]
Slings, meh not really important, yea its part of the “weapon system” but so is a bayonet. The only time a sling really becomes important is during speed marching or casevac drills or CQB drills, I doubt you guys use the “safety circle” and you definately dont do transition drills. Making the use of a sling, pretty obsolete just leave the weapon on the point. [/quote]
Regardless of you opinion, use of the sling is mandatory.
Bayonet is not part of the cadet weapon system, never has been
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[quote=“talon” post=19512][quote=“RearAdmiralScrinson” post=19509]
Slings, meh not really important, yea its part of the “weapon system” but so is a bayonet. The only time a sling really becomes important is during speed marching or casevac drills or CQB drills, I doubt you guys use the “safety circle” and you definately dont do transition drills. Making the use of a sling, pretty obsolete just leave the weapon on the point. [/quote]
Regardless of you opinion, use of the sling is mandatory.[/quote]
Never said it wasnt. Just an observation.
Ditto! Nobody has exploded, caught the plague, or died. In fact, lots of cadets have been shooting. And within the regulations too. And none of them have complained.
Funnily enough, when we finally kicked out our old 58 pattern webbing in 2010, it went to the corner of the local VGS hangar for the ATC to help themselves… there may still be a few sets knocking around!
The good book says to use webbing when using the L98A2 Cadet GP Rifle… So use it. I know of a forward thinking WShO who got their wing to buy 25 or so sets for SAA Training! Agreed it should be provided through the system… It isn’t so just adapt and overcome!
Remember a packet of biscuits goes a long way in getting bits from stores 
No it’s not. Not for the L98A2.
We suspect you can all guess our opinion on the use of webbing during dry training and LFMT.
I can’t be sure of your actual personal opinions but I expect you’ll toe the party line.
My opinion is that it is more hindrance than benefit for the vast majority of ACO shooting and that it degrades safety.
[quote=“Leeroy” post=19716]The good book says to use webbing when using the L98A2 Cadet GP Rifle… So use it. I know of a forward thinking WShO who got their wing to buy 25 or so sets for SAA Training! Agreed it should be provided through the system… It isn’t so just adapt and overcome!
Remember a packet of biscuits goes a long way in getting bits from stores ;-)[/quote]
What stores? What webbing? I once managed to get a single set of 58 Pattern webbing for my squadron, but that’s it.
As for buying it… I have a minibus that takes every penny we can raise.
In fact, what shooting? The ACO has successfully managed to stamp it out in these parts.
I can’t be sure of your actual personal opinions but I expect you’ll toe the party line.
My opinion is that it is more hindrance than benefit for the vast majority of ACO shooting and that it degrades safety.[/quote]
The only way it degrades safety is if the cadets are not properly trained and tested using webbing.
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No, it degrades safety because it introduces an element which makes it more awkward to carry out the necessary actions. Operations with a magazine require the firer to open and close the pouch and insert/remove magazines on several occasions during a test or a firing practice, often in the prone position. This is quite awkward to do (especially when compared to just using the floor), even for an experienced person and that has the effect of taking the firer’s attention away from the rifle. fiddling about with pouches also slows down the shooting process by a significant margin.
It may well be that the webbing we typically have access to is not properly broken in - the pouches may be misaligned to what the firer expects (they maybe aren’t quite used to them), the pouches themselves may be too stiff and hindering the insertion of magazines and the closures can only be described as fiddly. Importantly though, they provide no significant benefit to the firer, to the range staff or to the safety of the practice which justifies this additional faff and the frustration and attention drift it causes.
For a practice which involves movement, webbing is unarguably an essential bit of kit and offers tangible benefits.
For the vast majority of ACO shooting, it adds no value and constitutes an embuggerance.
Train them properly and it’s not an issue. Issue them three mags at the start of the detail, speeds up the shoot, no faffing with issuing and collecting mags.
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