The weapons ranges are where live weapons fire takes place. They are located outside the main post to lessen the possibility of a stray round striking and killing a person, animal, or a grumpy cook from the chow hall. Each range is different, with terrain features, distances, and targets designed with a particular weapon in mind. On a range there are only two directions: uprange and downrange. The drill sergeants require you to keep your weapon downrange (that is pointing toward the targets and NOT the other privates), once again for the purpose of not killing anyone. Additionally, ranges usually have foxholes or bunkers, which correspond to a firing lane downrange. This way, you will aim at your targets and not at your battle buddy's targets. Do not be surprised if at first you shoot your buddy's targets down, however, possibly irritating your drill sergeant. In such a case, you would just be following in my footsteps.
The weapons trained on during Basic Training include the M16A2 Rifle, various hand grenades, the bayonet, the grenade launcher, the M60 Machine Gun, the Claymore Mine, the AT4 Anti-Tank Weapon, and your bare hands. The M16A2 Rifle, however, is the focus of the majority of range training. This also is the focus of BRM- Basic Rifle Marksmanship.
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