Does marine corps MCT train in all weapons as an Infantryman?
Let me understand this better. All marines and soldiers receive weapons training in all military weapons (M249, M-4, M209 ect…) during basic training. Then non-infantry marines attend MCT after bootcamp to get further training in all military weapons; while non-infantry soldier’s go to their intelligence training. The weapons training received in MCT is not as ((detailed)) as the weapons training an infantryman would receive, be it marines or army; because their not grunt’s. But is this training even close to what infantrymen receive? Can somebody explain the difference in training course a non-infantry marine receives verses the training an infantryman receives.
So they basically receive the same training as an infantryman; only infantrymen’s training is longer.
Posted in military weapons
March 30th, 2011 at 3:11 am
Both MCT and ITB (Infantry Training Battalion) start out exactly the same way. Now i cant speak for how the army does thingsbut in the Marine Corps MCT and ITB start out by giving the new marine a basic knowledge of the weapons used most often in combat. During my time at MCT, I was trained on both night and day combat movement techniques while engaging the enemy with the M-16 A2 service rifle. Later that week we also were given training and practical experience on the M-240G and the M-203 Grenade Launcher (which by the way is oodles of fun), and demonstrations of the Mk 19 automatic grenade launcher, and the most perfect killing machine ever the M-2 50 cal. machine gun. The week prior to the we were given training on the proper way to throw the M-67 Fragmentation Grenade.
In addition to weapons training we were given training in both day and night land navigation, instruction in survival, basic convoy ops, patroling, room clearing, and basic combat ECP (entry control point). Now ITB is a little different. They too start out very similar to MCT but instead of one month of training, their training lasts 3 months. After the first month of basic overview they will split up and begining learning about their specific MOS in depth weather it be 0311 Rifleman, 0331 Machine Gunner, Tow Missile Gunner, Mortorman, etc. Remember, all marines no matter what the MOS is trained as a basic rifleman. Even myself as a Marine Bandsman (I’m in the Marine Band) have all the basic knowledge necessary to execute basic skills in combat if the need arises.
March 30th, 2011 at 3:11 am
First of all if your not an infantry man then you are a grunt or "pogue" you’ll learn more about that. Every soldier gets the same weapons training but, like the first poster said infantrymen get "extra" training also called advanced rifle markenship and weapons qualification. However, don’t worry when you get to your unit no matter what your MOS is you will receive training in all kinds of weapons systems.
March 30th, 2011 at 3:11 am
Pretty much what Andy sound however it the M16a4 not M16a2
March 30th, 2011 at 3:11 am
In the Army:
11 weeks of Basic Combat Training, taught by Drill Sergeants from all MOSs, for anyone except Infantry, Armor, Cavalry, Military Police, Combat Engineer, and NBC Specialist. This includes training on the M4 carbine or M16A4 rifle, M203 grenade launcher, M249 SAW, M240B medium machine gun, M67 fragmentation grenade, and M136 antitank rocket. These Soldiers will also go on to a MOS-specific school. Four platoons per company (with commander, XO, First Sergeant, supply, and armorer), and three Drill Sergeants per platoon.
17 weeks of One-Station Unit Training, for Infantry (they do not attend the BCT course), taught only by Infantry and Special Forces Drill Sergeants. This includes training on the M4 carbine or M16A4 rifle, M203 grenade launcher, M249 SAW, M240B medium machine gun, M67 fragmentation grenade, M136 antitank rocket, M2 heavy machine gun, and MK19 grenade launcher. About 1 in 10 training companies will also train with the M224 60mm mortar, M252 81mm mortar, and M120 120mm mortar. The Soldiers who do not use mortars are MOS 11B Infantryman. The Soldiers who do, are MOS 11C Indirect Fire Infantryman. Four platoons per company (with commander, XO, First Sergeant, supply, and armorer), and three Drill Sergeants per platoon. Usually about 40 recruits per platoon.
Other OSUTs vary as far as weapons. Armor will obviously learn tank cannons, Cavalry will learn Bradley "cannons", MPs learn pistols, and so on.
In the Marines:
12 weeks of Recruit Training, taught by Drill Instructors of all MOSs. Regardless of your MOS. The only weapon used here is the M16A2 rifle. Six platoons per company (with commander, XO, First Sergeant, etc) organized into Lead Series and Follow Series (3 platoons each, Series Commander is usually a First Lieutenant), and four Drill Instructors per platoon. Usually about 60 recruits per platoon.
4 weeks of Marine Combat Training, for non-Infantry MOSs, taught by Infantry instructors. This includes training on the M16A4 rifle, M203 grenade launcher, M249 SAW, M240B medium machine gun, M67 fragmentation grenade, and FGM-172B SRAW. These Marines will go to a follow-on school for their particular MOSs.
8 weeks of School of Infantry, for Infantry MOSs, taught by Infantry instructors. This includes training on the M16A4 rifle, M203 grenade launcher, M249 SAW, M240G medium machine gun, M67 fragmentation grenade, FGM-172B SRAW, M2 heavy machine gun, and MK19 grenade launcher. MOSs are 0311 Rifleman, 0331 Machine gunner, 0341 Mortar man, 0351 Anti-tank assault man.
Basically the way the Army does it, is integrating BCT and MCT for non-Infantry, and integrating BCT and SOI for Infantry. Marines keep them separate. SOI is tough, but you also get privileges (most weekends off, cellphones, etc) whereas in OSUT you will still get yelled and screamed at all the time, living in the same 40-man room, until graduation, without cell phones, time off, computers, etc. Combat training for non-Infantrymen in either service is nowhere near as intense as it is for Infantrymen. It simply just cannot compare at all.
There are several notable differences. In the Army, an Infantry platoon is made of three rifle squads (two fireteams, plus a squad leader) and a weapons squad, which contains two close combat missile teams and two medium machine gun teams. The fire team contains a Rifleman (M16A4), Automatic Rifleman (M249), Grenadier (M16A4/M203), and Team Leader (M16A4). These are all 11Bs. Each company has three platoons and one mortar section (11Cs). Each battalion has four companies (D Company is anti-armor). In a Heavy Brigade Combat Team, two of those companies are tanks. Aside from a very few special units, there is no such thing as a regiment in the Army. Don’t think of "1st Battalion, 187th Infantry" as numbers…just think of it as a label. The battalions don’t all belong to the 187th Infantry Regiment. There is no regimental headquarters, commander, staff, etc. Above battalion is Brigade Combat Team (Infantry, Stryker, or Heavy). IBCTs have two Infantry battalions, one Cavalry squadron, one Field Artillery battalion, one Brigade Support Battalion (supply, medical, maintenance, etc), and one Brigade Special Troops Battalion (MPs, Intel, Signal, etc). Four brigades per division (some brigades, especially in the National Guard, are separate and don’t belong to a division).
In the Marine Corps however, each squad has a squad leader and three fire teams: Rifleman (M16A4), Automatic Rifleman (M249), Assistant Automatic Rifleman (M16A4), Team Leader (M16A4/M203). Rather than weapons squads distributed throughout each platoon, Marines have a consolidated weapons company. They also like to do "rule of threes" for some reason. Three fire teams in three squads in three platoons in three companies (not including Weapons Company), in three battalions, etc. Regiments also exist here the way you normally think of them. Occasionally (like with 1st Marine Division) you’ll find tha