Calling all Servicemen and woman
Posted: Fri Jan 11, 2013 11:04 am
Morning, all.
I’ve got a question for any and all servicemen and woman, both current and past. I’ll explain how this question came about below.
So, when you joined up, and you were first shown your service rifle, handgun, etc for the first time, were you informed of what it actually was, by designation, or by a general name? It’ll be interesting to hear, as I assume it’ll very depending on what unit and how your sergeant felt at the time.
Now, the reason for this odd question is, I was chatting to the girlfriend’s father, Bill, the other day, he’s ex-army, and I spied a picture of him where he’s in his No2 uniform and holding an L85 rifle.
This is how the conversation went:
Me: “Is that the ‘A1, or ‘A2?” (Meaning, is it the L85A1, or L85A2)
Bill: “It’s the A1”
Me: “Oh, right, that’s good, then. The A2s are good I hear”
Bill “Yeah, it’s the L1A1”
Me: “…, …, The L1A1 was the FAL rifle”
Bill: “Yeah, the L1A1”
Me: “Yes, but that rifle you have in the picture is the ‘SA80’”
Bill: “They both fall under the category of L1A1”
Me: “The L1A1 is our version of the Belgium FAL rifle, and that picture there shows an SA80 rifle, adopted as the L85”
Bill: “L85?”
Me: “Yes”
This brought up other memories, too. I remember about 7 years ago, I was working for a bank, and one of our security guards was ex-service, and he was convinced that the L1A1 rifle was a completely different rifle to his “SLR”.
Now, I’m not sticking my nose in the air, and saying “look at me”, but I just find it odd that I know more about a soldier’s rifle then they did, at least on paper. I have no doubt they could out perform me every day of the week.
I know that at the end of the day it’s just superficial information, and as long as a serviceman/woman knows how to shoot and maintain their weapon it doesn’t matter if they call their SA80 an SLR, or Frank for that matter.
I was just curious about how people who serve actually get introduced to their firearms.
I’ve got a question for any and all servicemen and woman, both current and past. I’ll explain how this question came about below.
So, when you joined up, and you were first shown your service rifle, handgun, etc for the first time, were you informed of what it actually was, by designation, or by a general name? It’ll be interesting to hear, as I assume it’ll very depending on what unit and how your sergeant felt at the time.
Now, the reason for this odd question is, I was chatting to the girlfriend’s father, Bill, the other day, he’s ex-army, and I spied a picture of him where he’s in his No2 uniform and holding an L85 rifle.
This is how the conversation went:
Me: “Is that the ‘A1, or ‘A2?” (Meaning, is it the L85A1, or L85A2)
Bill: “It’s the A1”
Me: “Oh, right, that’s good, then. The A2s are good I hear”
Bill “Yeah, it’s the L1A1”
Me: “…, …, The L1A1 was the FAL rifle”
Bill: “Yeah, the L1A1”
Me: “Yes, but that rifle you have in the picture is the ‘SA80’”
Bill: “They both fall under the category of L1A1”
Me: “The L1A1 is our version of the Belgium FAL rifle, and that picture there shows an SA80 rifle, adopted as the L85”
Bill: “L85?”
Me: “Yes”
This brought up other memories, too. I remember about 7 years ago, I was working for a bank, and one of our security guards was ex-service, and he was convinced that the L1A1 rifle was a completely different rifle to his “SLR”.
Now, I’m not sticking my nose in the air, and saying “look at me”, but I just find it odd that I know more about a soldier’s rifle then they did, at least on paper. I have no doubt they could out perform me every day of the week.
I know that at the end of the day it’s just superficial information, and as long as a serviceman/woman knows how to shoot and maintain their weapon it doesn’t matter if they call their SA80 an SLR, or Frank for that matter.
I was just curious about how people who serve actually get introduced to their firearms.
