That in itself is a special experience. When training it was almost eerie because well... You know that you are going to get contact, that's the point. But take that element away, you hear so much and sometimes it can feel unsettling but get comfortable in what makes you unsettled and you'll find yourself pretty well prepared for a lot of things you couldn't prepare for deliberately.
Yeah, I'll combine that experience with a "first night's out" in the woods, only the thought of it makes my heart beat go up.
reply
The first time I ever "stood to" was intense, you're expecting at any moment for shots to start getting fired. Sometimes they did, sometimes not but it's a long long time to maintain that hyper awareness. It's an experience for sure.
reply
I imagine that a "hit" is much more painful too, since you simply don't see it coming, it's an even more unpleasant surprise:D
reply
You don't really take a hit as you're working with blanks in training but honestly there's a state of permanent readiness that your body kinda just adopts when your in field. Woken up by firearms? No problem, saw it coming, sods law ofcourse when you're trying to sleep is exactly when contact comes. I'm sure it's deliberate 😂. But yeah it's rare you train with any kind of projectile, unless it's accuracy based drills. We wouldn't put people in a position to accidently take a hit. And you can't really get safe projectiles that require you to go through the same reloading drills, unjamming drills etc etc, it's not really worth using something like BBs or even Rubbers, you're not training to hit something there... You're practicing field skills and weapons drills, and patrol skills/recce. You practice hitting something on a range not in the field... Usually.
reply
Yeah, sounds awesome but not my kinda lifestyle, I've joined the reserves though, that's enough military for me :D
reply
It's definitely an experience. That's for sure.
reply