Army weapons qualification score levels...

[xnyer88]

Hi, all...as a Vietnam Vet who has recently retired from the 9-5 world, I am starting to look into my Military records and have a question I hope someone can answer or point me in the right directionon. I remember getting a badge somewhere along the line for my M-16 qualification, but do not remember getting one for any other weapon like the .45 or the 81mm mortar, both of which I had training on that I remember. My records show my qualification scores but I don't know if it's legit to buy the badges and add-ons if I was never presented with them that I recall and my 214 didn't list them. Also, I can't make out the level for the 81, just the score (152). My MOS was 11C4C (the second 'c' was for CBR NCO) and I was in 69-71. Sorry if this is a stupid inquiry, but I am just now getting interested in checking this stuff out, so I'm not sure where to go for info. Thanks!! John

Information

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[matthanne1]

Well, if it isn't on the DD214...and technically your score was only good for a year or your next range visit, whichever came first. I don't think anyone would holler stolen valor over a pistol qualification badge though. How many still wore/wear their driver badge? There are guys though who want to build ladders on their badges but usually they grow up by the end of their first or second enlistment.

As far as I remember, back in the early 80s I was handed the appropriate badge by my supply sgt. Later, I would go and buy it from clothing sales if needed. They had pretty much closed out the mortars, carbines, etc, so only pistol, rifle and machine gun were available. No one 'presented' it, except one time when I qual'd as expert in Berlin, and then the Bn Cdr gave me a coin instead.

In FM 23-90, the mortar score max is 100, so I don't think it was a record fire range score.

[Flying10uk]

My Grandfather never claimed his 2 service medals which he was entitled to for being an ARP Warden and very unusually* Home Guard at the same time. This was because he didn't think it worth claiming 2 cheap bits of metal for risking his life for his country. I still have his Warden's uniform which I have since added the ribbons to. The last time I tried wearing it, it fitted me perfectly about 30 years ago but probably doesn't now.

*It is unusual because an ARP Warden would have been treated as a civilian but the Home Guard would have been treated as military in the event of an invasion. A combination of the two could have resulted in be shot as a spy according to The Imperial War Museum when asked in the 1970s.

[Flying10uk]

Something else that I have of my Grandfather's from his WW2 Home Guard service is a home made club/truncheon made from a spade shaft and it is a little longer than the traditional wooden police truncheon. This came to me via my father and the end of the club has been cross drilled in several places. It has clearly had bolts or studding fitted as washer indentations are still visible in the wood. My Father was aware of the existence of this club shortly after the end of the war but never knew it to have any bolts or studding fitted in it. My Father did question my Grandfather as to the reason why this club was cross drilled in a number of places at the end. My Grandfather replied with a perfectly serious looking face which he could do even when joking that they were cooling holes to help keep the club cool when he was swinging it.

If and when I ever figure out how to use my digital camera I will post some pictures of it.

[xnyer88]

Yeah, the scores on my records don't match what I've even seen on the M16...under the section "qualification in arms" my score for Sharpshooter was 47 and all I see for the maximum score is 40, so back in the dark ages when I took basic (1969) they probably had a different scoring process. My score for Marksman on the 45 was 309...to the best of my recollection, that number would probably note the number of rounds it took me to hit the target--couldn't hit crap with the 45 LOL.

Thanks for the input!!

[Frederick303]

From FM 23-71, July 1964 which is the version of Trainfire you qualified under, you needed the following scores:

Possible: 84

Expert 51 to 84
Sharpshooter: 40 to 50
Marksman: 27 to 39

back then you fired out to 350 M with the M14 in basic, whereas when revised after 1974 the course max was reduced to 300 M with only 40 shots.

On the pistol I could not find the standard in 1969, but in 1940/41 the possible was 765 with 85 shots of which the highest value was a 9. You likely fired on that course of fire, though once again I cannot fined the actual classes of scores.

got that information out of FM 23-45

Hope that helps