The Post or Camp Commander usually exercises supervisory control over the firing, while the Range Officer works out the details, allotting targets to organizations or individuals, specifying the hours for practice, assigning markers and scorers to organizations, etc. Each day, before the completion of the firing, preparation should be made for the firing the following day. The following is a good plan: Ask the Post or Camp Commander to direct that company commanders notify you each day, say prior to 5 o'clock p. m., of the ranges and classes of fire they desire the following day. If you have time, it is suggested that you go along the firing line toward the close of the firing and take notes of the information concerning the next day's needs. Then on slips which you may get the adjutant to print or mimeograph for you, make up the schedule for the following day, bearing in mind the greatest good to the greatest number. Each organization is given a slip as follows:1 Sept. 28, 1907 Company A.. Targets 3 and 4. Ranges 200, 300 and 500 Time-200-7:30 to 9:00 a. m. 300-9:00 to 11:30 a. m. 500—1:30 p. m. Skirmish... Non-Com. Officers from Co. B...... 1 This plan contemplates that all organizations shall fire from the same ranges at the same time. The information regarding ranges and time is furnished the range sergeant, who should report to you daily, at some designated time and place—after supper at your quarters, for instance. It is best to so assign targets that at some time or other each organization will have fired on all the different targets. A good plan to follow is to give target numbers one and two to the first company the first day, the next day targets three and four and so on. However, on ranges where the targets are sufficiently numerous to give each organization one or more targets every day, and where there is practically no difference in individual ranges, company commanders will frequently be willing to draw lots for targets for permanent assignment during the season; in such cases each company can look after its own targets and the policing of its own range under the supervision of the Range Officer and his noncommissioned officers. A saving of labor and trouble can also be made, if company commanders agree to it, by assigning noncommissioned officers as markers and scorers, etc., taking care that no two organizations exchange markers and scorers, e. g., Cos. A, B, C and D have target practice together; A can furnish markers and scorers to B, B to C, C to D and D to A. There is no more chance for collusion in such an arrangement than in the ordinary arrangement of shifting about in the assignment of markers and scorers. A company commander then knows where his markers are to come from and the markers and scorers always know to whom and where to report. This arrangement saves much time and annoyance. When only instruction practice is being had, company commanders may either come or send to you at some designated time and place and each is given his slip. Each company commander is then responsible that his pit detail goes to the proper target and puts the target in working order. (The pasting of papers on and the repairs to targets, putting up streamers, etc., is done by special duty men. Each company puts up and takes down targets and puts the disks, pasters, etc., away.) When an organization is firing record practice, two noncommissioned officers for each target-one for duty in the pit as marker and the other for duty at the firing point as scorer-should report to you from each organization, say every day after supper, for assignment to the various companies. The slips before referred to are then given to the noncommissioned officers, who are directed to report . at once with same to the company commanders to which assigned. In cases where ranges are so close that companies must all move at the same time from one distance to another, the range officer should, before the season actually begins, try to get the organization commanders together and fix upon rules that will govern in such cases; these rules should thereafter be strictly adhered to without partiality. In order that firing may cease at a given time it is necessary that the watches of all agree, or that notice be given a few minutes before firing is to cease, so that no new scores will be commenced. It should be distinctly understood, and always enforced, that the firing shall cease at the designated hour. Unless this rule is enforced, one man firing often holds up the firing of ten or more who are waiting to begin the next range. At the end of the practice season the Range Officer should have all property stored away, putting aside such articles as need repairing. Iron parts that can not be taken in should be painted. For paragraphs in the Army Regulations and the Small-Arms Firing Manual, and for War Department orders and circulars affecting Range Officers, see Supplement, Chap. XXIII. GUN PLATOON CHAPTER XXIV OFFICER IN COMMAND OF THE MACHINE- (See corresponding chapter in SUPPLEMENT for additional matter and changes, if any.) The proper performance of the duty of OFFICER IN COMMAND OF THE MACHINE-GUN PLATOON, like the proper performance of any other duty, requires work and attention to busi ness. The duties of the Officer in Command of the Machine-Gun Platoon are nowhere defined, as the whole matter is still in the experimental stage. See Supplement, Chap. XXIV, for personal equipment, etc. CHAPTER XXV THE SUMMARY COURT (See corresponding chapter in SUPPLEMENT for additional matter and changes, if any.) The author has heard of some few summary court officers who made it a rule always to give the maximum punishment. On the other hand, there are some summary court officers who are entirely too lenient. The ends of justice and the ends of discipline are better served by not running to either extreme, but by trying each case on its own individual merits and awarding in every case a punishment that will tend to prevent a repetition of the offense. While perfectly fair and just, the summary court should be firm and strict, making allowances in the case of first offenses, but showing no leniency to old offenders. As company commanders know their men better than the summary court does, and as they often know what form of punishment would answer best in individual cases, some summary courts, in certain cases, especially where noncommissioned officers are concerned, make it a practice to consult the man's company commander before passing sentence. See the forms on pages 120-1-2, usually used in connection with the Summary Court. See also, "Summary Court," page 266, and 302. CHAPTER XXVI INSPECTOR OF SMALL-ARMS PRACTICE (See corresponding chapter in SUPPLEMENT for additional matter and changes, if any.) DUTIES The proper performance of the duty of INSPECTOR OF SMALL-ARMS PRACTICE, like the proper performance of any other duty, requires work and attention to business. The duties of an Inspector of Small Arms Practice are nowhere fully and definitely specified. So far only experience and custom have accorded this office its functions. At some headquarters it is of small importance, while at others it receives considerable attention, depending on the interest taken by the officer in charge. In general, however, the work of an Inspector of Small-Arms Practice is divided into these four divisions: I General and Confidential Adviser to the Commanding General on All Questions Pertaining to the Target Practice of the Troops in the Command. This work entails the following: (a) A thorough knowledge of the Small-Arms Firing Manual and all other regulations, orders, circulars and decisions affecting small arms practice. Also a knowledge of the ballistics of the rifle and the revolver. (b) The designation of the target season, both regular and supplementary, for the whole command. This, of course, requires a knowledge of the general climatic conditions at each post, as such conditions determine the best time for practice. 2 The Chief Range Officer of the Department, Exercising Supervisory Control Over the Work of All Post Range Officers. This duty is important, and in order to be done intelligently and satisfactorily, the Inspector of Small-Arms Practice should visit every range in the Department, familiarizing himself with its construction, needs, etc. Although the Chief Quartermaster of the Department has charge of the disbursement of the annual allotment of funds appropriated for repairs to shooting galleries and target ranges, no disbursement 1 In the preparation of this chapter valuable assistance was received from Captain Hugh A. Drum, 23rd Infty. |