Licence to Shoot: Realism in SAF Trainfire Program

I have had the good fortune of being trained in firing both the M16 as well as the SAR21 assault rifles. My full-time national service and much of my reservist service was with the M16 and most of the ATP or trainfire programmes were conducted using the M16.

During my days, if you were combat fit, you would go for the 300m range or run through the ATP or BATP or whatever they call it now to engage targets starting from different positions at 300m shooting at a figure 11 (i.e. a human sized enemy figure) down to 15m shooting at a figure 15 if I remember correctly.

The basic aim of the ATP was to familiarise and train the soldier to shoot targets effectively from distances 300m and below using varying positions. The positions included foxhole supported, prone supported etc.. As you got nearer, the target got smaller, i.e. figure 12 (half-sized enemy figure). You had 4 seconds to shoot each target before it came down and usually the sequence was to shoot the left figure, and then shoot the left figure and right figure.

It was practical and useful training in using the M16 rifle. The "rundown" component occurred in that the ATP was conducted within a stipulated timing with the targets being exposed for certain number of seconds before going down. This made you breathe a bit harder and simulated moving towards and engaging your enemy in different distances.

The one thing that I always felt was unrealistic about the ATP was the position we had to adopt to engage the target. At 15m, we had to use the "hip" position which was a position where you placed the butt of your rifle on your upper thigh while holding your left arm straight. Thus, you didn't sight through the sights of the M16 and it was a inaccurate firing stance. What irked me was that in combat, I wouldn't be using that stance as I would still raise the rifle to my face so that I could aim properly through the sight to target and fire at the enemy. At 15 or even 5m away, I could still swing the rifle up fast enough to aim and shoot him. In reality, I would throw a grenade at that distance if it were fibua and I could find some cover.

Sometimes, it's little things like this that makes you think about the realism about the trainfire program.

Nowadays, with IMT simulators, you can have quite realistic shooting without actually expending rounds. But nothing beats the smell of cordite and the sound of a 5.56mm round being fired off in the firing range.

Be safe in NS.