US Navy Recruit Training Command - Keel Yearbook (Great Lakes, IL)

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Among the many varied operations ex- pected of a ship at sea, perhaps the primary function of its existence is to he ahle to protect its country hy virtue of possessing superior firepower. But having the guns is only half of the joh . . . the other half involves providing highly trained men to operate the weapons. The Ordnance and Gunnery Division presents to the recruit a series of classes which attempt to introduce the general types of ordnance equipment utilized in the Navy. The recruit spends most of his time with his rifle. After hecoming familiar with the feel and weight of it, he is instructed in the principles ol operation. l'le learns to hold it, aim it. and lire it most clleetively. He is introduced to the various small arms he will most likely encounter during his serv- ice years, i.e.. the Carand M-l, the Brown- ing Automatic Rillc. and the Thompson Suh-Machine Gun. l'lis instruction also includes a series of lectures and demonstrations designed to familiarize him with the various types ol ammunition and how to identify one type from another. Along this same line he is provided with some practical experience in the loading and hring operation of the fl-UNHVI and the 5 f38 guns. Although the ammunition used is of the dummy type. being completely harmless. still speed, thor- oughness, and safety factors are stressed as if the crew were performing under hat- tle conditions. When the recruit leaves the Command and reports ahoard his hrst ship lor duty he is assigned to a hattle station, and more than likely that involves one of the gun crew hillets. 'l'hrough shiphoard practice at drills he hecomes increasingly prohcient at his joh, hut without the preliminary training he received while a recruit. the period of learning this jolm would he in- creased and the eliicicncy of shiphoard op- eration impaired. ln keeping with the highest scholastic standards of the Navy, the recruit has hcen exposed to a course of study in which the most modern teaching techniques and train- ing aids were employed. He has seen movies, charts and slides. He has seen the actual guns and ammunition and he has had the opportunity to apply this knowledge in the actual loading and hring drills. He has gained the confidence and pride that accompanies mastery of a particular task and we too share in his pride. Wcire proud to see the recruit learning to do a job well, taking his place in the ranks as one of our MEN OF THE NAVY.