When I left the Marines in 2014 (Amtracks), I joined the Army. I went to a pretty chill unit as a cargo handler (88H). Things were easy. Until the unit received brand new, still in the packaging M2A1s.

I had never seen pre-fixed head space and timing and quick change barrels. It was like a myth to me coming from AAVs.

Anyways, the unit heads all knew I had 4yrs of UGWS training and experience in which none of them had any. They decide to make me, E-4 schmuckately, the instructor and range officer for an upcoming range day and told me to teach the entire unit of like 300 soldiers how to use the 50 and observe all safety regulations on range day.

Well I didn’t disappoint but I sure had to get a good understanding of the changes to the new A1. It was pretty cool. But when we went to the range, I ended up having to teach and monitor not only my guys but also some random ass colonels and captains who came that day and wanted to shoot. I was not ready for that and ended up yelling at a captain when he pulled the fixed elevation mount off so he could free aim and fire as he ended up dropping the barrel in the dirt and setting off a few rounds right in front of us all. Literally none of the 300 soldiers had ever shot a 50cal.

After this absolutely abysmal and stress inducing day, I avoided everyone like the plague for the next 4yrs.

However, it was momentarily nice to be somewhat recognized as an expert in something. No one got hurt that day either under my watch.