SPC Harold Lewis fires his M249 Squad Automatic Weapon for qualification at Camp Atterbury, Indiana on Thursday, September 22, 2005. Over the last two days, various elements of our unit have qualified on the M16 rifle, the M249 Squad Automatic Weapon and the M9 pistol. I qualified on all three weapons.
Shooting with a gas mask on is an odd sensation. It causes me to hyperventilate, or almost hyperventilate, and my heart rate goes up into tachychardia levels. Also, I weigh about 150 pounds and the equipment we wear, without a rifle, is another 30 pounds or so, plus the water we hump. It all adds up to a backache and shoulder aches. It’s great getting old. I feel like I was beaten by midget ninjas for two days.
Photo credit: PFC Micheal Cost