Page 85 - RADC Bulletin 2021

DENTAL CENTRE
Weapons Familiarisation Day
Cpl E Romain
Another team bonding day was planned
for all Military Staff at PCMF Brunei. This was going to be an interesting one! Being based with an infantry unit always brings its benefits, one of which was the exciting opportunity to operate many different weapon systems. One of the units were carrying out a 6 weeks weapons cadre so we thought we would ask if the military dental staff could have the opportunity to take part in an element of this training. Our request was kindly accepted, the OC of the Company offered us a morning of Weapons Familiarisation. We would get the rare opportunity to live fire the General-Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG) and Sharpshooter
and also get weapon handling training on the HMG (heavy machine gun), the Sniper Rifle and 50 Cal Long Gun. A team of 2 Dental (Maj Porter and myself) and
6 Medical personnel were selected to complete this team bonding activity.
We arrived at the Tutong Range at 0900 where we were welcomed onto the range by the Range Control Officer. There were stands set up for us with the different weapon systems. We would move through the stands to receive detailed information about each weapon, have a demonstration on the safety aspects and different parts of the weapon, be shown how to dismantle and clean it and finally how to safely operate the weapon.
We would then get the chance to handle (play around with) the weapons ourselves. After we had completed all the stalls, we were taken to the live firing range to let off a couple of rounds with the Sharpshooter and the GPMG, under controlled supervision of course.
As someone who doesn’t usually fire these weapons, you’d be able to imagine how adrenaline pumping the shooting would be. After a couple of small exercises and a best shot competition, which surprisingly was won by the Dentist, we had to wrap
up and head back. Another great and rare experience to be had in British Forces Brunei.
RADC BULLETIN 2021 83