Basic M4 Carbine Course - Overview

Title: Basic M4 Carbine Course Overview

Type: Lecture (No live ammunition)

Time: 1 hour (30 minutes for presentation, remaining 30 minutes for ice breaker personal introductions and students retrieving any equipment for next lesson)

Venue: Weapon Training Classroom

Students: 12

Student Equipment: None

Instructor Equipment: Coffee and donuts

Assistant Instructors (AI'S): 2 (Names)

PRELIMINARY ACTIVITIES:

Prior to arrival of students:

- Write lesson title on board.

- Set up classroom chairs (see classroom set up diagram).

- If used, load/check PowerPoint.

- Set up coffee and donuts on admin table.

On arrival of students:

- Meet students, instruct them to leave all weapons and equipment outside (in cars).

- Direct into classroom, draw attention to the No Live Ammunition sign.

- Seat.

CONDUCT OF LESSON

This course overview is for the Basic M4 Carbine Course.

Welcome & Introductions

EXPLAIN- Good morning, I am the primary instructor for this course (give name and background) and I will be assisted by (introduce the assistant instructors, who will give names and backgrounds). Unless you want to, I won't go around the class and have you do the same! Just stand and let us know your name or what you want to be called.

Objective

EXPLAIN- At the conclusion of this course, you will be a proficient user of the M4 Carbine and ready to undergo more advanced training.

Introduction

EXPLAIN- A little about the M4 Carbine. The M4 Carbine is used by many militaries, special operations and police units worldwide. It is very popular in the US civilian market as a sporting rifle and self-defense carbine. It is a versatile, rugged, and reliable weapon, easy to manipulate, accurate, and reliable. The caliber, whether 5.56mm or .223, is powerful enough to penetrate soft body armor and many other materials which might surprise you. Materials such as dry-wall, sheetrock, car door panels and most wood used in home building today, such as doors, offer no protection. It fires from the closed bolt position making it more accurate and safer than open–bolt firing submachine guns, for example.

Don't worry about all the technical details, we will teach you the stuff you need to know. It is more important to know how to work the gun than to know how the gun works! This course is designed for the basic entry level user. If you don't know anything about guns, again, don't worry, this course is just right for you. Those who do have some experience may pick up a thing or two.

In addition to having the required equipment, student must bring the right attitude. Range and classroom etiquette and discipline will be enforced for the safety and benefit of all. Any student intentionally not adhering to the rules, especially the Cardinal Safety Rules, or disregarding an instructor's directions will be asked to leave.

Ask if any questions

No Review

Classroom Set Up & Etiquette

EXPLAIN- You will notice the classroom is devoid of tables except for a couple at the back. This classroom is set up specifically for firearms training which involves a great deal of movement up and down on the part of the students and tables are an impediment to this movement. The primary instructor will designate the safe area for each lesson and that is the only area at which you may point a weapon. It is your responsibility to ensure the classroom is kept set up this way for each lesson and clean/tidy at the end of each day.

Upon arriving each morning, you will be asked to place your M4 Carbines under your chair, muzzle pointing forward. If you are not sure which way that is, don't worry, you will be shown. The lesson instructor will conduct a Safety Check of each weapon prior to the class starting. You will also be asked to show the three (3) magazines used for training. No other magazines and absolutely no live ammunition will be allowed in the classroom. This include magazines which may be in your bag on the rear student equipment table. You will be asked to declare you have not brought any live rounds into the classroom.

Due to the volume of material covered, breaks other than lunch will be at the discretion of the instructor. Expect breaks to be minimal! In a classroom properly set up this way, the propensity for coffee cups to be kicked or knocked over is high. All coffee and sticky buns will be kept on the rear table to the right as you turn and look behind you. This table is the admin table. The table to the left as you look behind, is your equipment table for bags etc. Do not keep the bag next to or under your chair, it will inevitably get in the way or trip you.

Make sure all phones are in 'airplane mode' or turned off. If your phone rings during a lesson, guess who brings the next morning's coffee? Don't be the one!

Ask if any questions

General Safety

EXPLAIN- Firearms training is inherently dangerous and the danger is increased if individuals ignore or break the rules. Safety is a paramount consideration during all firearms training, especially live fire. You will be taught the General and Cardinal Safety Rules, what they mean and how they are applied. At this point, however, it is important to set the tone and remind everyone of some common-sense rules:

• If you're not sure, ask.
• Follow instructions immediately, especially when on the range.
• Never point a firearm in jest or play around with firearms, they are not toys. Equally, do not horse around. Remain aware of your surroundings.
• Maintain control of any loaded firearm, do not leave it unattended.
• Consumption of food and drink, except water, while shooting is not recommended.
• Do not handle firearms under the influence of alcohol or drugs, including certain prescription medications.
• Wash hands with soap and cold water after a live fire range period.

Ask if any questions

Range Rules

EXPLAIN (Cover the specific range rules for the range being used.) Each live fire range will begin with a range brief specific to that range. In addition to the specific brief for the range, the following rules and practices apply:

• General and Cardinal Safety rules apply at all times when on the range.
• The primary range officer is in charge of the range and all activities associated with the range training.
• Follow all range commands immediately. If there is a contradictory command between the primary range officer and an assistant instructor, the primary range officer's instructions take precedence.
• The live fire training portion of the course is made up of Courses of Fire.
• Courses of Fire, are subdivided into any number of Stages of Fire required to meet the training objective of the Course of Fire.
• Students may be divided into two or three shooting groups or Firing Orders, depending upon class size.
• Inform the instructor if you have any medical issues which may affect training with live ammunition. This includes taking medication or sustaining an injury.
• Load magazines away from the ammunition point. Do not crowd out others from obtaining their ammunition.

Summary

EXPLAIN- As stated at the beginning, at the conclusion of this course you will be proficient in the basic use of the M4 Carbine. In order for this proficiency to be achieved safely, all must adhere to instructions and follow the rules.

Look Forward

EXPLAIN- Your next lesson is the instructor check of your equipment. You will need all the equipment you intend to use during this training, including your M4, magazines, magazine carrier and ammunition. If you have an operator's manual for the sight you will be using, bring that too.

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