Americas Army Basic Training

Basic Training:

Rifle Marksmanship:

Background:
Ah, the joys of Rifle Marksmanship. This is one of the most frustrating
training
missions in the entire game. Although easy to pass, it can be quite difficult
to master.

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Objectives:
-23 hits: Marksman (lowest level required to pass)
-30 hits: Sharpshooter
-36 hits: Expert Marksman (required for sniper training)

You begin with the drill instructor informing you of the basics of the Rifle
Marksmanship training course. You get 40 targets, and 40 bullets. You only
need to hit 23 targets to pass, although you'll want to hit more if you want
access to sniper weapons
(and who doesn't). When the instructor finishes speaking, walk over to your
right and pick up the M16A2 rifle and ammo from the table and proceed to firing
point 9 (go outside the gate and head right). Alternatively, you can just
stand there for a while and you
will be teleported over to firing point 9 with your gun.
Now you get the chance to fire 4 clips of ammo into the targets to the front
of you. Two clips will be in the standing position, and two will be in the
unsupported position (i.e. you can stand, crouch, or lay down). You must wait
until the instructor
says, "commence firing" to start shooting, or he blows his whistle and you have
to start over. Alternatively, fire only in front of you. Shooting anywhere
else (such as at the soldier in the observation tower or at the recruit to the
far right you of will result in you
starting over. Also, killing the instructor (and believe me after retrying a
few times you'll want to) will result in a lengthy stay at Ft. Leavenworth.
The first time you try and qualify, I recommend using your shots to try and hit
targets while zoomed. For the rest
of you who are just trying to qualify for Expert Marksman, I find rapidly
clicking in semi-automatic mode is quicker than burst mode in finishing the
hated practice rounds.
Now comes the tricky part: the qualifying trial. You get 20 rounds standing
and 20 lying down. Remember that you only get 40 targets, so although you
don't have to hit every one you shouldn't be too choosy. You will also need to
reload your weapon before
you qualify, so don't forget. There are two basic methods for succeeding on
the firing range, so try both and see which better fits your style.

Continuous Zoom:
As the name implies, you will be zoomed in for the entire exercise. This
allows you to react quickly and hit the target sooner (they only stay up for a
few seconds). The main downside is that your soldier's constant loud breathing
throws off your aim. However, it is still possible to shoot accurately if you
know when to fire during his
breathing cycle. You can fire accurately just after the soldier breathes in or
out (listen for the distinctive "Wheeee," and "Whoooo" sounds). Be careful,
since you only have a window of about a second to aim and fire before he
inhales/exhales again. When scanning for targets, move the scope down so that
you can see the range on the upper half of your screen. However, since your
soldier breathes regularly, you can easily time your shots to coincide with his
breathing cycle.

Snap Shot:
Snap shot refers to seeing the target, then quickly going into zoom mode and
firing. The advantage to this method over Continuous Zoom is that you don't
have to contend with the breathing problem. The main disadvantages are that
you don't have a lot of time to properly aim you shot, and if you wait too long
your soldier will start to breathe and throw off your aim. If you choose this
route, aim your rifle at the target and then use the scope to make any minor
adjustments before firing.

However you ultimately choose to shoot, using the scope is a must. Without
it, you have almost no chance of hitting faraway targets. When aiming, try and
have the black bar in the middle of the scope cover the body of the target
(where you can only see its
head). The first 20 rounds are where you will make or break your qualifying
trial (when you are standing up). Since it is more difficult to accurately hit
targets when standing, you must make sure you don't waste your misses
(remember, you can miss 4 rounds and
still qualify as an Expert Marksman). Also, if you miss a target the first
time, do not try for it again (unless you have too many missed targets
already). Some targets seem to have force fields around them that makes them
bulletproof, meaning you can waste your shots on them all day and not hit them.

Obstacle Course:

Background:
With the horrors of the rifle range behind you, you can now advance to the
next training mission. The obstacle course will introduce you to the basics of
movement in America's Army by having you maneuver around the course.

Objectives:
-Complete the obstacle course in under 1:30

Courage:
Once the instructor is finished explaining the basics of the course, move
forward and sidestep (strafe) through the mini maze, staying in the white lane
of the course. The next part of the course teaches basic jumping and crawling
skills. You must crawl, jump, and crawl again under the logs to pass this
part. Simply crouching down isn't enough; you must lie down to get under the
logs. If you find yourself unable to get into the crawling position, you may
be standing too close to an object. Take a step back and try again.

Honor:
Next comes the climbing portion. Climb up the wooden ladder and walk across
the beam. It's best to look down at the beam when walking and try and keep the
beam in a straight line in your vision. Instead of climbing down, you can
simply jump off the beam; it will save you time during your timed run of the
course.

Integrity:
You are faced with a wooden wall with handhelds. It is too big to jump over,
so obviously you must climb it. Look up and move forward when facing the wall
to climb over it.

Loyalty:
This part of the course combines you skill of climbing with your skill of
walking forward. Just climb up the ladder and walk across the planks (don't
worry, you won't fall through them). You can then either climb down the net on
the opposite side, or simply
jump down (and be treated to a sickening crunch when you hit the ground).

Respect:
In keeping with the previous theme of "you'd have to be a retard not to pass
this course," the instructors challenge you with a tube to get through. But
you'll show them! Simply crouch and walk through the tube. Now who's Mr.
Smartypants? Hmm?

Service:
You must now walk across a thin beam over a sand pit. Although easy, you
might want to fall just once to spite the instructor who has an unnatural
attraction to his "freshly raked sand pit."

Courage:
Your final obstacle consists of rows of barbed wire you must pass under. Just
lie down and crawl underneath all the barbed wire to finish the course. There,
wasn't that fun?

Now you are ready for the timed part of the course. Simply navigate the
course again under a minute thirty seconds to pass. Since the instructor
doesn't stop you at every point like he did before, this should be easy for you
(although he seems very
impressed in your ability to perform these simple tasks).

US Weapons:

Background:
Now you get to handle the fun stuff. Heavy weapons abound in this mission,
and best of all – no marksmanship test!

Objectives:
-Familiarize yourself with U.S. infantry weapons

Walk over to the M249 SAW and pick it and the ammo up by using the "action"
command (default button: E). On the firing range, you can try and hit the
tanks or (your old arch nemesis) the red targets. Once you're done spraying
the field with inaccurate fire, proceed to the next table.
You get the M203. It's like the M16, but with a grenade launcher attached.
You ought to fire off a few grenades (default button: H) because they make this
comical "boink" sound when you lob one off. And just in case you were
wondering, no you cannot shoot one at the ground and blow yourself up. You
only get practice grenades (and a good thing too if you were planning on using
them to blow yourself up).
Next come the smoke and frag grenades. Those of you who have suicidal
tendencies can rejoice in the knowledge that these are live grenades that can
kill you. However, you might want to throw a few onto the range to see what
they're like. Also,
you can "cook" a grenade by holding it in your hand, pressing the "alternate
fire button" and then throwing. Remember that the grenade only has a 5 second
fuse, and you don't want to be holding it when it goes off.
If for whatever reason you don't want to try the weapons, you don't have to.
Just walk up the stairs at the far end of the range to complete the mission.

MOUT Training:

Background:
Although MOUT sounds like the noise an agitated barnyard animal might make, it
actually stands for Military Operations in Urban Terrain. As the name implies,
you will spend the course in an urban setting (actually just a big building
with a bunch of doors) and have to differentiate between friend and foe. For
those of you who are old enough to remember, it's a lot like Hogan's Alley for
the NES.

Objectives:
-Shoot target Charlie
-Shoot target Bravo
-Shoot target Alpha
-Unlock door in dark
-Cross finish line

When you first start out, you are told that you should throw a flashbang
grenade into the room to stun your opponents, then rush into the room before
the effects wear out. Actually, all that's required of you is to shoot the
three cardboard cutouts of the terrorists (one is to your left behind some
tires, one is in the window to your right, and one is in the upper lefthand
corner). They won't fire back, so you can take your time if you choose. When
all three are shot, the door will open. Inside the next room are a doorway and
a ladder leading down. Take the ladder down and crawl through the tube
(the doorway just leads behind the window where you shot the terrorist. Turn
on your night vision goggles (default button: V) and you should see a person
behind the grate up ahead. This person is a civilian; so don't shoot him
(although you have to wonder what a
civilian is doing in a pipe). Take a right and go down the pipe. At the end
of the pipe is yet another person behind the grate, but this one is a
terrorist. Shoot him and follow the pipe out until you see a group of
terrorists (don't forget about the other terrorist in the
final pipe to the right).
Shoot the three terrorists in the room and head out the door. Continue down
the hall, shooting terrorists along the way (use your night vision goggles to
get them all). You should come to a locked door. Face the door and hold the
"use" command to pick the
lock. Head right and you should see a ladder. Climb the ladder and go through
the doorway. Shoot the terrorists and go through the doorway (by the civilian
in and yellow jacket). Follow the hall down and open the final door. Walk
outside to finish the mission. Since you have finished basic training, you are
now able to play online.

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