Starting from the deputy company commander of the Soldier Assault Team

Gao Cheng and Zhang Anbang leaned against the jeep, watching the new recruits excitedly receive their bullets. Each person received five bullets, and the entire squad didn't even have enough for two magazines, which was pitifully few.

However, this is normal. Although we attach great importance to this live-fire exercise, it is the first time after all, so we let the new recruits have a shooting experience and combine their daily practice of holding the gun and aiming with the actual shooting.

Combining theory with practice is the fastest way to make progress.

Seeing the excited expressions on the recruits' faces, Gao Cheng stared at Zhang Anbang with a look of amusement and asked, "Xiao Qi, how was your first live-fire exercise?"

Zhang Anbang was speechless. He knew this guy wasn't up to anything. Anyone with a brain could tell what he looked like when he first joined the company—skinny arms and legs. If you went back four years, you'd know what he looked like when he first enrolled.

However, Zhang Anbang had no intention of hiding anything, as there was nothing shameful about it.

"I am a national defense student, which is a bit different from you military academy students. Back then, we started school a month earlier than ordinary students and underwent military training at the military base."

Near the end, there was a live-fire exercise, but I was too weak at the time. I only hit the bullseye out of ten shots, which was very embarrassing. My shoulder ached for a long time afterward.

Although Zhang Anbang didn't think the previous incident was shameful, since it was done by his predecessor, he was still too embarrassed to say it. Four out of ten bullets missed the target, so he just made up a story that he got a perfect score of 40 out of 10.

Gao Cheng nodded. "Yes, indeed. When you first joined the army, you looked malnourished. And that was a few years ago. You were still able to hit the 40-ring with your thin frame. You're quite good."

After acknowledging Zhang Anbang's background, Gao Cheng went to the regimental headquarters to see his information and naturally knew Zhang Anbang's origins. Several months later, he still remembered the shock he felt when he saw the information.

The whole family was loyal and devoted to their country, and only one orphan was left, yet he still managed to pay off all the debts. Gao Cheng even felt that he himself might not have been able to do it.

"What do you think the new recruits' shooting performance will be like?" Gao Cheng asked, looking at the row of recruits lying on their shooting positions.

"What's wrong, Company Commander? This isn't like you. You're worried about your soldiers not performing well?" Zhang Anbang asked curiously.

"That's different. If it were the soldiers of the Seventh Company, I wouldn't be worried, but this is my first time leading a new recruit company, so I'm definitely not that confident."

Gao Cheng and Zhang Anbang are now very close and can talk about anything. He had never said anything like this, which sounds like he was admitting defeat, to anyone before.

Zhang Anbang thought it made sense. Gao Cheng had been in military school for three years, served as a platoon leader for one year, and as a company commander for a little over a year. Leading a company of new recruits was truly a first for him.

It just so happens that Shi Jin still has more than a year left before the end of his third term. Combined with the plan given by Zhang Anbang, the training results of the recruit company are also closely related to whether Shi Jin can stay.

"Hey, platoon leader, don't worry, I think there's no problem. I saw the soldiers practicing their aiming and shooting recently, and they're doing quite well and are pretty steady. Besides, this is just their first live-fire exercise, it's just for fun."

"Alright, if it's not going well, these little brats are in for extra training. I've already prepared bricks for them."

"Hmm, very good. I think the new recruits will definitely like the bricks you prepared, Company Commander."

Zhang Anbang naturally knew what Gao Cheng meant. Hanging bricks on the muzzle of a gun originated from the wartime tradition of training soldiers using makeshift methods. During the War of Resistance Against Japan and the War of Liberation, due to the shortage of ammunition, our army and militia used makeshift methods such as hanging bricks or water bottles on the muzzle of their guns to practice the stability of their guns.

This method of training muscle memory to compensate for insufficient live ammunition is a training method born out of the urgent needs of the battlefield.

Although it is gradually being reduced in professional military training and replaced by scientific training that combines strength and balance, it is still retained in recruit induction and traditional grassroots subjects.

This method shifts the focus from practical combat needs to training willpower and basic strength, and is especially useful in recruit training. It can visually demonstrate the intensity of training and facilitates supervision by the squad leader.

"Of course, I specially had complete red bricks prepared, which shows my sincerity to them." Gao Cheng smiled. This kind of tactic can only be used in the recruit company. The Steel Seventh Company has no shortage of bullets.

"Yes, I also prepared gifts for them. Although they don't convey the same sentiment as yours, they are twice the quantity of yours."

"Hmm, you've prepared something too. What have you prepared? Tell me about it." Gao Cheng suddenly became curious.

"You'll see later. The shooting is about to begin. Let's take a look first." Zhang Anbang liked to tease Gao Cheng when he had nothing to do. This son of a military family was an impatient person, and it felt good to tease him.

Just then, a platoon leader's slogans began: "Today we will conduct a 100-meter prone precision shooting exercise with automatic rifles. Each person will fire 5 rounds, one shot at a time, to be completed within 3 minutes. A score of 30 rings is required to pass."

Pointing guns at people is strictly prohibited. Unauthorized loading and firing are strictly prohibited. Possession of bullets and spent cartridges is strictly prohibited. If a gun malfunctions during firing, raise your hand to signal for help. Do not attempt to fix the problem yourself.

Each squad leader is responsible for assembling ammunition, inspecting weapons, supervising the firing of targets, reporting targets from the target trench upon receiving commands, and maintaining the perimeter of the firing range under the command of the guard team.

After a series of clear instructions were issued, and clear responses were received from the personnel in each position, the situation improved.

The platoon leader continued, "First group, advance to the firing line!"

Upon hearing the command, the new recruits entered their shooting positions in sequence according to their numbers, preparing to assume a prone position and take up their rifles.

"Shooter, take your positions! Check your weapons!"

Another order was given, and each squad leader began to check the guns of each soldier to ensure that the bolt was empty and the safety was off.

"Attention all personnel, prone position for loading!"

Upon hearing the order, the new recruits lay prone in front of their firing positions, opened the magazine wells, loaded the magazines, closed the wells, and set the recoil mechanism.

"Ready to fire!"

One by one, the recruits took aim at their rifles, adjusted their breathing, and prepared themselves according to the three points of the sight, notch, and bullseye that the squad leader had taught them to align. However, judging from the slightly trembling bodies of most of the recruits, they were either excited or a little nervous.

"Disengage the safety and begin firing!"

After the platoon leader gave the order to fire, the new recruits excitedly began to fire. Some remembered the squad leader's order to fire single shots, while others, in their excitement, fired all at once.

Some new recruits, after firing one or two shots, felt their shoulders ache from the recoil because the rifle butt wasn't properly against their shoulder sockets. Under the sergeant's reprimands, they hesitated and continued firing.

Three minutes passed quickly.

A platoon leader's command rang out, "Cease fire! Unload your ammunition! Stand up!"

The recruits followed orders to unload magazines, pull the bolt, eject the bullets, and inspect their weapons. The squad leader then began to check each recruit's magazine for empty chambers. As expected, some recruits failed to fire five rounds.

"Proceed to the assembly line and take a headcount of personnel and ammunition!"

Orders were carried out in an orderly manner, live ammunition consumption was checked, and personnel roll call was completed.

"Target report from the target trench."

随着命令下达，靶壕之中报靶员依次起身，用报靶杆指向每个弹孔，高声通报环数，「1号靶31 环，2号靶26环……5号靶38环……9号靶40环……13号靶15环……17号靶脱靶……20号靶21环。」

Soon the target announcer finished reporting the ring scores for all the targets. The score sheet recording the ring scores for each target was also delivered to Gao Cheng and the platoon leader, who then informed each new recruit of their individual scores.

Gao Cheng looked at the report card and said, "Hmm, it's passable."

Zhang Anbang took the score sheet and glanced at it. "Company Commander, your requirements are a bit too high. 14% of the scores are below 25 rings, 29% are between 25 and 29 rings, 52% are between 30 and 39 rings, and 5% are between 40 and 45 rings. That's a pretty good result."

Gao Cheng pursed his lips, "Really? I think these results are just average. Compared to last year's new recruit company led by Lao Liu, the percentage of those scoring 30-39 rings has increased by five percentage points, and the percentage of those scoring 40-45 rings has increased by two percentage points."

"It's alright, really. We mobilized quite a few key members of the Seventh Steel Company this time, so this result isn't surprising."

Zhang Anbang shook his head with a wry smile. "Company Commander, it's fine if you say this to my face, but if you say it to Lao Liu's face, Lao Liu will definitely get angry. He kindly gave you the recruit training outline, and you're still criticizing him here."

Let me tell you, if this happened to me, I'd definitely give you a good beating, the kind that wouldn't be over in a couple of drinks.