Does M4 Qualification require zeroing your weapon, in order to be valid?

SPC M. Yang — Wed, 11 Mar 2020 15:21:31 -0400

In short, some of my company and I re-qualified with our M4s. However was told the Zero Range was closed and must quality. Using Kentucky windage and guesstimation, we qualified at the range. Luckily I scored 1/3 of the targets, I shot again with another teammate's weapon and got decent score, however my NCO entered my original, underqualified score on DTMS. I've checked FM 3-22.9 and only seen Zeroing Procedures (Chapter 5. Section II) and Record Qualification (Chapter 6. Section III), however have not seen such specification on the what is valid and what isn't. Maybe he did in err, but this might be some useful information for others.

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Mar 11 at 2020 3:23 PM

SFC Michael Hasbun — Wed, 11 Mar 2020 15:23:30 -0400

Latest qualification is the valid one.

Response by CPL Douglas Chrysler made Mar 11 at 2020 3:48 PM

CPL Douglas Chrysler — Wed, 11 Mar 2020 15:48:29 -0400

We only were credited when we hit the target.

Response by CSM Richard StCyr made Mar 11 at 2020 4:29 PM

CSM Richard StCyr — Wed, 11 Mar 2020 16:29:02 -0400

Yes you must receive a Go on the zero for your qualification to count. Look at TC 3-20.40, Training and Qualification, Individual Weapons. This publication is part of the overarching Integrated Weapons Training Strategy (IWTS), TC 3-20.0, Also look at AR350-1.
- Table I - Preliminary Marksmanship Instruction and Evaluation (PMI&E) - Table II - Preliminary Live-Fire Simulations (PLFS) - Table III - Drills - Table IV - Basic - Table V - Practice - Table VI - Qualification Table I, PMI&E, is the hands-on and cognitive evaluation of the critical tasks necessary to safely and effectively employ the Soldier’s assigned weapon. Table II, PLFS, is a simulations-based demonstration of the Soldier’s performance in applying the shot process outlined in each individual weapon’s TC. In this environment, leaders are able to replicate live conditions while providing critical feedback for their Soldiers that will better prepare them for live-fire events. Where Table II refines firing tasks, Table III, Drills, refines and evaluates the physical manipulations learned in Table I. Tables I-III are prerequisites to live fire where the Soldier must successfully pass the Gate to Live Fire (GTLF) before progressing to live-fire tables IV-VI. The tables can be executed in any order, provided they are evaluated within six weeks for active component, or six months for Guard and Reserve components, of any of the live-fire tables. Table IV, Basic, is a live-fire condition used for basic skills training at a reduced tempo. For rifle, Soldiers must place eight of 10 consecutive rounds within the four-centimeter aiming point on the A8 zero target and then confirm their zero at 300 meters by hitting an e-type silhouette four out of five times. Finally, Soldiers are given ammunition to practice their application of holds at 100 and 200 meters before moving on to Table V. Table V, Practice, is designed to be more difficult than the qualification by purposely inducing malfunctions and increasing the engagement tempo Soldiers are required to execute. This table builds the Soldier’s confidence in the weapon, ammunition, optics, and training. Table VI, Qualification, is the Army-standard record course of fire (COF) used to determine live-fire proficiency on an assigned weapon. For all weapons found in TC 3-20.40, Soldiers receive their rating from Stage 1, but they must receive GOs on subsequent stages to be considered qualified for collective live fire or a marksmanship rating. For rifle, Table VI is broken down into four stages: - Stage I - Day Fire - Stage II - Day Fire, CBRN (chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear) - Stage III - Night Fire - Stage IV - Night Fire, CBRN