Tell me about being a Range Safety Officer

[RPCVYemen]

I hear about people getting shot and killed at ranges a 1-2 of times a month around the country so it is a pretty rare thing.

I am surprised - I thought it was much less frequent.

Mike

 

[RPCVYemen]

If you are giving orders on their range, you probably have to be an employee, and their insurance company will probably want some kind of certification. Just a guess.

Mike

 

[TooTaxed]

I'm retired, wound up with extra time on my hands, and volunteered at Fort Benning, GA to help the troops wherever they needed it. After learning of my extensive shooting experience, the Army provided me with Range Safety Officer training and assigned me to their auxilliary range where soldiers...and outside civilians...can shoot on their own time. I've worked there three days a week for about a year.

I've found it VERY rewarding. Not only have there been no safety incidents on my watch, I've helped many overcome shooting problems of a wide range of types, including basic training, sighting in scopes, zeroing for combat, reticule use, sniping, combat pistol training, and firearms problems. I've qualified Blackwater operatives on the M4 just prior to their deployment to Afghanistan.

I wouldn't trade anything for the exceptional soldiers I've come to know. Several have even thanked me upon their return from Iraq deployments, telling me how well I had prepared them.

One young woman in the MPs fired often, overcoming problems and becoming proficient in rifle, pistol and shotgun. I told her she must really enjoy shooting to come so often. She said, "Not exactly. On my last deployment in Iraq we were escorting a convoy and were ambushed and involved in a heavy firefight. I feel that I didn't do my part. That's not going to happen again!" (Her unit just returned from another deployment.)

And there were other similar stories that I treasure...

Bottom line: Go for it! It's a good feeling to make a difference.

 

[rwc]

Talk to the folks that run your range about sponsoring an RSO course for those interested. My range does so and I was certified last year.

It came in helpful when an assigned RSO no-showed and I was able to run the range for others until another RSO showed up to shoot and we tag-teamed until we all left.

Feels good to help.