An Cosantóir June 2019 www.dfmagazine.ie
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REPORT & PHOTOS BY CQMS MICHAEL BARRETT (AR), 7 INF BN RDF
O
n Saturday 27th April 2019, the sounds of the General
Purpose Machine Guns (GPMG) were to be heard firing on
the Kilbride Military Camp Range, as the Dublin based 7
Inf Bn C Company (RDF) conducted range practices and qualifica-
tions for NCOs and Privates on the Steyr rifle, USP pistol and the
7.62mm General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG).
For 10 of the Company's 2-star privates, this Range was
their initial firing of table 9, the table for first time firers of
the GPMG, they would have to achieve a passable score, a
prerequisite for their upgrading to 3 star private.
For most RDF infantry soldiers, getting to the point of
actually firing the GPMG takes place about 1 year into
their Defence Force careers. The GPMG is the second DF
weapon they must be qualified on, the Steyr rifle first.
