Question on Tactics

[Rhea Cole]

I once tried to "simplify" for a group the "theory"/"practice" of fire at the time of the 19th century (much of which applies very basically today albeit in very different stats, properties, etc). It turned out to be one of those monologues in a comedy club that gets only one person laughing at the back of the room who the rest of the audience decides you have paid and "planted". I put in a good amount of effort coming up with easy examples, etc. I never wasted my time again.

Oh yea. I have every sympathy for your situation. What is the polite way to say that the reason you don't get it is that you don't now enough to get it?

 

[Old Soldier]

Having once been a Skill-at-Arms instructor and an Infantry Training instructor (NOT the same thing) I found there were two ways to do it. 'By the book' - as insisted upon by the various schools - or 'in your own words'. The former was always used on inspections and assessments and the latter when no one else was watching. Most classes preferred the latter. Of course you preceded any new course of instruction by 'naming of parts' or explained new terms and actions. To ensure understanding, the classes were always quizzed until they gave the right answers. Explaining was rarely 'by the book'. For example - the book says 'Feel in the breech' (checking for any round in the breech on a No4 or SLR. However, once the breech was open (bolt open or working parts on the hold-open catch), it was always explained as "Stick your little finger in that 'ole" and demonstrated by holding up a right-hand fist but with the little finger extended (knuckles towards group) and then theatrically moving that hand to the open breech, adding "It even works at night." They never forgot.

I do appreciate that you can't always do that with a group of tourists who haven't a clue, but working along those lines does help.