PS Magazine - TB 43-PS-691
PS, The Preventative Maintenance Monthly
ISSUE 691
JUNE 2010
22
PS 691
JUN 10
23
PS 691
JUN 10
T
he MK 19 machine gun’s feed throat is often forgotten by units. That’s usually
because the feed throat is stored separately from the MK 19. But without the feed
throat, the MK 19 will suffer Fring stoppages.
Before you go to the Feld, check that you have the feed throat and that it’s in good
shape. Remember the MK 19 is considered NMC without it.
I
n the span of eight days, two Soldiers were killed in separate accidents involving
small arms. Their deaths need not have happened.
One incident occurred while a Soldier was cleaning his rifle. After reassembling it,
he performed a function check on the SEMI position, which failed. He then did the
check on BURST and the rifle discharged three rounds, killing another Soldier.
In the other incident, a Soldier cleared his shotgun without using a clearing barrel.
The shotgun discharged, striking a Soldier in her abdomen, killing her.
Unfortunately, these aren’t isolated incidents. In 2008-2009,
the Army reported 38 accidental weapon discharges that
resulted in six deaths and 33 injuries.
Don’t forget the rest of the MK 19’s BII items. The round removal tool, bore
obstruction detector and LSAT or GMD should be with you in the Feld, not sitting in
the arms room.
If you turn in the MK 19 for Reset, turn in the feed throat, too. The Reset technicians
will need the feed throat when they repair the MK 19.
T
reat every weapon as if it’s loaded.
H
andle every weapon with care.
I
dentify the target before you Fre.
N
ever point a weapon at anything you don’t intend to shoot.
K
eep the weapon on safe and your Fnger off the trigger until you intend to Fre.
During training and Sergeant’s Time, commanders and senior NCOs should stress
the importance of weapons safety and the proper procedure for clearing a weapon.
They should also stress the best source for exactly how to clear a weapon is the
weapon’s -10 TM.
Every Soldier should watch for and correct unsafe weapons handling. When it
comes to handling your weapon, remember to
THINK
.
MK 19 Machine Gun…
Don’t Forget Feed Throat
Small Arms…
Take feed throat to Feld
None of these discharges would have
happened if soldiers had remembered
these five rules, the
think
rules…
Safety
Means
T
.
H
.
i
.
N
.
K
.
!
you’re going
to
reset
to
get fixed up!
well don’t
forget my
feed throat!
they’ll
need
me,
too!
691.22-23.indd
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5/3/10
2:15:22 PM
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