Woeful

The more I think about, the more I realize how woefully inadequate the training I received in the Navy.  They decided I was 'qualified' with the pistol.

There was no safety training other than keep it pointed down range.  No classroom training about how it operated.  No cleaning or field stripping training.  Nothing on what do if it stopped running.  They didn't even tell me what that little thumb safety on the side did. 

"But T-Bolt!  You were in the Navy!  Not infantry.  And it wasn't even a combat ship!"

True.  But we pulled into various ports around the region.  A lot.  Sailors thought it was because they deserved a liberty trip ashore.  That was just a benny.  The reason?  We were a supply ship.  Underway replenishment.  Dozens of tractor trailers had to come alongside at a dock connected to shore so that WE could then zip those pallets out to a carrier group.  So watch standing on that ship at the brow was very common.  With multiple poorly trained armed sailors and officers.  What if a large crowd of locals got all uppity and jihad broke out unexpectantly?  The Cole was anchored out.  You needed a boat to attack it.  You'd just need feet to get to our boat.

Multiply my poor training conditions by all those other millions of personnel.  An NRA basic course is an order of magnitude better. 

Of course, training may be better now.  And who knows what is truly typical average training for armed watchstanders.  I suspect it is better.  I fear it is much much worse.