Application
This unit describes the skills required to conduct battle shooting on operations with sustained fire machine guns, including but not limited to MAG 58 and 12.7 Quick Change Barrel (QCB), in the Defence Force. This is only assessed in an operational environment, for example, as a member of a direct fire support weapons platoon.
This unit applies to those working as combat arms personnel required to operate a sustained fire machine on operations in a deployed operational environment.
The skills and knowledge described in this unit must be applied within the legislative, regulatory and policy environment in which they are carried out. Organisational policies and procedures must be consulted and adhered to.
Those undertaking this unit would work under supervision, usually as part of a team and will usually operate under direct orders. They would use discretion and judgement, and take responsibility for the quality of their outputs while performing specific tasks in a broad range of unpredictable contexts.
No licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.
Elements and Performance Criteria
ELEMENTS | PERFORMANCE CRITERIA |
Elements describe the essential outcomes | Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. Where bold italicised text is used, further information is detailed in the range of conditions section. |
1. Handle a sustained fire machine gun | 1.1 Conduct weapon drills. 1.2 Adopt fire positions as required by environment and threat. 1.3 Secure ammunition. |
2. Apply fire with a sustained fire machine gun | 2.1 Employ weapon sighting systems and associated equipment as required by the operational environment. 2.2 Comply with Rules of Engagement and Orders for Opening Fire when firing a sustained fire machine gun on operations, in accordance with operational requirements. 2.3 Identify and engage targets as required by the operational environment. |
3. Maintain and stow a sustained fire machine gun | 3.1 Clean and service sustained fire machine gun and associated equipment as required by the operational conditions. 3.2 Identify and rectify defects if within limits of authority or report them to supervisor. 3.3 Complete documentation. 3.4 Secure sustained fire machine gun. |
Evidence of Performance
Evidence required to demonstrate competence must satisfy all of the requirements of the elements and performance criteria. If not otherwise specified the candidate must demonstrate evidence of performance of the following on at least one occasion.
achieving the required effects of fire
applying battle craft and fieldcraft
applying recognised safety precautions
carrying out weapon drills including:
action
checking clearances
degrees of weapon readiness
dismount
firing
immediate action and stoppage
mounting
parallel
safety precautions
scales adjustment
sight calibration
stripping and assembling
firing the weapon using, as a minimum, linked ball ammunition
applying a variety of engagement techniques including at least two of:
destruction
fixing
harassing
neutralisation
suppression
varied rates of fire
firing, as a minimum, from any unsupported position
recognising limit of own authority
Evidence of Knowledge
Evidence required to demonstrate competence must satisfy all of the requirements of the elements and performance criteria. If not otherwise specified the depth of knowledge demonstrated must be appropriate to the job context of the candidate.
battle craft
characteristics, technical capabilities, effects, employment and limitations of the sustained fire machine gun and ammunition
fieldcraft
fire control orders
WHS requirements
recognised safety precautions
weapon drills
Assessment Conditions
Competency should be assessed in a simulated workplace environment using live ammunition in a range of actual live firing contexts based on a number of realistic operational scenarios. The context of assessment is simulated due to the nature of this high risk environment.
Specific resources for assessment include access to:
sustained fire machine gun
ammunition
simulated operational environment
Assessors must satisfy the NVR/AQTF mandatory competency requirements for assessors.
Foundation Skills
The foundation skills demands of this unit have been mapped for alignment with the Australian Core Skills Framework (ACSF). The following tables outline the performance levels indicated for successful attainment of the unit.
Further information on ACSF and the foundation skills underpinning this unit can be found in the Foundation Skills Guide on the GSA website.
Competency Field
Military Skills