While the video is two minutes of things you might already know about the FN SCAR series, if you are familiar with the rifles even on a macro level, the interesting thing we are seeing is these rifle perform in a sustained armed conflict. We have a middling but contained near peer conflict that is showcasing combined arms and testing modern small arms in a real way. We are seeing less out of Russia than we have been recently but we are seeing a lot of rifles in Ukrainian hands kitted in various ways that seem familiar to us.
ARs, AKs, SCARs, Bren2s, Tavors, MS Grot, and just about any modern and near modern rifle has been shipped and equipped to Ukrainian ground troops with accessories to aid the fight. Now I’ve seen a few slick rifles too here and there, and there are certainly cases where that really isn’t a problem for the vehicle crew or troops using them as their primaries are the mechanized whatever so optics should go to infantry.
But it’s an interesting space as we see modern rifles beside slick ones that wouldn’t be considered up to date. These rifles are being used effectively both kitted and slick as long as the troops know what they’re doing. A good rifle is but a small part of the fighting equation when the fight gets beyond the individual level. Knowing your rifle is important, knowing your role in your team and squad is important, knowing it all makes and keeps you an effective fighting asset in the larger conflict.
Thinking about this on a local level for a moment. Got a good rifle and gear? Check, cool.
Know how to use them? Took some classes and did a little 2-gun or 3-gun on the regular? Awesome.
How well do you know your neighbors? How well can you take your individual and team knowledge and turn those neighbors into a cohesive community unit, one that can provide for and defend their little slice of space while havoc reigns elsewhere. Can you get them set up into an ad hoc emergency team for aid and care, protection, food and water, etc. for a mid-term or long term emergency. Weather or riot doesn’t matter nearly as much as the ability to take whatever combination of problems arise and start solving them for your group.
