Right Handed, LEFT eye dominant. Can you still enlist?

[akjunkie]

My son's right handed but left eye dominant.
Can he still enlist in the military?
Wondering how he can pass bootcamp if he cant qualifiy with a rifle?

[tnlrat37]

I had a couple friends I served with that had that issue, they were actually good shots too. If possible it would be good to get some instruction beforehand. The USMC has a manual that teaches Marksmanship instructors these things, look through here https://www.trngcmd.marines.mil/Port...RP%203-01A.pdf

Basically says this

d. Shooting Adjustment. Marines who are cross-eye dominant, meaning they are use their non-dominant eye behind the optic, will experience a shift in point of impact when shooting using both eyes open. The amount of shift will be based on the disparity between the dominant and non-dominant eye. If you cannot shoot using the dominant eye behind the optic, keep your dominant eye closed. The downside to this approach is a loss of peripheral vision.

I had to learn to shoot with both eyes open anyway when I got my first ACOG, using the BAC (both eyes open).

[Zamble]

I am left handed, left eye dominate. I had never shot a rifle before I went in the Army. I am still left eye, left hand dominate for handguns. But they taught me right hand rifle shooting. That’s how I shoot still today, pistol left hand/rifle right hand.
But if he cannot qualify, they will try to remediate that cycle. If he fails, if they don’t wash him out, they will try to recycle him from the beginning with the next class coming through. If he fails then, it is highly likely he will wash out.

What MOS is he going in for?

[kingransom]

Who cares if he can shoot, as long as he's tranny or queer he's good to go

[tozan]

My son was right eye dominate and left handed he started shooting right handed in the Army and does just fine.

[Steelplate45]

But shot M-14 and M-16 and M-60 Left Handed. Was Platoon High Rifle, and later Range High Rifle. Today shoot Action Pistol and 3 Gun competition. My opinion is your Son should shoot what side he is comfortable with. The only thing I struggle with is Trap, but even that has been improving lately. The brain adapts to the situation and training it is presented.

[ldsnet]

Absolutely he can still enlist! I know a number of people in the service that are opposite eye dominant. Not a big deal; they will help him figure out what is the best way to shoot with a particular weapon system (some will shoot right handed and adjust to left eye, some will just shoot left handed, or better yet, he learns to shoot with both eyes open).

[guncollector]

I was watching one of Larry Vicker's firearms reviews, and he mentioned in it that he too is Left Eye dominant but Right handed.

His solution, he shoots pistol Left-handed, and rifle Right-handed.

I too have this cross-dominance, but trained to shoot everything Right-handed. I am starting to shoot rifle off the left-shoulder. I think its too late to retrain and re-equip for left handed pistol shooting...

[CartridgeCalls]

He will just have to shoot with both eyes open. It's an easy task.

[happyvirus]

Originally Posted by CartridgeCalls

He will just have to shoot with both eyes open. It's an easy task.

This. I was left eye/right hand. I still shot 38/40 regularly.

[akjunkie]

For those saying shoot with both eyes open. You are referring to when he is using an ACOG / Aimpoint / Eotech.

I have a M16a2 clone. My son cant see the irons with his right eye. And if he tilts his head right to use his left eye then he has no proper check weld.

I know the military is all using Optics now. Just wondering how he suppose to shoot if he had to go BUIS?

[CheapBloke]

Do they issue optics in basic nowadays?

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[223556]

I’m right handed left eye dominant and I shoot fine. Usually both eyes open though.

[Zamble]

Have you tried putting a patch over his left eye when he is shooting? Maybe help focus his right eye???

[akjunkie]

Originally Posted by 223556

I’m right handed left eye dominant and I shoot fine. Usually both eyes open though.

With Iron sight?

[akjunkie]

Originally Posted by Zamble

Have you tried putting a patch over his left eye when he is shooting? Maybe help focus his right eye???

I will give this a try.

[maggie06]

I’m left eye dominate shoot right handed. Missed expert by 1 point in boot, and to this day I blame a broken bolt during qual. It either threw my dope off or my confidence. At least that’s what I tell myself.

Anyway, it can be done.

Ps, didn’t even know I was cross dominant till long after.

[hermosabeach]

Many of us shoot both right and left handed.

Adapt

Learn a new skill

Hopefully he gets a skill

If he needs to shoot the 155 is pretty effective.

[operavoice]

I was cross dominant, never knew it.
Adapted in the military, never went back.
That being said, I am left handed, right eye dominant, so it was easier to adapt to a right handed shooting platform.

The brain can handle it, but I'd definitely start practicing now if I were him.

[Unit74]

12 years worth in the Corps for me and I’m left eye dom, right handed. Expert in the rifle and pistol every time. Sounds like a non-issue.

[akjunkie]

Thanks for everyone responses.

[RangerRoy]

Eye and muscle coordination is a learned physical attribute. He can start training now to incorporate coordination of both. I have right hand dominance with left eye dominance. I qualified with the m16A2 with an Expert badge with nothing but iron sights as well as the 1911 and m9 when we transitioned. I even qualified with the M47 Dragon although the tracking sight is designed for right eye dominant shooters. As a squad leader and even when I was a team leader, I still qualified with my M203 with left eye dominance. It can be done especially that you know he wants to join. Not every MOS puts the same relevance and emphasis on marksmanship and the pride of having an expert marksmanship badge. But if he is planning to be in a combat MOS, marksmanship skill is elevated with high regards.

[tokuno]

Doubt that'll be an issue. My daughter is right/left E4 (Marines) with expert rifle & pistol. Iirc, they were ok with her shooting left, but that creates its own problems . . . she carries a neck burn scar :-)
She shoots right now.

[GlassJax]

I’m left-eye/right-hand dominate

I shoot rifles left-handed and pistols right-handed, typically using a weaver stance and bring the pistol across to aim with my left eye

The worst thing is when shooting rifles left-handed at the range, the guy to your left sends hot brass at your face/down the back of your blouse

Did 22 years in the Marines and never had a problem with qualing

[sharpandpointy]

I went to basic about a year ago. The worst part for me was having to do all the drill and ceremony on some of the worst cared for M-4A1's I've ever seen. Basic was a breeze (but I was "old") and rifle quals were probably the easiest part of the training.

[Unit74]

Originally Posted by sharpandpointy

I went to basic about a year ago. The worst part for me was having to do all the drill and ceremony on some of the worst cared for M-4A1's I've ever seen. Basic was a breeze (but I was "old") and rifle quals were probably the easiest part of the training.

A4s? Optics on them too? We had M16 A2s on iron sights.

[anthonyca]

I was in the Army and never even knew there was a such thing about dominant eye. I learned about that years after getting out of the Army by reading calguns and doing the make a triangle with your hands, pick a spot such as a light switch 20 feet away and bring both hands to your face and they will go to your dominant eye. I found out I'm rigjt handed and left eye dominant.

[CheapBloke]

Originally Posted by anthonyca

I was in the Army and never even knew there was a such thing about dominant eye. I learned about that years after getting out of the Army by reading calguns and doing the make a triangle with your hands, pick a spot such as a light switch 20 feet away and bring both hands to your face and they will go to your dominant eye. I found out I'm rigjt handed and left eye dominant.

Possibly MOS has something to do with how weapons training is done in military?

When I was in, we were taught to "find" our dominant eye the first time we went out to shoot M16s in Basic. But then I was Infantry, about 2+ decades ago.

But then again, you could of served a lot further back and maybe they didn't do it way back when.

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[sharpandpointy]

Originally Posted by Unit74

A4s? Optics on them too? We had M16 A2s on iron sights.

No. We never even saw M-16s of any size of shape. I think I looked at a SAW one time and a 240 only during the NIC.

We had Aimpoint Comp-4s for our M4-A1s. Half of them used to be regular M4s but has the burst mechanism removed and were restamped to the A1 variants.

[anthonyca]

Originally Posted by CheapBloke

Possibly MOS has something to do with how weapons training is done in military?

When I was in, we were taught to "find" our dominant eye the first time we went out to shoot M16s in Basic. But then I was Infantry, about 2+ decades ago.

But then again, you could of served a lot further back and maybe they didn't do it way back when.

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1996 Fort Jackson. Clinton was too worried about pussifying the Army with broads than training.

[Sydwaiz]

Give him some women's panties to wear on his head.

[Vinnie Boombatz]

I'm right handed and left eye dominant. I close my left eye and now I'm magically right eye dominant.

Seriously though, it's that easy.

[Jaywalker]

No issues at all, as I am right handed left eye dominant, but just adapted shooting with the right eye. Time and training will help him overcome simple issue such as this.

[LB9]

I am right handed but left eye dominant. Never shot a firearm before going to boot camp. I couldn't hit the target when shooting right handed. PMI at USMC boot camp told me to try shooting left handed and once I did it I never went back to shooting right handed. Felt natural as soon as I switched.

[NorCalRT]

You can either learn to shoot with your dominant side, or just simply squint the dominant eye and you are gtg.