This is my rifle.
There are many like it, but this one is mine.

My rifle is my best friend. It is my life.
I must master it as I must master my life.

My rifle, without me, is useless.
Without my rifle, I am useless.
I must fire my rifle true.
I must shoot straighter than my enemy who is trying to kill me.
I must shoot him before he shoots me. I will…

My rifle and myself know that what counts in this war
is not the rounds we fire, the noise of our burst, nor the smoke we make.
We know that it is the hits that count. We will hit…

My rifle is human, even as I, because it is my life.
Thus, I will learn it as a brother.
I will learn its weaknesses, its strength, its parts, its accessories, its sight and its barrel.
I will ever guard it against the ravages of weather and damage.
I will keep my rifle clean and ready, even as I am clean and ready.
We become part of each other. We will…

Before Go