We complain about MILES, but the truth is, it’s a lot better than a lot of things out there. In the "old days" (before even my time, I assure you) it was a matter of shooting blanks in the direction of a soldier playing the "enemy" and a nearby "referee" would decide on-the-spot if you "got" the guy or not. The referees were frequently just people from other units brought in to observe your training and make sure everything was done properly.

Nowadays, we use MILES systems, and there are professional soldiers called "OCT's" (Observer-Controller-Trainer) who watch over things and make sure that proper rules of engagement and conduct are followed. These OCT's are typically older, more experienced Sergeants and Officers that have many years of practice in the field and help set up training scenarios to measure very specific actions and reactions. There are still ways for inaccuracies or misunderstandings to creep in, sure, but compared to the old way of "Bang! I got you!" "No you didn't!" it is pretty accurate.

Like the authentic "Middle East" training so far? I know I was impressed by it. And for the gear guys, yeah, in “Another Country” I gave Corporal Durkha and PFC Shootman extended-magazine SKS’s, because… well, just because.