Weapon Accountability

I have been tasked with writing a 2500-word essay about the importance of accountability of my weapon. What is truly the importance of being accountable for your weapon? I've been thinking about it and i will share it with you over the next few pages. I have read the rifleman's creed, and I realize I have not been living by it properly. 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 I know that what counts in 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 sights and its barrel. I will keep my rifle clean and ready, even as I am clean and ready. We will become part of each other. We will...Before God, I swear this creed. My rifle and I are the defenders of my country. We are the masters of our enemy. We are the saviors of my life. So be it, until victory is America's and there is no enemy, but peace! After rereading the creed, I realized how much I take my rifle for granted. Without it I am very limited as to what I can accomplish in my line of work. It makes me think more of my wife, my daughter, my family, my soldier brothers and America. My weapon is everything and being accountable for it should mean everything to me. Looking at the past history of weapons as a source survival either for hunting or to destroy your opponent in face to face combat, it is very important to have a possession of one at all times. It is especially important to possess your weapon in proper working order at all times in a...