agree with Osmanlitorunu
During my service a sidearm was the only secondary weapon majority of the times, next to the primary weapon PSG-90 (L96A1 AW) or AG 90( Barrett M82A1), but we had extensive training on the shooting range with assault rifle Ak 5 (FNC 80, CGA5) .
However I should add that there where endurance and stamina exersizes where we carried both an AK5 assault rifle and a PSG-90 sniper rifle, as there clearly are many real war scenarios where you would need to bring an assault rifle just in case you are exposed behind enemy lines with friendly support far away to assist with any support.(but never an assault rifle together with AG-90 as it weighs 15,3 kilograms empty, that and a fairly heavy backpack is more than enough in rugged swedish forrest semi-mountainous terrain with snow up to your weistline most of the time)
It wasn't long time ago an american ex-sniper I talked to online who was experienced from both Iraq and Afghanistan who said that many of his missions where he was far away from friendly support required him to carry an assault rifle as secondary weapon, especially missions in dense urban areas where he had to go alone without a spotter due to the higher risk to be noticed by suspicious civilians who would give them away. Anyways he said that many snipers including him had a habit of bringing the assault rifle even when it was not a requirement and it wasn't completely useless, on the contrary there where several incidents where he benefited from the assault rifle due to unexpected events.
I guess it all depends where the war is taking place, what type of war against what type of enemy, but generally in every war there are sniper missions in which assault rifles as secondary weapons could come in handy and probably save your life.
@Osmanlitorunu
Vart gjorde du värnplikten?
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