Come on, you know better than that. There will always be time to train with optics, (MCT). But at bootcamp? No - just no. Not for final qualifying anyway.
Those young Marines should leave MCRD believing that they can hit anything, at 500 yards, regardless of the wind, with iron sights. They should believe they are invincible with that weapon - stripped down to its barest form.
Technology breaks, fundamentals do not.
You're right, technology breaks, fundamentals do not. Do you not think it's just as much of a challenge to hit a 500m target with a red dot as it is with irons? Hint: I've done both as well, and it's no easier, if not harder as the dot's size is actually larger than the front sight post depending on what optic is being used. It can also be harder with a magnified optic, as the more recent reticle variations of the ACOG actually are combination rifle/MG reticles, and don't have a closed crosshair once you get beyond what, 300m? I'd have to go through pictures of the ACOG-ECOS I had to see, but without a closed cross for the crosshair, you start to have to hope and pray with regards to that you're actually lined up on a target/enemy.
When I first got to Regiment, we'd strip off our optics to do our qualification, having to rezero everything and the whole 9. Then the powers that be got smart, and realized that HEY we're actually, you know, going to go to war with an optic on our rifle. Perhaps we should ensure at all levels that while you can hit shit with the backups and it's sighted in, that you actually can perform with the kit that you're going to go to war with.
As far as I can recall, the only optics we ever had fail was ACOG TA-01NSN's that were mounted to 240's, and one Aimpoint after it frapped in from a M1950 case failure. The ACOG's couldn't handle the vibration amount from the MG's given how much we used them, at which point the Elcan MGO's came to fruition.
The optics in use now are arguably (Other than Eotechs, which I never liked in the first place) sturdier than iron sights anyway. They mount over more surface area on the weapon, have protected adjustment systems so they don't get knocked off zero as easily as irons, and at least with red dots still even allow you to fire accurately if the sight is occluded with mud or has the front lens damaged. What happens when an iron sight gets damaged? You're straight up fucked, you can't accurately fire if it's occluded.
Iron sights are emergency redundant sight systems on today's weapons and battlefield. It's reality. Pretty much every Iraqi, Insurgent, Taliban, Alqueda, and even UBL himself were all shot in the face or other body parts, repeatedly, with optics.
To bring things back on topic, modern GPS systems and equipment still leave much to be desired in terms of versatility and simple quick understanding at a glance when compared to map and compass. Confirmation with GPS of location is the whole reason that the mini-garmin wrist units came about, and part of why at one point I was looking into a GPS-enabled watch. I just decided to stick with my Suunto Vector because at that time, all the watch GPS'es accuracy left something to be desired, and used my shit-ass Etrex for grid confirmation if there wasn't enough visibility or terrain features to reliably terrain associated off of.
Hell, even the FBCB2 on the stryker had a topo map inherent into it. Yeah, it showed our position, but you could still look at the terrain lines in the area and be able to tell what you were going to be dealing with in the area. It made it easier in some regards when the PL did his job and input all the appropriate information, especially with a shit supply train and logistical backbone to the unit that couldn't even shit us all enough maps for TL+ to be guaranteed a map of the area we were in. I know we didn't get maps when we were in JRTC, and I had to barter with brohams in the 501st so that I had a fucking map of Ft. Richardson. We did many squad OPORD dissiminations straight off the FBCB2, making up for the lack of physical maps to be able to do things as well as time with FRAGO's to be able to terrain model and such. Initial OPORD, if we had the assets, we would run off of the usual terrain model and paper maps and such, but in the field with that crap logtrain, we made do with what we had. Adapt and overcome and all that jazz.
...I was actually embarrassed for him. Yep...50 yards...wow!
