John Farnum has addressed the matter on a number of occasions. We have a gun paranoid military structure. An accident involving a weapon could be a career ender for a commander, which makes them paranoid, also.
Even non combat soldiers are taught how to use firearms, of course, in all military occupational specities. However, they ARE NOT taught how to actually carry and live with weapons.
At least for some troops, prior to shipping off to a war zone, the range qualification with the M16 is 40 rds, and troops don't even load their own magazines.