Malta is renowned for British Imperial infrastructure that had long been a key in providing safety through the continuous training of troops here in the Mediterranean.
The importance of maintaining highly trained soldiers is perhaps as important now as it was then.
The recent deployment of Maltese troops on the Dutch frigate serving the role of policing the waters around Somalia's southern coast is a reminder of that. However, the infrastructure handed over to us by the British hasn't been well maintained and is not addressing current reality.
Pembroke Rifle Range had been set up at a time when sea traffic was not what it is today, therefore the safety parameters taken into consideration at the time were only appropriate then but do not reflect current challenges.
Unlike many ranges built in the same way in the UK, this rifle range lacks a backstop or dunes, which would stop the bullets after passing through the paper targets. Moreover, it is one of the few rifle ranges which has a pit line, a statement also uttered by an Italian sniper instructor during their training here in Malta (Youtube video).
Pit lines and long ranges enable certain marksmanship training which is not possible in other regions/countries, providing Maltese servicemen the chance to exploit such an opportunity. Moreover the availability of a large 900-meter rifle range in the smallest EU member state offers unparalleled possibilities for Malta. In the UK, MOD ranges are also accessible to civilians. Provided with the right infrastructure, this rifle range could serve a dual cause, making it a unique training and European competitive shooting centre in the entire Mediterranean, particularly since Malta boasts a highly regulated but advantageous Arms Act.
Malta currently only lacks the right infrastructure to enable it to lead in the competitive shooting scene. Given the EU funds available for numerous infrastructure projects, this historical place could be brought to its original grandeur while earning the country another opportunity on an international level.