Artificial Support

A reader and friend pointed this author to a social media post made by Appleseed regarding a change in USMC marksmanship training. Specifically requested was an analysis of the phrase,
Appleseed does not allow artificial support, unlike what the Marines will now start allowing.

The picture used for the post showed a person shooting from a barricade which represents cover, using the barricade to support the rifle.  Naturally, if support exists in a combat environment, one should use the support to steady the shot. It is not the opinion of this author that the statement in the post was directed at the use of the support in the picture. 

It is the estimation of this author that the statement was directed at the change in USMC doctrine away from sling use and toward the resting of the rifle on the magazine on the ground. 

If these estimations are correct, then the statement is highly problematic.  To assume the sling on the rifle is not "artificial support" and the magazine is "artificial support," is disingenuous or uneducated, at best. A rifle may be deployed in combat quite successfully without any sort of sling. However, combat without a magazine would prove exceedingly difficult. 

Make no mistake, the sling is nearly essential for the overall use of a rifle - as most of what the troops do with rifles is not combat (carrying, etc.). Use of a sling as a shooting aid is not a common practice.  As of this writing, the most recent documented use of a sling to steady position on a combat kill was during WWII.

On the other hand, documented use of magazine support is quite common from combat.  Both the Army (basic training, as well as infantry school) and USMC (infantry school) teach magazine support, and have for  years.  If the Appleseed statement is indeed referencing magazine support, then it would be quite unfortunate.

Thoughts?