Nov. 3, 2015 --
Marines are required to perform the table one and two rifle
qualifications annually, which consist of shooting from the sitting, kneeling,
prone and standing positions at targets 25 to 500 yards away. They also
practice shooting drills on static and moving targets.
To keep Marines
proficient in their marksmanship training and to focus on a combat mindset, approximately
40 Marines with Marine Barracks Washington, D.C., Headquarters and Service Company,
conducted a modified combat marksmanship program shoot at range 14, Marine Corps Base
Quantico, Va., Oct. 28, 2015.
The objective of this
training was to re-familiarize the Marines with the M16-A4 and the M4 service
rifles, said Maj. John Morgan, company commander, H&S Co.
Since not all Marines are required to handle their
weapons daily, due to their individual missions in support of the Barracks, CMP
training gives them an opportunity to refresh their marksmanship skills.
“For a few of the
Marines this was their first time on the range participating in training other
than the rifle range annual qualification,” said Capt. Patrick McConnell, system
operations officer, H&S Co. Regardless of military occupational specialty,
every Marine is a rifleman first. Those skills are the tangible ones and they
go away if you don’t exercise them. Also,
this training is about being a Marine, about getting away from the daily grind
of our jobs, and about doing more combat
training.
The first iteration of
the day was practicing pivots then engaging targets ranging from 10 to 25 yards
away, firing a combination of drills that put rounds in the head, chest and
pelvic region of the target.
The last segment of the
training exercise was an unknown distance fire, ranging from 100 to 250 meters.
This training assisted the Marines in their ability to judge the distance of
the enemy.
“I enjoyed participating in the training,” said
Lance Cpl. Marcus Allen, armorer, H&S Co.
It was nice to get away from the ceremonial atmosphere at the Barracks.
“The main focus was to get the Marines out to
do something different in a different environment and of break up the Barracks’
routine,” said Morgan. The company plans to do similar training maybe once or twice a
quarter to refresh basic Marine skills.