Marine Barracks, Washington, D.C.
Established in 1801, Marine Barracks Washington, is the "Oldest Post of the Corps" and has been the residence of every commandant of the Marine Corps since 1806. The selection of the site for the Barracks was a matter of personal interest to President Thomas Jefferson, who rode through Washington with Lt. Col. William Ward Burrows, the second commandant of the Marine Corps, in search of a suitable location. The site now occupied was approved due to its proximity to the Washington Navy Yard and because it was within easy marching distance of the Capitol.
8th and I
"The Oldest Post of the Corps"
Photo Information

A Marine from Headquarters and Service Company, Marine Barracks Washington, D.C., engages a target with his M-16, service rifle, during a modified combat marksmanship shoot at range 14, Marine Corps Base Quantico, Va., Oct. 28, 2015. The training helped the H&S Marines maintain proficiency on the range and reinforced perishable skills. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Skye Davis/Released)

Photo by Cpl. Skye Davis

Fall break, CMP training

3 Nov 2015 | Cpl. Skye Davis Marine Barracks

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.