Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego -- The Marine Corps is known for having one of the best marksmanship courses in the world. “The deadliest weapon in the world is a Marine and his rifle,” said Army Gen. John J. Pershing, highlighting the in-depth marksmanship training every Marine receives.
Recruits of Company I, 3rd Recruit Training Battalion, armed with marksmanship fundamentals sent rounds down range during Firing Week at Edson Range aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif. Oct. 7.
Rifle qualification is a graduation requirement. That is one reason recruits must be mentally prepared to focus on every shot and attempt to obtain the highest possible score. Relaxation is a key component not only in shooting fundamentals but also in keeping the mind focused on the target.
“If you are not relaxed you tend to revert back to your bad habits,” said Staff Sgt. Andre D. Henry, drill instructor, Platoon 3206. “If you are calm, collected and focused, you are going to think clearly; what the mind thinks it can do.”
Mental fortitude is essential as recruits must become resilient despite mistakes.
“When they miss the target, it’s hard to get them to focus on the next round,” said 29-year-old Henry, a Queens, N.Y. native. “Recruits get too caught up in those misses.”
Recruits spent the previous week dry-firing and applying the fundamentals of marksmanship. They practiced several hours a day adjusting and finding the proper firing position with the help of a Primary Marksmanship Instructor; a Marine who specializes in marksmanship. A full week was devoted to the process to help recruits get comfortable in their firing positions, allowing them to focus on the mental aspect of shooting live-fire and become proficient in every facet of marksmanship.
Some recruits have never fired a weapon before and experienced recoil for the first time. Getting accustomed to the recoil allowed them to stay focused for the most important shot they will take, the next one.
“After the first shot, there is no reason to be scared anymore,” said Recruit Timothy B. Do, Plt. 3205. “The shot is down range. It’s too late to think about it. Just revert back to your training and the next round will go where you want it to go.”
The recruits practiced firing at a known-distance course with ranges of 200, 300 and 500 yards. They also fired in different positions including the sitting, kneeling, standing and prone and at different rates such as rapid and slow fire.
At the end of Firing Week, the recruits of Co. I qualified for their first official scores. Their final scores are computed into a promotion formula. The more points obtained during qualification, the more points earned toward promotion. Staying relaxed and focused on every shot is key throughout qualification.
“Marines are riflemen first and recruits can’t be afraid of the weapon,” said Henry. “Recruits need to stay in a relaxed state of mind and know how to handle the weapon.”