SAN DIEGO -- The saying goes ‘Practice makes perfect,’ and through repition and reiteration, actions soon become second nature.
Recruits of India Company, 3rd Recruit Training Battalion, spent time doing just that when they learned the fundamentals of weapons during Grass Week at Edson Range, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., Jan. 20.
Grass Week is the part of recruit training when recruits learn the basics of marksmanship and functions of the rifle, such as how to load, unload and fire the M16-A4 Service Rifle.
“Prior to recruit training, some recruits had the opportunity to shoot a weapon and some haven’t,” said Sgt. Misael Morales, drill instructor. "Many who have shot a weapon before come to recruit training with bad marksmanship fundamentals. “Grass week gets rid of bad habits that recruits have learned in the past and creates the good habits,” he added.
Each platoon within the company was assigned a primary marksmanship instructor and given instruction on proper usage and operation of the weapon before the recruits qualify at Edson Range the following week.
Throughout Grass Week, PMIs teach recruits trigger control, sight picture, breathing control, sight alignment and natural point of aim. These basic fundamentals pave the way for recruits to become proficient and leave the range as marksmen, sharpshooters or experts.
Each platoon had an outdoor classroom and area to conduct practical application. There are four primary positions recruits shoot in while at recruit training: standing, kneeling, sitting and prone. The recruits are given time to snap in, or time to practice the different position and fundamentals they were taught. During this time, recruits spend hours aiming at barrels with targets painted on them that simulate what the targets look like from different yard lines.
“I’ve never shot a rifle before,” said Recruit Timothy M. Saber. “So har Grass Week has helped me get as comfortable as possible with the positions and the basic functions of the rifle.”
Like any machine, there is a possibility that a weapon could malfunction while at the range. To correct those issues, PMIs taught recruits remedial action, which is the method used to get the rifle firing properly.
With the basic marksmanship fundamentals in hand, recruits of Company I will move on to Firing Week when they wil put what they learned to use and qualify with the M16-A4 Service Rifle.
“Every Marine a rifleman,” said Morales. “In order to produce a quality marksman, you need to give them a good baseline that they can fine tune later.”