Making straight shooters on the range

10/25/2010 By Lance Cpl. Lisa M. Tourtelot , Marine Corps Air Station Miramar

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION MIRAMAR, Calif.

Cpl. Jamie O’Bannon, a combat marksmanship trainer, smiled as he remembered a corporal who hit the target only twice on her first day on the pistol range.

“I worked with her for one day and she walked away with sharpshooter, because she paid attention,” said O’Bannon.

A small section of Marines prepares the pistol and rifle ranges where Marines test their annual marksmanship qualifications, miles from mainside Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, surrounded by empty grass plains and crumbling house foundations.

The instructors, coaches and range personnel of the 3rd Marksmanship Training Unit ensure Miramar Marines maintain Corps marksmanship standards.

“Our goal is for every shooter to walk out of here an expert,” said Sgt. Brandon Lantrip, a pistol coach with 3 MTU.

With more than 200 rifle shooters and 130 pistol shooters per qualification day, that is a lofty goal.

The range coaches and combat marksmanship trainers, or “blocks,” have played a crucial role in maintaining the range’s greater than 99 percent success rate.

O’Bannon, a former police officer and pistol coach, volunteered to be a range coach, but Marines can be temporarily assigned to the 3 MTU based on the personnel needs of the range.

Potential coaches then undergo a three to four week coach’s course, depending on the size of the class, held here, where they must qualify as an expert with the rifle and at least sharpshooter with the pistol. Additionally, they must master advanced marksmanship techniques and night shooting.

Noncommissioned officers who wish to advance to combat marksmanship trainers must complete an additional course that involves public speaking and teaching techniques.

For the range staff, the reward of becoming an instructor is worth the effort.

“I like teaching and assisting Marines to become better marksmen,” said Lantrip.

“I’ve always wanted to be a [combat marksmanship trainer], since boot camp,” said O’Bannon. “It’s everything I wanted it to be.”

All Marines are required to qualify every fiscal year with the rifle, making range personnel essential to the mission of the Marine Corps.

Since most Marines do not have the advantage of spending all day, every day on the range, the coaches and blocks offered advice for Marines looking to improve their scores.

“The biggest thing shooters can do to improve their score is listen to their coaches, pay attention in classes and take [their] time,” said O’Bannon.

The isolated drive to the range might evoke a sense of desolation to the average passerby, but it has fostered something positive for its resident personnel.

“It’s the best camaraderie I’ve had since I’ve been in,” said O’Bannon.

Soon the range will be alive with hundreds of shooters sending rounds to their targets. The range staff must ensure that the rifle and pistol ranges are cleared of debris, the targets are ready and the automated target pits are working correctly.

While working to coach more expert marksmen every day, range personnel like Lantrip and O’Bannon ensure that every Marine is a rifleman.

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MARINE CORPS AIR STATION MIRAMAR, Calif.-Lance Cpl. Cole Goerlich, an airframer with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 465, lets out a deep breath and fires a well-aimed shot at the Carlos Hathcock Range here Oct. 18. Goerlich is practicing the methods and techniques taught by rifle coaches and instructors the previous week in both a classroom setting and "snapping in," carefully supervised target practice without rounds that emphasizes proper form and position., Lance Cpl. Lisa M. Tourtelot, 10/2/2009 3:50 AM
MARINE CORPS AIR STATION MIRAMAR, Calif.-Lance Cpl. Eric Goodwin, a rifle coach at the Carlos Hathcock Range here, uses a spent brass casing to adjust the sights of Lance Cpl. Cole Goerlich's weapon, an airframer with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 465 Oct. 18. Rifle coaches like Goodwin usually monitor three to four shooters at a time, helping Marines adjust their sights or positions to ensure the rounds land on target., Lance Cpl. Lisa M. Tourtelot, 10/2/2009 3:59 AM
MARINE CORPS AIR STATION MIRAMAR, Calif.-Lance Cpl. Tyler Formby, a rifle coach at the Carlos Hathcock Range here, demonstrates sighting in techniques for Marines preparing to qualify Oct. 15. Formby is one of only a handful of instructors who guide Marines in marskmanship basics for annual qualifications. The instructors use classroom basics, "snapping in" practice on target barrels and prequalification shooting to ensure Marines meet Marine Corps marksmanship standards., Lance Cpl. Lisa M. Tourtelot, 9/29/2009 3:54 AM
MARINE CORPS AIR STATION MIRAMAR, Calif.-Lance Cpl. Justin Jennings, a combat marksmanship trainer at the Carlos Hathcock Range here, observes a line of shooters practicing their sighting techniques Oct. 15. The range coaches are responsible for guiding Marines to meet Corps marksmanship standards and maintaining the ranges themselves. , Lance Cpl. Lisa M. Tourtelot, 9/29/2009 3:33 AM
MARINE CORPS AIR STATION MIRAMAR, Calif.-Lance Cpl. Justin Jennings, a combat marksmanship trainer at the Carlos Hathcock Range here, observes his students as they practice the sitting position for their upcoming rifle qualification, Oct. 15. Instructors like Jennings teach Marines the fundamentals of Corps marksmanship like sighting in and breathing techniques., Lance Cpl. Lisa M. Tourtelot, 9/29/2009 3:33 AM
MARINE CORPS AIR STATION MIRAMAR, Calif.-Lance Cpl. Justin Jennings, a combat marksmanship trainer at the Carlos Hathcock Range here, observes Marines practicing their sitting position before actually firing rounds in the coming days, Oct. 15. Range coaches and instructors like Jennings use this "snap in" time to correct shooters' form and position, so they are ready to fire for annual qualification., Lance Cpl. Lisa M. Tourtelot, 9/29/2009 3:32 AM
MARINE CORPS AIR STATION MIRAMAR, Calif.-Lance Cpl. Justin Jennings, a combat marksmanship trainer at the Carlos Hathcock Range here, checks each shooter as they practice their sitting position Oct. 15. "Snapping in" helps shooters perfect form and position before they practice shooting on prequalification day., Lance Cpl. Lisa M. Tourtelot, 9/29/2009 3:31 AM
MARINE CORPS AIR STATION MIRAMAR, Calif.-Lance Cpl. Justin Jennings, a combat marksmanship trainer at the Carlos Hathcock Range here, adjusts a shooters position Oct. 15. Range coaches and instructors use classroom instruction and "snapping in" to reinforce marskmanship techniques before Marines hit the range for annual qualification., Lance Cpl. Lisa M. Tourtelot, 9/29/2009 3:30 AM