Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif. -- “Our Corps, our culture has as its very basis, marksmanship skills—the ability to perform with a rifle. If you can’t shoot, you are not going to become a Marine,” said Gen. James T. Conway, 34th Commandant of the Marine Corps.
Recruits of Company H, 2nd Recruit Training Battalion, were taught the fundamentals of marksmanship at Edson Range, Feb. 19.
Marksmanship fundamentals are taught during the second phase of recruit training. Second phase is where Marines learn their primary tradecraft—being a rifleman.
“Marksmanship is the backbone of the Marine Corps,” said Sgt. Natividad Silva, primary marksmanship instructor, Weapons and Field Training Battalion. “The way we focus and train the recruits, it’s not just a job. For us it’s more than that, it’s about ensuring the individual learns and understands the fundamentals of marksmanship.”
While in second phase, Marines learn to shoot in different positions; sitting, kneeling, standing and prone. Marines also learn to shoot at distances of 200, 300 and 500 yards. Marines spend a week learning the fundamentals while the second week is spent shooting live fire practice. The last days are used as qualification days.
Edson Range has some celebrity notoriety. The range is where former Marines have earned their rifle qualifications including Drew Carey.
After recruit training, and depending on their military occupational specialty, Marines can attend more advanced marksmanship courses including designated marksman course and scout sniper course. To attend these courses, Marines must be expert shooters and selected by their units.
“‘One shot, one kill’ most resonates with me,” said Silva. “If you don’t hit the enemy with the first shot, you have given away your position.”
Marine Corps marksmanship schools have become highly regarded because of the high attrition rates and the level of skill developed by graduates. Many allied countries send their best service members to cross train and earn the designation of scout sniper from the Marine Corps school. Graduates of the school are synonymous with long range accuracy including hitting targets at distances of more than 1000 yards.
“That is what we are known for, our marksmanship; it is our tradition,” said Sgt. Johnny R. Moore, drill instructor, Platoon 2175. “We have to be accurate with our ability to shoot from distances of 500 yards or more.”
One legendary sniper in particular was Gunnery Sgt. Carlos Hathcock. Hathcock was said to have shot an enemy sniper through the enemy’s own rifle scope. During his time in the Vietnam War, Hathcock had 93 confirmed kills, which stands as the most by a scout sniper in Marine Corps history; he was also a major developer of the scout sniper program.
For recruits, qualification is a graduation requirement. Recruits who fail to qualify must remediate or risk being dropped to the next graduating company.
Recruits of Co. H have learned the fundamentals of marksmanship and following graduation, they will attend either Marine Combat Training or Infantry Training Battalion at Camp Pendleton where they will learn to further improve their marksmanship skills.